Best Places To Visit In Leh Ladakh
Leh is a joint capital and largest city of Ladakh, a territory of India. Leh, located in the Leh district, was also the historical capital of the Kingdom of Ladakh. One of the main attractions of Ladakh is its natural beauty. Ladakh is also known for its vibrant festivals, which reflect the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Best Places To Visit In Leh Ladakh
- Pangong lake
- Khardung La
- Sangam
- Shanti stupa Ladakh
- Magnetic Hill
- Hall of fame Ladakh
- Kargil
- Hemis Monastery
Best Places To Visit In Leh Ladakh
1. Pangong Lake
The most popular tourist attraction in Ladakh, Pangong lake is an endorheic (landlocked) lake situated at 4350 meters. Also known as Pangong Tso it is 12 kilometres long and extends from India to Tibet. Almost 60% of Pangong Lake lies in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. A unique feature of the lake is that it does not remain blue throughout the year or even the day, rather it changes colours from azure to light blue to green and grey too! It is famous amongst tourists as Ladakh lake, the spot where the Bollywood movie “3 Idiots” was shot.
Since the enthralling Pangong Lake falls on the Sino-Indian Actual Line of Control, an inner line permit is required to visit it.
2. Khardung La
Khardung La, also known as Khardzong La, is a high mountain pass in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, near Leh. It serves as the gateway to Shyok and Nubra Valley. Khardung La is popular as the highest motorable road in India at an elevation of 5602 metres. However, contrary to the belief, its actual elevation is 5359 metres making Dungri La the highest motorable road pass in India.
Khardung La pass is a perfect getaway for adventure enthusiasts, peace seekers and mountain biking aficionados. An Inner Line Permit is required by the tourists to enter the pass and travel through it. Due to heavy rains and snowfall, the Khardung La pass remains closed from October to May.
3. Sangam
Sangam is the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar Rivers in Ladakh. It is located 35km from Leh in Nimmu, on the Leh Srinagar highway. The two rivers can be separately seen meeting at this point. While the Indus River appears shiny blue, the Zanskar River appears muddy green. It is a spectacular site to witness.
The flow of the two rivers at Sangam changes according to the season. While the Zanskar River is swollen and rapid in the summers, the Indus River is calmer. In winter, Zanskar slows down and almost freezes while the flow of the Indus is even lesser. The Indus is one of the longest rivers in Asia and originates in Tibet. Zanskar River is formed in the Zanskar Valley region.
Best Places To Visit In Leh Ladakh
1.Shanti stupa Ladakh
The Shanti Stupa in Leh is a magnificent white-domed Buddhist monument located atop a steep hilltop at a dizzying height of 11,841 feet. It is a religious place for the Buddhists as it holds the relics of Buddha, consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama. It is also popular amongst tourists as it offers a sweeping view of Leh and the nearby Changspa village. Shanti Stupa looks exceptionally beautiful during the full moon night when it is naturally illuminated by the moonlight.
Thus Shanti Stupa was constructed in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist, Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura. However construction was jointly done by the Japanese and Ladakhi Buddhists to mark the completion of 2500 years of Buddhism and to promote world peace. It is a part of the peace pagoda mission, which aims to spread peace through the preaching of Buddha.
2. Magnetic Hill
This popular Magnetic Hill of Ladakh is a cyclops hill where vehicles defy the force of gravity and move upwards on the hill when parked at the marked location. To experience this phenomenon, park the car in neutral gear in the yellow box marked a few metres ahead of the Magnetic Hill road. From this point, the car starts moving at a speed of 20 mph.
Even though there are some myths regarding the mysterious magnetic hill, the fact is that the layout of the area and the surrounding hills give it an optical illusion. The downhill road appears to be an uphill road which leads to the car slowly gaining momentum which appears to be going uphill against gravity when in fact it is rolling downhill.
3. Hall of fame Ladakh
Located approximately 4 km from Leh on the Leh-Kargil Road, the Hall of Fame is a museum built in memory of the brave soldiers who lost their lives fighting for India during the Indo-Pakistan war.
Maintained by the Indian Army, the Hall of Fame showcases seized arms and amenities of the Pakistani Army, as pictures and biographies of brave soldiers. A section of the museum also displays the Siachen area, exhibiting apparel and amenities used by the Indian Army in the region. Apart from this, one can also witness items related to Ladakhi culture, history, vegetation and wildlife found across the globe.
Best Places To Visit In Leh Ladakh
1. Kargil
Usually a stopover for people travelling towards Leh from Srinagar, Kargil is a tourist hotspot that’s small enough to be explored by wayfaring. Situated close to the line of control, Kargil is also a volatile region. However, apart from its glorious past, Kargil is bestowed with natural beauty and adventure. Kargil has a war memorial which is the main attraction of the region.
It is the home to the famed Nun Kun Peaks and has excellent potential for mountaineering and trekking. Kargil rests on the banks of River Suru and also offers unique opportunities for river rafting. However Kargil has a rich history dating back to the 16th century, amalgamating Buddhist and Turkish architecture.
2. Hemis Monastery
Hemis Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located 45 km south of Leh. Built by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal, it is ranked as one of the wealthiest monasteries in India. Hemis Monastery is most visited during the annual Hemis Festival, held every year in early June.
Hemis Monastery houses a spectacular copper statue of Lord Buddha along with stupas made of gold and silver, thangkas (a painting of cotton or silk, depicting a Buddhist deity) and murals. The vast courtyard and a picturesque verandah are adorned with colourful paintings of Buddhist Kalachakra.
Hemis Monastery belongs to the Red sect or Dugpa Kargyupta order of Buddhism. All four sides of the monastery are decorated with colourful prayer flags which flutter in the breeze and send out prayers to Lord Buddha. It is also an institution for the teaching of Tantric Vajrayana.
Best Places To Visit In Leh Ladakh
In conclusion, Leh Ladakh is a unique destination that offers visitors a chance to explore stunning natural Beauty, their culture, experience adventure, spirituality and immerse themselves in a world that is unlike any other. It is a destination that should be on every tourist’s bucket list.
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