This Vijay Diwas, we have an army man's tales from the Ladakh of the 1980s. An army man stationed in a region that was largely uninhabited. Nobody except for army mates around. A seemingly endless and barren stretch of land, covered only by stark blue sky for as far as eyes could see. Bone-wrenching cold; so cold that ice had to be melted to brush teeth. A Ladakh you never imagined, a Ladakh you can never visit for it is long gone. Ladakh, as it was between 1985-1987, through the eyes of an army man; here’s sharing his exclusive snapshots and insights from a Ladakh that was nothing less than real.A beyond repair Antonov lying deserted at DBO, Ladakh. It is believed to have been left on spot after the ignition failed on a routine flight during or around the Indo-China war. The photo was shot in 1985 during patrolling by the Indian forces, which they usually undertook on foot or horses.Chalunka Bridge captured in one of the oldest traceable photo of its'; flowing underneath is the Shyok river while the bridge connects the now famous Nubra Valley with Turtuk (it was a part of Pakistan till 1971).Yes, that is how Gurudwara Patthar Sahib used to look decades back. One of the most-visited attractions in Leh Ladakh now, reaching here required more than just taking a flight and landing in Leh. Legends and folklore makes it highly reverential for people of all faiths.This photo features a typical day for the Indian defence forces that are stationed in the Himalayas and other high-altitude regions. Back in the 1980s, Ladakh scouts were deployed in the region, Saltro glacier, for patrolling as well as ferry daily supplies from Partapur. Look closely and you would be able to spot load being dropped by a Mi-17 helicopter.This is how the Nubra Valley looked in the 1980s. Away from the tourist glare, this was hard to reach for anybody other than the locals or defence forces. Back then, this site along Nubra river was the base and transit station for Ladakh Scouts. It was the operation centre for Siachen glaciers. An annual summer festival was held here to put the locals at ease and increase army interaction with the civilians.While it is still a task to get to this high pass without a slight bout of AMS, it was more than a thing of records and a Maggi point in the 1980s. At 17,582 ft, it is snow-laden all around the year and is the only gateway to the wonders that lie beyond, namely Turtuk, Siachen and DBO.Yes, that is how the Hemis Monastery looked without any photoshop work or heavy tourist inflow. While wheat fields stand swaying in the foreground, the ancient gompa looked an architectural marvel back then.Standing guard at what is believed to be world’s highest motorable pass is no feat. More so, in the summer of 1985 when it was more than just some hour’s drive from Leh. Look closer and you will spot a snow marker in the background, a tool of essential use during heavy winter snowfall.If you have seen this one near Lamayuru on the Kargil-Leh stretch, you would know how famous a site it is now. Well, it definitely looked more mystical in the 1980s and had a thrill that is often broken by the whizz of SUVs rolling by the highway now.This one says it all, right? While it was dominated by Chinese troops till 1986 with motored patrolling, Indian troops definitely made it clear as well. Both the nations engaged in flag displays back then.Another one from the Hemis Gompa. Shot at close quarter, this captures in all details the eccentricity of this place.Yes, that is how a bunker looks in real. A far-cry from its movie-like depiction, this is where soldiers braved weather as well as border firing back then. One of the then last Indian posts touching China, this region is under Indian occupation now.Patrolling the 1980 style in Ladakh, at an average altitude of 17000 ft! You can see Saltoro ranges in the background, while soldiers troop around in the snowy precincts.They have us safe; yes, hovering mid-air are Indian troops as they guard a post.That’s Sasoma village, one of the largely untouched villages in Ladakh. Recently opened for tourists, this is still as mystical as it was in the 1980s.