Travel Destinations In Leh-Ladakh
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Leh: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Leh, the capital of Ladakh, has been an important junction on the famous Silk Route of the olden times. It is also the second largest district of the country spreading in an area of 45,110 se kms. Located at an altitude of 11,562 ft, it is still dominated by the ruins of the Leh Palace (a major tourist attraction), the former residence of the royal family of Ladkah, built on the lines of the Potala Palace, Tibet. It boasts of being home to several known ancient Buddhist monasteries. It is one of the most-visited destinations in Ladakh and has a lot to offer.
Drass: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Nestled in the Kargil district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, 60 kilometers to the west, Drass sector is often dubbed as ‘The Gateway to Ladakh’. The region first shot to prominence during the Kargil war, when there was an armed conflict between Indian and Pakistani troops. It is situated at an elevation of 10,990 feet and spans across a range from 16000 feet to 21000 feet. It is a starting point for a three day trek to the Suru valley. The trek passes through some breathtaking highland villages and flower filled meadows on both sides.
Kargil: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Kargil, located 8,780 feet above the sea level is the second largest town of Ladakh after Leh, situated on the banks of Indus (Suru) river. This town has a population of around 10,657 where most of them are a mix of Dard and Tibetan descent. A major chunk of the population is the follower of Buddhism. It is a transit hub with roads leading to Leh, Padum (Zanskar) and Srinagar. There had been an armed conflict between Indian and Pakistani armies in July 2009, which was known as Kargil war. There a number of monasteries here which even play host to several annual festivals.
Nubra Valley: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Nubra valley, a tri-armed valley towards the north east of Ladakh is 3048 meters above the sea level and is termed as heaven on earth. It is necessary for a tourist to acquire an Inner line permit for entering Nubra. The name, Nubra has been given to the region that consists of the valley of the rivers Nubra and Shayok, flowing above and below their merging point. The rivers Nubra and Shayok are the main water resources for the eastern and the western sides of the Saser sub-range of the Karakoram ranges. Enjoy camel rides around the place with scant vegetation while admiring the snow-clad mountain peaks. Diskit town is the headquarters of the Nubra valley which offers almost all kinds of facilities. It has bazaar which has a single line of shops as well as a Gompa that is located on a rocky drive above the village offering an excellent view to the tourists. The floor of the Nubra valley is covered with extremely thick thorny shrubs, that are used by the locals for the purpose of fuel as well as fencing. The villages that are situated around the valley are huge and flourishing, which have thick plantations of poplar and willow.
Tso moriri Lake: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Located in the Changthang area in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, Tso Moriri or Moriri Lake is the largest high altitude lake in the Trans-Himalayan region. The lake water is fed by springs and snow melt from the mountains in the Changthang plateau. The two major sources of water entering into the lake are located in north and southwest respectively. Until 1959, the lake was the source of salt for the local populace. Located on the west bank of the lake, the 400 year old Korzok monastery attracts a sizeable chunk of tourists and Buddhist pilgrims.
Alchi : Destinations in Leh Ladakh
A small village and monastery in the Leh district of Ladakh region, around 70 kilometers away from Leh, on the banks of Indus River, Alchi is well-known for the existence of Alchi monastery, one of the oldest in Ladakh. It is situated in the plains. The monastery features mural paintings and frescoes, belonging to the 11th century and built in Indo-Himalayan style. While on a trip to Alchi, you can also visit nearby Thiksey, Shey and Hemis monastery. There are several tourist Homestays in this village, which are opted by tourists for overnight stays. The best time to visit this place is June to September.
Lamayuru: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Located in the western region of Ladakh, amidst mountain backed badlands, is one of the most popular villages and an ideal stopover between the Kargil-Leh route. It is situated around 127 kilometers from the town of Leh. Tourists who visit Ladakh halts in Lamayuru as a rule to visit Lamayuru monastery in this region. Dating back to the 11th century, Lamayuru monastery was founded by Mahasiddhacharya Naropa and belongs to Red-Hat sect of Buddhism. Also known as Yung-Drung, this monastery is home to more than 150 monks and houses a rich collection of artifacts, wall paintings, thangas, statues, carpets and an impressive 11-headed, 1000 eyed image of Chenzing. Apart from the monastery, Lamayuru also attracts tourists for its beautiful landscape which is quite similar to the lunar territory. Although it's quite remote, it is a favorite jaunt for photographers and trekkers.
Stok Khangri: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Stok Palace, built by King Tsespal Tondup Namgyal in 1825, in the present times is the residential palace of the royal descendants of King Sengge Namgyal. The architecture of this palace is a perfect mix of the traditional and the contemporary architectural styles. This palatial property consists of a number of beautiful gardens as well as a library that has around 108 volumes of the Kangyur (a collection of teachings of Lord Buddha). The palace is located around 15 kms away from the main city of Leh. This palace hosts an annual dance-mask festival in which there is a huge participation by the locals. There is also a collection of royal clothing, crowns and other important things which you can see while on the excursion of the palace. Stok Kangri, 6153 mts, is the highest moutain in Ladakh.
Suru Valley: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
One of the most awe-inspiring destinations in the Ladakh Valley, the Suru Valley form the foundation of Kargil district. It is nestled in the northeastern foothills of the Great Himalayas, at a height of 3000 meters above sea level. Tourists in large number throng to this place to spend their vacation amidst tranquil and picturesque natural beauty. The total composite population of this region is 30,000, which comprise mainly of Tibetan and Dared descendants. The lower part of the valley, below 3000 meters, is one of the most agricultural prolific parts of Ladakh. Every year two crops are harvested in this region, watered by the overspill from the melting snow glaciers.
Stongdey: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Stongdey monastery, located in Zanskar, is its second largest monastery. It plays host the Gustor festival, which is held annually, during which you can view the real culture of the region. Built during 1052 CE by Naropa’s disciple, this monastery is home to 60 Gelupa monks. This Gompa has a total of seven temples wherein the walls of the Tshogs-Khang adorn beautiful paintings were some of the paintings of the deities made with a black background are outlined with gold. Today the monastery is managed by the successors of Nari Tulku. This monastery is also a favorite in the list of mountaineering enthusiasts.
Sankoo: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Sankoo, a part of Kargil in Ladakh is a beautiful lush green hamlet. This place in a shape of a bowl is around 42 kms south of Kargil. Tourists on their visit can explore the forests and the exotic wildlife of the region. Fondly known as ‘Ladakh’s Own Gulmarg’, this valley has tributaries of the Suru river in the form of its water resource. This place is also a favorite amidst local people in the form of a picnic spot. It also houses a popular ancient shrine dedicated to a Muslim scholar-saint, Sayed Mir Hashim. It is placed on the outskirts of Sankoo, in Karpo-Kharon.
Sarchu: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Sarchu is an overnight stopover with tented accommodation on the Manali-Leh highway, on the border of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh in India. It is nestled between the Baralacha La pass to the south and Lachulung La to the north, at a height of 4,290 meters. There is an Indian army camp located on the banks of the Tsarap Chu river. During winters, this highway and high passes along the road gets blocked and camps are closed. This spot is a popular trekking point in the Zanskar region of Ladakh
Keylong: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Nestled on the Manali-Leh Highway, Keylong is a little hamlet, in the Lahaul and Spiti district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, which has witnessed a major economic growth since it became an overnight halt point for buses traveling between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. Keylong is located close to Kardang monastery, one of the largest and most important monasteries in Lahaul district, belonging to the Drupka sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Other monasteries located in proximity to Keylong include Shasur and Tyaul. The annual Ladakh festival takes place every year in July on a big scale.
Zanskar: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Located in the Ladakh region in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, Zanskar range is a mountain range and a part of Tethys Himalaya. It is situated at an altitude of 19,700 feet and separate Kannaur district from Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most isolated regions in Ladakh and can only be reached either through a strenuous week long trek and a 14 hour drive alongside an uneven route along the Suru River. The mountain range is quite rich in terms of flora and fauna. However, a new road is under construction along the valley of the Zanskar River, connecting Padum to Nimmu on the Leh-Kargil road. A sub-district of Kargil in state of Jammu and Kashmir, Zanskar, a semi-arid high altitude desert is one of the major draw among international and domestic adventure seekers. Administrative centre of Zanskar is located in Padum and for a brief period of time it was a part of Guge Kingdom in Tibet. Zanskar is completely cut off from rest of the world between November to May due to heavy snowfall. Most of the local population are Buddhist and the royal family still reside here although in a ceremonial role only.
Panamik: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
A beautiful scenic village in the Nubra valley and famous for its hot springs, the Panamik is the last destination for tourists travelling across Ladakh. The hot water springs of Panamik are enriched with a high amount of Sulphur. A dip in these Sulphur hot springs is believed to cure various health ailments. Owing to the health benefits of these hot springs, the Panamik village is visited daily by the people from neighboring villages. Apart from the hot water treatment, the snow clad peaks and lush green valley make the visit to Panamik truly amazing. As the region lies on the Indo-Tibetan border, it serves as a base for the trek to Ensa Monastery, which is famous for Buddhist murals. The village of Panamik is also famous for its Kashmiri and Tibetan artifacts. Kashmiri carpet, Pashmina shawls and Woolen socks are one of the most shopped items in the markets of Panamik.
Pangong: Destinations in Leh Ladakh
Located 154 kilometers southeast of Leh, Pangong Tso is one of the largest brackish lakes in Asia. Stretching from eastern Ladakh to Tibet, it is a 134 kilometer long narrow strip of water where tourist require an Inner Line Permit to visit. It is nestled at an altitude of 14,256 feet above sea level and freezes completely during the winters. Currently, it is in the process of being identified as an internationally acclaimed wetland under the Ramsar Convention. The saltwater of this lake has a very sparse vegetation and is bereft of any aquatic life except for small crustaceans. However, this lake is a haven for bird watchers as it acts as an important breeding point for several migratory birds such as Brahmini ducks and Bar-headed goose.