“The Land of High Passes” is on everyone’s travel bucket list. Situated at a high altitude, Ladakh is a perfect blend of green and white, with rolling meadows and colourful flowerbeds in the summer and a stunning snowscape in the winters. Words simply cannot describe the beauty and serenity of this place the way that our eyes can. Photo and videos may do it some justice but you have to take a trip to Ladakh to witness the city’s splendour in all its glory and to realize how much it has to offer in terms of activities and sightseeing.
What makes Ladakh even more special is that it caters to a wide range of audiences. The region is ideal for everybody, from satisfying the desire of adventure enthusiasts to providing peace to those seeking spirituality. Many travellers are drawn to Ladakh because of its remote location, wide sky, towering mountains, and fantastical scenery stretched out like a feast for kings. There are a number of sites to see that will just take your breath away. Vastly different from the rest of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh is a region that is all it’s own.
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Best Places to Visit in Ladakh
A trip to Ladakh is an experience of a lifetime, so you wouldn’t want to miss out on anything there, would you? A lot of the Ladakh sightseeing is a must. That’s the reason why we’ve composed a list of the top 10 best places to visit in Leh Ladakh. For a perfect vacation, be sure to cover all these places while you’re there.
1. Magnetic Hill
The Magnetic Hill is a gravity hill with extraordinary magnetic characteristics that are located on the Leh-Kargil-Baltik national route, some 30 km from Leh and at a height of 14,000 feet above sea level. It has such powerful magnetic properties that it can even drag a vehicle in neutral mode uphill. In fact, planes routinely increase their altitude to avoid being drawn into the hill’s magnetic field. It’s a very wonderful event that should be witnessed.
2. Pangong Tso Lake
Also known as the Hollow Lake, this Asia’s largest saltwater lake is one of the most popular attractions in Ladakh. While two-thirds of this lake is located in Tibet (Chinese territory), the remaining one-third is located in eastern Ladakh. The lake is surrounded by a magnificent landscape, which can be seen in the concluding moments of the hit Bollywood film 3 Idiots. During the winter, the lake freezes solid and becomes the site of an ice skating event. As a tourist in Ladakh, you can enjoy this serene view to your heart’s content. So, pack a picnic and relish every calm moment with your loved ones.
3. Khardung-la Pass
Known as the ‘Gateway to Nubra and Shyok Valleys’, Khardung-La is one of the highest motorable roads in the world, at an elevation of 5359 mts above sea level. Interestingly, automobiles were allowed to pass across the roadways in 1988. Cruisers and Himalayans are said to be the finest modes of transportation for seeing the raw beauty of the route. Enjoy tea and refreshment at the army canteen or peruse the souvenir shop for memorabilia. So when you think of taking a Road Trip to Ladakh, keep this one in the back of your mind.
4. Nubra Valley
Bactrian camel rides, orchards, and monasteries are all popular in Nubra Valley. It is accessible via the Khardung-La Pass, which is surrounded by snow-covered Himalayan mountains. Located here are the Diskit Monastery and Panamik Hot Water Springs, as well as the scenic town of Turtuk and the lovely hidden lake Yarab Tso. A 32-meter-tall statue of Maitreya Buddha faces the Shyok River at the Diskit monastery in Nubra Valley. This massive monument, made of 8 kg gold, was blessed by the Dalai Lama himself.
5. Hemis National Park
This sanctuary is the highest in the globe as well as the largest in South Asia. If you’ve never seen a snow leopard before and want to see this gorgeous species in its native environment, make your way to Hemis National Park, popularly known as the Snow Leopard Capital of India. This park is unique in that it is the only national park to the north of the Himalayas. You may walk across the park to see snow leopards, go bird-watching, or do the Markha Valley trek, which takes you to Hemis. Since summers are the best time to visit Ladakh, you might actually be able to a bit higher up the mountains to see these furry beasts during the season.
6. Shanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa is a white-domed stupa located on a hilltop near Leh. It was commissioned by Japanese monks in 1991 to celebrate the completion of 2500 years of Buddhism. It is a place of peace and the sunsets and sunrises here are a sight to behold.
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7. Royal Leh Palace
Former residence of Leh royalty, the Leh Palace has a rich history and is built of stones, wood, mud, and sand. It boasts amazing architecture, wonderful views from the top, and an on-sight museum with royal belongings such as thangkas, jewelry, murals, and costumes. In the second half of the 19th century, it was attacked by the Dogra forces, following which it was abandoned by the royal family who moved to the Stok Palace.
8. Alchi
Alchi is a busy village in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, near the Indus River. One of the attractions of Alchi is a 900-year-old Buddhist monastery. From the 11th to 12th centuries, the monastery proudly displays Indo-Tibetan murals in vivid green, gold, ochre, and blue colours. One of the monastery’s greatest attractions is a painted figure of the Bodhisattva Maitreya. In Alchi, you may experience Ladakh’s distinct rural life, engage with the people, and immerse yourself in the local culture.
9. Zanskar Valley
Located in the Kargil district to the east of Ladakh is the bewitching Zanskar Valley. It’s a pristine hill retreat in a remote corner of Ladakh, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and gorgeous views. The valley is also quite popular among adventure enthusiasts, especially Chadar Trek or Zanskar River Rafting. If you’re not much of an adventure seeker, we suggest camping at the Penzella Pass or visiting the Gelugpa Monastery at Karsha village or the honeycomb-like Phugtal Monastery. Zanskar Valley sure has a lot to offer.
10. Tso Moriri Lake
Imagine a sparkling blue lake amidst rough terrain, a hidden oasis located at 15,000 feet above sea level, undisturbed in its beauty and serenity. That’s what Tso Moriri is like. A tiny paradise that is not often visited by tourists because of its high altitude but worth visiting because of its charming and tranquil environment. You can enjoy its azure blue waters and snow-clad barren hills, and you can even camp at the nearby village of Korzok.
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FAQs
What is famous in Ladakh?
Ladakh is known for its beautiful landscapes and numerous monasteries. But that’s not all. Many people plan a road trip to Ladakh in order to enjoy the beauty of the route to Ladakh itself.
Which is the best place to visit in Ladakh?
Leh, Magnetic Hill, Tso Moriri Lake, and Zanskar Valley among other places are some of the best to visit in Ladakh.
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