IN THE LADAKHI HAMLET OF TURTUK, A KITCHEN GARDEN SUPPLIES FRESH PRODUCE TO THE BALTI KITCHEN OF BOUTIQUE HOTEL VIRSA.

To get to the most exquisite yet humble meal of your life, you'll have to take a six-hour drive from Leh and reach Turtuk, one of the only four Balti villages that fall on the Indian side of the border.

- ADARSH SONI

A breathtaking valley with alpine foliage laid below a bright, blue sky will greet you upon arrival. The majestic Shyok river flowing, birds chirping, and a comforting chill in the air-this is nature at its finest. And in between the vast Himalayan and Karakoram mountains lies an oasis: Virsa Baltistan, a boutique hotel that took seven years to come to life. "The main inspiration behind this project is a story of shifting roots and planting new ones. It is our way of life, now reimagined for the people of the modern world, who visit Turtuk," says Rashidullah Khan, founder of Virsa Baltistan. "When we imagine design, preservation and restoration become pivotal," he adds.