Most people visit Ladakh with a list of places they want to see. The famous monasteries, the mountain roads, the lakes and those views that make you want to put your phone away for a minute and just look around. But Prerna Dalal’s experience took a slightly different turn. She found herself spending 14 days in a small village near Leh, and by the time she was ready to leave, it had started to feel like home.Prerna, who left her corporate job at 35 to explore a different way of life, has been sharing her travels online. In a recent Instagram video, she spoke about her stay in Stok village and why she ended up spending far longer there than she’d originally planned.And it wasn’t just the mountain views that kept her around.
She came to explore, but village life had other plans
Prerna had already spent around two months in Ladakh when she decided to stay in Stok, a village roughly 15 km from Leh. She initially planned to spend a few days there, get a feel for the place and then move on.But things changed once she settled in.In her video, she talks about discovering that Stok is connected to Ladakh’s former royal family, something she hadn’t known before arriving. More interestingly, she started getting familiar with the kind of everyday details that tourists often miss.She knew where to go when she needed groceries. She had figured out the routes around the village and even learnt how to make Ladakhi-style momos.Then there were the cups of tea with her homestay host, the conversations and the little routines that slowly made the place feel familiar.None of these things might sound particularly exciting on their own. But that’s often how you end up getting attached to a place. You stop feeling like a visitor and start enjoying the simple business of being there.Prerna’s experience made her realise that if she’d rushed through Ladakh’s popular tourist spots, she might never have discovered this side of it.
‘Now this place feels like home’
One of the things Prerna shared in the video was how different she felt about Stok by the time she was leaving.She’d arrived expecting a brief stay. Instead, she’d spent two weeks getting to know the village and the people around her. What began as a stop on her travels had become a place she was genuinely reluctant to leave.It’s a feeling many travellers will recognise. You arrive somewhere without knowing much about it, find a little café you like, get chatting with someone who lives there and slowly build a routine. Before you know it, you’re no longer checking the time or wondering what attraction to visit next.You’re just enjoying being there.That’s what makes slow travel appealing to so many people. Rather than trying to fit ten places into three days, you give yourself the freedom to stay put. You have time to notice things, get to know people and experience a destination beyond what you’d find in a travel guide.And sometimes, those unplanned moments are the ones you remember long after the trip is over.
People online are relating to her experience
Prerna’s video has resonated with people who prefer spending more time in one place instead of constantly moving from one destination to another.Some social media users pointed out that travelling slowly gives you a better chance of understanding local culture, trying regional food and meeting people who call the place home.Others shared their own experiences of spending weeks exploring Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, including smaller villages that don’t always make it onto the usual tourist itinerary. One user spoke about wanting to spend several months each year living in villages across the hills.It’s easy to see why the idea appeals. A short holiday can be wonderful, but it often comes with a packed schedule. There’s always another viewpoint to reach, another road to cover or another place to squeeze in before the day ends.Staying longer takes away some of that pressure.Of course, living in a mountain village isn’t the same as visiting one on holiday. Everyday life comes with its own challenges, and adjusting to a different setting takes time. But for those who enjoy a quieter pace, the experience can be worth it.
Maybe the best part of travelling is not wanting to leave
Prerna’s story also brings up an interesting question: how often do we travel somewhere just to see it, rather than to experience what life there is actually like?There’s nothing wrong with ticking off famous attractions. They’re popular for a reason. But a place can mean something entirely different when you’ve had time to settle in, learn a few local customs and get to know the people who live there.For Prerna, Stok seems to have offered exactly that.Her journey from a corporate job to exploring life as a content creator is a reminder that people don’t always want the same things at every stage of life. Sometimes, the routine that once suited you stops feeling right, and you become curious about what else is out there.That doesn’t mean everyone needs to quit their job and move to the mountains. But it might be worth slowing down on your next trip, leaving a few days unplanned or spending more time in a place that catches your attention.You never know what you might find when you’re not in a hurry to leave.Prerna went to Stok expecting to spend a few days exploring. She ended up with familiar faces, new skills and memories that made saying goodbye harder than she’d imagined.And perhaps that’s the nicest thing about travelling: every once in a while, a place you knew almost nothing about ends up staying with you long after you’ve left it.