‘Julley’ Book & Photo Exhibition Opens Oct 2, Satya Art.
Saurabh Desai’s book “Julley” & Photo Exhibition Showcases A Raw 15-Year Expedition Across Ladakh And Spiti.
The word ‘Julley’ is far more than a passing greeting in Ladakhi culture; it is a warm expression of love, respect, and welcome. Photographer Saurabh Desai’s latest book and accompanying exhibition, Julley, adopts this ethos to present a profound meditation on the Trans-Himalayan regions of Ladakh, Zanskar, and Spiti. Launching on October 2, 2026, the collection strips away the romanticised gloss of modern tourism to reveal the stark, lived realities of the high mountains and the rare wildlife that inhabits them.
Desai’s 15-year artistic journey is a testament to human endurance and deep ecological reverence. At altitudes of 15,000 to 16,000 feet, where oxygen is halved, survival dictates stripping down to the essentials. Desai captures these extremes with minimal gear, often just two cameras and lenses battling minus 25-degree temperatures where changing equipment barehanded is agonising. Yet, the true marvel of Julley lies not in these physical extremes, but in the indigenous people who navigate them. In the remote village of Yurutse, located 23 kilometres from the nearest motorable road, a solitary family guards an ancestral monastery built directly inside their home. Their existence, spinning ibex hair into carpets without the trappings of modern convenience, is anchored in profound simplicity.
The exhibition, featuring 18 archival prints, also does not shy away from the stark realities of the region’s changing geopolitical landscape. Desai urges a highly mindful approach to the region. He issues a stern warning against reckless mountaineering practices, such as the use of crampons that shatter the fragile ice like glass, calling for an ethos that respects both the land and its custodians.
The exhibition also serves as a vital cultural and geopolitical document. Desai notes the rapid infrastructural push along the disputed Johnson Line, observing how airports and roads are being built to solidify territorial boundaries. Amidst these structural changes, Desai issues a stern warning against reckless mountaineering. He points out how the careless use of spiked crampons shatters fragile ice like glass, urging trekkers to adopt a deep respect for the land’s ecological balance.
What elevates Julley from a mere visual catalogue to a vital human story is Desai’s absolute rejection of the “lone explorer” trope. He credits his local guides, drivers, and trackers as indispensable companions, refusing colonial-era labels like “porter” or “labourer”. In unforgiving terrains like Padum, where shelter often means hiding in rock cavities to survive the night, these locals are the true lifelines. It is this mutual respect that allowed Desai to capture rare moments, such as sitting peacefully face-to-face with a snow leopard and her cubs.
Funded entirely by his own commercial media ventures, Julley is a labour of pure passion intended not for elite photography circles, but for the common person. The exhibition successfully democratises the Himalayas, bringing the spiritual quietude of a 300-year-old cave monastery and the pristine, snow-covered beauty of the mountains directly to the public.
Exhibition Details: ‘JULLEY’ by Saurabh Desai
Dates: October 2, 2026 – October 31, 2026
Timings: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Venue: Satya Art Gallery, Navajivan Trust, Ahmedabad
Entry: Open to all art lovers and enthusiasts wanting to experience the beauty of the Himalayas.
