Leh is the majestic city of Ladakh. It is a spectacular tourist spot that invites a massive crowd every year. Its title as the Little Tibet or the Land of Lamas comes from its strong resemblance to Tibetan scenic landscapes, Buddhist temples, and pristine environment. The region has a bundle of barren mountains with monasteries, prayer flags, rocky ridges, and tiny settlements, making it one of the most serene places to visit in India. Leh is also located near the historic “Silk Route” that houses monasteries like Shey, Hemis, Alchi, Thiksey, and Lamayuru for a spiritual escape and nourishment of the soul. Ladakh has a lot to offer, fulfilling the aspirations of every individual. While it keeps people seeking peace and a divine experience hooked to the state, the region also offers adventurous activities like mountaineering, white-water rafting, and trekking along the Markha Valley.
If you are planning to drive along the majestic ways of Ladakh, then gear up this list of best places in Leh will help you plan your itinerary better.
Top Visit in Leh-Ladakh
Pangong Lake
Pangong Lake is a popular tourist attraction in Ladakh. It is an endorheic lake located at 4350 meters and extends from India to Tibet. A trip to Ladakh without visiting Pangong is always incomplete therefore, you cannot miss this place. Its vibrant blue colour complementing the white ground gives you breathtaking views. The lake also changes colour from azure to light blue, green, and grey throughout the year. Remember the lake falls on the Sino-Indian Actual Line of Control that requires an inner line permit for Indian nationals and a group permit for foreign nationals.
Khardung La
Khardung La which is also known as Khardzong La, is a high mountain pass in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the way to Shyok and Nubra Valley where we find the highest motorable road in India with an altitude of 5359 meters. The pass is known for its scenic views of the Karakoram range and the Himalayas. You will also require an Inner Line Permit to visit the place. Khardung La is mainly closed from October to May due to heavy rains and snowfall.
Magnetic Hill
The Magnetic Hill of Ladakh located at 14,000 feet above sea level is a popular tourist attraction. Surrounded by the Sindhu River and the Himalayan Range, this Magnetic Hill of Ladakh is a popular cyclops hill that stands 30 km away from Leh. This steep road is actually a downhill route, however, on the hill road cars may appear to be rolling against gravity, but in reality, they are sliding downhill. The layout of the area and surrounding hills create an optical illusion, causing the downhill road to appear as an uphill road giving vehicles momentum against gravity. Magnetic Hill is a major tourist attraction and an essential stopover for travellers to Ladakh.
Shanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa, an 11,841-foot white-domed Buddhist monument in Leh Ladakh, holds the relics of Buddha consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama. Constructed in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura, it is a religious site for Buddhists. It is a popular tourist attraction that offers a sweeping view of Leh and nearby Changspa village. The place is particularly beautiful during a full moon night when illuminated by its light.
Nubra Valley
Nubra Valley is a major tourist attraction that is 140 km from Leh. It is on the famous ancient silk route which also harbours many beautiful places and monasteries. You can also enjoy Bactrian camel rides which is a rare two-hump camel species at Hundar in Nubra Valley. Apart from this, Diskit Monastery located here is popular for its 32-meter Maitreya Buddha statue. Being one of the best must-visit places, it is also strongly guarded due to its proximity to Siachen base camp.
Tso Moriri
Tso Moriri Lake is the lake with the largest high altitude in India. It is situated at an altitude of 4,595m located between Ladakh and Tibet in the Changtang region. Tso Moriri is a 28 km long lake surrounded by mountains, offering a serene environment. It is also known as the ‘mountain lake’ due to its 2000-meter-tall peaks. The best time to visit the lake is only during the summer months from May to August. Camping here is a big no as it is declared as a Ramsar site, meaning tents and constructions are prohibited near it. You can enjoy the scenic semblance along with an abundance of flora and fauna like the bare-headed goose, great-crested grebe, Brahmin duck, brown-headed gull, and Himalayan hares.
Thiksey Monastery
Twenty kilometres south of Leh on the Leh- Manali highway sits the twelve-story Tibetan-style monastery known as Thiksey Monastery. It is Ladakh’s largest monastery, which houses a 15-meter-tall figure of Maitreya Buddha. There are white buildings arranged in a hierarchical manner that encircle the monastery resembling the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Along with Buddhist statues, murals, swords, stupas, and thangkas, it is home to more than a hundred monks. Tara Temple, Lamokhang Temple, Assembly Hall, Nunnery, Library, and rooftop are some of the other attractions visited by tourists.
Leh Palace
Built by King Sengge Namgyal in the 17th century, the Leh Palace, also called “Lhachen Palkhar,” is a former royal residence in Leh. With breathtaking views of Leh and the nearby Zanskar mountain. It has a prayer area and a museum. The palace is based on Lhasa’s Potala Palace, albeit the 19th-century Kashmiri invasion left some of its structures in ruins. Buddha relics, paintings, and artefacts from antiquity, the majority dating back about 450 years may be found within the palace. The Archaeological Survey of India, which is tasked with restoring the historic buildings and conserving the history of the Namgyal dynasty in Leh is currently in charge of the palace. Thr palace is lit up on major occasions like the Galdam Namchot festival.
India has a myriad of tourist destinations and a large number of places that carry a significant essence. Ladakh is one of those valuable assets that with its stunning views attracts tourists from across the world. If you love travelling then Ladakh is the place that you cannot miss.
FAQs
How can we reach Ladakh?
The most fast and easy way of reaching Ladakh is by air. The connectivity is amazing in major cities like Delhi, Jammu, Chandigarh and more.
How to prepare for Leh -Ladakh?
Ladakh is a place of high altitude that experiences extreme weather conditions. So it does not matter if you are travelling in summer you will still have to carry warm clothes including hats, gloves and socks.
Do we need to take some medicine before going to Ladakh?
Diamox is the medicine recommended by doctors. You must start taking the medicine 2 days before the journey commences. If you are planning to go for some physical adventure then you must not miss the medicine. However, it is always important to consult your doctor beforehand.
