Dramatic looking hills, clear skies, breathtakingly beautiful lakes and the thrilling high altitude passes, Ladakh is truly a natures wonder. Located at an altitude of more than 3000 mtrs above sea level, Ladakh is a perfect amalgamation of leisure and adventure activities. The warm Tibetan, Indian and Buddhist culture will embrace you in such a manner that you will thank Almighty for creating this paradise on earth. Small glimpses of this can be seen as your aircraft starts approaching the airport. The view of rugged mountains some of them laden with snow, might seem so close yet so far, will surely drive you crazy. Apart from being an adventure destination, Ladakh is also a land of Buddhist pilgrimage. The artistically built stupas and monasteries are rich in history and an epitome of architecture. Read further to know more about the places to visit.
Travel
period: Ideal
time to visit is between April-September. Post September the temperature starts
dipping and winters sets in officially. Travellers who can sustain extreme winter
temperatures can make the most of the frozen lakes
How to
travel: Leh
has good connectivity by air and by road. The army operated airport is small
and surrounded by incredible looking hills.
Bikers can take the Leh-Manali highway
and witness the stunning beauty across the roads.
Tip:
1) Get a medical check up done before
planning Leh holiday
2) Get
yourself acclimatized with the high altitude for minimum one full day
3) Carry
prescribed medicines if any. Inhaling camphor balls will help during high
altitude pass
4) Leh has network issues. Only post-paid
connections work and more so only Airtel
and BSNL
Pangong Lake:
If there is one place which shall get
etched on your minds for lifetime, it definitely is Pangong TSO. The amount of
time you spend here will make you feel in a dreamland. Cradled between
India and China, this is the highest saltwater lake in the world stretching
almost 160kms. The lake surrounded by rugged mountains look no less than a
postcard image making it one of the most popular tourist attractions of Ladakh.
The crystal clear water keeps changing colour to
turquoise, sky blue and even grey, making it a favorite place for photography.
Close to the lake there are various camps and cottages, where you can spend the
night and enjoy the pleasant weather. Not to forget the lake gained popularity
after the Bollywood movie 3 Idiots climax was shot here.
Tip:
- 1)Travelers planning to explore on their own, need to take permits before planning trip
here
- 2) People
sensitive to extreme weather need to book cottages instead of tents, as they
get quite cold from inside in the night
- 3) Pangong
starts closing down towards the end of September due to severe cold. Travelers can visit the lake after September, however there would not be any stay
arrangements
- 4) The lake
freezes completely during January and February. Adventure enthusiasts can
explore ice skating on the lake
5) There is
very limited or no phone connectivity here. Therefore carry your own set of
entertainment
Nubra Valley:
A remote village located at a distance
of 150kms from Leh, Nubra is one of the must visit places of Ladakh. Surrounded
by rugged looking mountain ranges, Nubra offers breathtaking views of the vistas and
the journey through the highest Khardungla pass is simply unbelievable. Nubra
valley is a high security zone as it is close the Line of Control, therefore
Indians and foreigners need permit before travel. Summers add up icing on the
cake like atmosphere here. While the
weather is just perfect & welcoming, the views of colourful spread of
flowers here will surely make your day. As you descend from Khardungla visit the
larger than life and almost 100ft tall Diskit monastery and witness the panoramic
views of vistas. As you precede further small glimpses of Hunder, the sand
dunes of Nubra will fill your heart with excitement. Take a stroll here in the
evening along a double humped Camel Safari.

TIP:
1) To avoid rush, visit during September and October and benefit yourself with good stay deals2) Nubra is the best place to get yourself acclimatized as at is at a lower attitude as compared to Leh
3) From here visit
Turtuk village and see the amazing spread of apricot trees
Khardung-La Pass:
“I am feeling top of the world”. We say this quite often, but how often do we get to experience this? Ladakh’s one of the most thrilling places Khardugla pass is claimed to be the world’s highest motor able road in the world, which is located at an altitude of 5359mtrs from the sea level. It acts as a gateway to Nubra and Shyok valleys and an important pass into the Siachen glacier. The journey up there is undoubtedly thrilling and exciting, however the meandering roads and top of world view may give you cold feet. Once you are up there, the view of snow clad mountains, artistic landscape and pleasant cold weather will fill your heart with excitement. Basic arrangements like mobile lavatories, cafeteria and emergency health care service is arranged and managed by army personnel. Don’t forget to get yourself clicked next to the famous Khardungla photo board and capture the stunning views around.
Tip:
1) Khardungla
is accessible by road from May to October, though September and October the
weather remains very cold. Post October the road remains shut due to heavy
snowfall
2) Carry Daimox tablet to overcome acute mountain sickness and keep consuming plenty of water
2) Carry Daimox tablet to overcome acute mountain sickness and keep consuming plenty of water
3) It is
advisable to spend only minimum time up there due to less oxygen level and move
on to Nubra valley
- 4) Avoid
drinking and smoking
Magnetic hill:
Newton’s physics has always taught
us that gravity pulls you down, however the theory seems to defy in Ladakh’s
Magnetic hill. Surrounded by majestic looking hills this magnetic hill is a
road close to Leh which is marked by white box and written ‘Park your vehicle here’.
Moment you park your car inside in neutral mode you will see the car moving
uphill @20km/hr. Few locals believe that it is the magnetic force which pulls the
car up and due to this even aircrafts travelling on top increases its altitude
when passing from this point. The fact is, it is due to the optical illusion
formed by the hills which obstructs the horizon. The place is often thronged by
tourists to check this phenomenon, making it one of the popular tourist’s
attraction of Leh.
Shanti Stupa:
This is one of the iconic monuments which is located close to the Leh
city. Constructed by a Japanese Buddhist as a mark of peace, the stupa is an
epitome of architectural beauty. Since it is located on a hill top, you may get
short glimpses of the white dome like structure from a distance which surely
will leave you spell bound. The stupa offers panoramic views of the entire
city, followed by hills in the backdrop surrounding the city in a circular
form. The beauty stands out multi fold when the stupa gets illuminated in the
night making the entire place look magical. Definitely worth the visit!
Tso Moriri Lake:
Tso Morini is another high altitude
lake located in the Changthang area of Leh which stretches upto 28km in length
and approx. 6-7kms in width. Officially it is the only high altitude which is completely
under India. After a drive/ride of 250 kms from Leh, as soon as you arrive
close the lake, the picturesque view of blue coloured lake surrounded by lofty
mountains will look like breath of fresh air. The various shades of blue and
the mountain reflection in the waters will be a sight to behold. Tso Morini is
located on a wetland reserve, therefore putting up tents close to the bank is
not permitted. To sum up get all your cameras and mobile phones out to capture
this insanely beautiful place and start updating all your DPs, only to get
hundreds of Thumbs Up.
Points to remember:
1)Tso Moriri is at very high altitude, therefore proper acclimatization is required before visiting
1)Tso Moriri is at very high altitude, therefore proper acclimatization is required before visiting
- 2)Since
the place is quite remote, carry enough essentials as it becomes very difficult
to fetch necessary things
- 3)Very
limited cottages and tents are available for stay here
- 4) Due
to very harsh weather conditions, the accommodation tends to pack up post September and the lake remains frozen between Jan-March
5)It gets less number of tourists as compared to
Pangong
Diskit Monastery:
On the way to
Nubra Valley, a huge gigantic effigy of Lord Buddha settled on a hill top will
grab your attention and that too with such an extent that its make and beauty
will leave you spell bound. One of the most popular tourist attractions, Diskit
is the oldest and largest monastery of Ladakh. Overlooking the Nubra valley and facing the
Shyok River, the 100 ft tall statue of Maitreya Buddha was inaugurated by Dalai
Lama in order to promote world peace. The
viewing deck close to the statue provides scenic panoramic view of the Nubra
valley. The monastery has various rooms including a school for Tibetan kids and
a prayer hall. While the road leading to Diskit may look rugged and arid, you
will notice a spread of green vegetation close to the monastery. It truly feels
blissful and peaceful after visiting the monastery.
TIP:
1) You can visit Diskit either while going to Nubra or while returning from Nubra as it comes on the way
Leh has many other beautiful and scenic monasteries which can be a part of your itinerary. Some of them are Shey Palace, Likir monastery, Spituk Monastery, Alchi Monastery and many more
Leh has many other beautiful and scenic monasteries which can be a part of your itinerary. Some of them are Shey Palace, Likir monastery, Spituk Monastery, Alchi Monastery and many more
ATV ride:
Thrill seekers pull up your socks and get ready for yet another exciting ATV ride here in Ladakh. The vehicle which runs mostly on deserts and snow gives an unforgettable experience. The ride typically extends upto 15mins to 1 hour, which has a mix of plain and bumpy desert. The ride does not require any driving experience or license. Just get on those bulky looking vehicles and boast it by clicking cool pics and sharing it on your social media handles.
TIP:
1) It is recommended to take ATV ride on the way to Nubra valley as it has a wide expanse and most importantly they allow couple rides
The other monasteries which could be of your interest are
The other monasteries which could be of your interest are
- Shey Palace
- Likir Monastery
- Thiksey monastery
Shopping:
Ladakh is not only about hills, mountains, snow, lakes and adventure it also provides great shopping experience to its tourists. The Tibetan market in the Leh city has incredible collection of antique jewelry, clothes and souvenirs. The best part is the pashmina shawls and Tibetan prayer wheel which can become an ideal gift for your near and dear ones.
After spending 5-6 days in Ladakh, if you still have the time and stamina left you can combine th trip with Kargil and drive down there which is 200 kms from Leh and is famous of the Kargil war and now the war memorial.
Hope this blog helps you in planning your next Ladakh tour. Do write to me for any queries and to know the day wise itinerary
Hope this blog helps you in planning your next Ladakh tour. Do write to me for any queries and to know the day wise itinerary