In Thiksey, India, a black backpack rests on the stone steps of a white, layered stupa

In Thiksey, India, a black backpack rests on the stone steps of a white, layered stupa. To the left of the stupa, a light-colored cloth bag is tied with green string. In the background, a wall made of rough-hewn stones runs horizontally across the frame, topped with a dark border. Beyond the wall, a village of white buildings with yellow-roofed structures climbs a hillside under a cloudy sky. Tall, slender trees stand behind the wall, and barren, brown mountains form the horizon. The ground in the foreground is a dusty, dirt path scattered with small rocks.