Places to traverse and explore while in Ladakh

Pangong Lake

Beholding the sturdy mountains, Pangong Lake is situated at a height of about 4350 metres. It’s a place that blooms with tourists and provides you an exotic vista. Although it mostly remains blue in colour, it changes its colour to green and sometimes reddish. The distance from Leh to Pangong Lake is about 140 km and it can be reached in 4 to 5 hours. And the distance from Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake is about 150 km and it can be reached in 6 to 7 hours from Nubra Valley. You must visit this lake if you have chosen Ladakh as your next destination. You can take a lot of photographs and plant a wonderful memory there.

Tsomoriri Lake

Tsomoriri is located about 240 kms away from Leh in Changthang region of Ladakh. It is one of the most beautiful and high altitude lakes in India. If you want to befriend peace and tranquility, Tsomoriri can be the right place for you to explore. Tsomoriri Lake is adorned with the setting of snow-clad sturdy mountains. A number of species of birds such as bare-headed goose, the great-crested grebe, the Brahmin duck and the brown-headed gull, Himalayan hares are found here. Wild animals including Kiang, Nyan, Wolf, Lynx etc. dwell on the pastures around the lake. 

Shanti Stupa

Shanti Stupa stands peacefully and beautifully on a hilltop in a place called Changspa in Leh. It is a white-domed Buddhist Stupa built by the Japanese and Ladakh Buddhists. It was built to encourage and promote world peace and prosperity. If you choose the staircase to reach Shanti Stupa instead of the road, not only would it be fun but also a satisfying adventure. Shanti Stupa looks beautiful and serene in all four seasons, and especially when it snows. You can have a look at the picturesque view of the Leh market, Changspa village and surrounding areas from the Stupa. It is definitely a niche for photographers. It is also a perfect place to meditate and to find a peace of mind.

Thiksey Monastery

Thiksey monastery is located on a hilltop, 21 km east of Leh. Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug School, sent six of his disciples to spread the teachings of the new school. Tsongkhapa gave Jangsam Sherab Sangpo, a small statue and instructed him to meet the King of Ladakh to seek his help in the propagation of Buddhism. The King loved the gift of the statue. He directed his minister to help Sherab Sangpo to establish a monastery of the Gelug order in Ladakh. Thiksey Monastery consists of four main buildings; they are the assembly hall in yellow building, guardian deity shrine in red building, Tara temple and Maitreya temple.

Leh Palace

Leh Palace is a former royal palace that beholds the view of the Leh town. It is known as 'Lechen Palkhar' and was built by Singay Namgyal in the beginning of 17th Century A.D. If we listen to history the construction of the palace on the Tsemo Hill was initiated by Tsewang Namgyal, the founder of the Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh in 1553 and was completed by his nephew Singay Namgyal. The nine-storey palace is restored by ASI (Archeological Survey of India).

Nubra Valley

The original name of Nubra is said to be Ldumra which means valley of flowers. The road journey to Nubra valley leads through the world highest motorable road, Khardongla Pass which is at a height of 18380 ft. above sea level and around 50 kms from Leh. Diskit town is the head quarter of the Nubra Valley. The 32 meters Maitreya Buddha statue is the landmark of Nubra Valley and is maintained by the Diskit Monastery. Several kilometers of sand dunes is located between Hundar and Diskit, and two-humped bactrian camels graze in the neighbouring "forests" of sea buckthorn. Nubra Valley is a valley of adventure and exploration.

Zanskar Valley

Zangskar valley lies to the south west of Leh, surrounded by the Himalayan and Zangskar ranges. The main attractions in Zangskar are the ancient Buddhist monasteries like Zongkhul, Bardan, Stongde, Karsha, Phuktal and Sunni Palace. The beauty of these monasteries is beyond description and most of the monasteries can be visited in a day or two by Jeep from Padum. Padum is the head quarter of Zanskar Valley. Zanskar is well known for its beautiful mountains and landscape. You can do exciting adventures in Znaskar such as trekking, paragliding and water rafting. 

Kargil

Kargil district is around 205 kms to the east of Srinagar and 230 kms to the west of Leh. Kargil is located on the bank of the Suru River which has a beautiful landscape, especially when it is embroidered by flowers in the summer. The Kartse Khar (palace) is an ancient village known for its 7 m tall rock carved statue of Maitreya Buddha which is an evidence of the presence of Buddhist community in the valley in the past. Panikhar is the best station to undertake mountaineering expeditions to the various Peaks surrounding the valley.