LADAKH

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.

Khardung La, also known as Khardzong La, is a high mountain pass in 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.

Nubra Valley, nestled in the union territory of Ladakh, lies approximately 140 kilometers from Leh, along the ancient Silk Route. Characterized by the meandering Shyok and Nubra rivers, the valley boasts stunning landscapes with arid mountains serving as a dramatic backdrop and dotted with beautiful monasteries. Accessible via the world-famous Khardung La Pass, known as one of the highest motorable passes globally, the valley captivates visitors with surreal landscapes, featuring dramatic mountains, sweeping sand dunes, and lush green valleys, offering a visual feast for the senses.

Nubra Valley offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural richness, making it a compelling destination for travelers. Visitors can immerse themselves in the traditional Ladakhi way of life by exploring picturesque villages and ancient monasteries like Diskit Monastery, home to the towering Maitreya Buddha statue.

Tso Moriri Lake is the largest high altitude lakes in India situated at an altitude of 4,595m. Located between Ladakh and Tibet in the Changtang region, it is a twin to the Pangong Lake. This lake offers a scenic place of peace and tranquillity flanked by mountains, measuring about 28 km in length from north to south, and 8 km wide. An inner line permit is required for visiting Tso Moriri.

The stunning Tso Moriri can be visited only during the summer months starting from April when the lake starts to melt. May, June, July and August are the peak tourist season. Tso Moriri remains inaccessible and entirely frozen from January to March.

A peculiar landscape near Lamayuru on Leh-Kargil Road is the MoonLand. It is called so fondly, because the landscapes here are said to be like that of the moon.

It has also been said often, that on a full moon night, the area is an extraordinary sight to behold, something one doesn't get see everyday, making it a must visit area of the town.

Nesting pretty at an altitude of 14000 feet above sea level, you have to take the Leh-Kargil-Baltic National Highway to reach the destination. Found at a distance of 30 km from the scenic town of Leh the magnetic hill is girdled by the Sindhu river on its eastern side and cradled in a picturesque backdrop of the Himalayan Range. The 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 kmph.

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 infact it is rolling downhill.

Shanti Stupa, Leh Ladakh Overview
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.

Shanti Stupa was constructed in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist, Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura. The 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. Shanti Stupa is a perfect getaway for both- those looking to obtain peace from offering prayers to God and those waiting to be mesmerised by nature's wondrous beauty.

Located in the Kargil district to the east of Ladakh (around 105 km) lies the bewitching Zanskar Valley. Pronounced as Zahar or Zangskar locally, it is separated from Ladakh by Zanskar mountain range which is a part of The Tethys Himalayas. Zanskar is known for raw landscape and is mostly travelled to for trekking and river rafting.

The semi-desert region is flanked by snow-capped mountains and sparkling clean rivers along with distinct flora and fauna. The easiest way of reaching Zanskar is from Kargil through Suru Valley. It is cut off from the rest of the world for over 9 months of the year because of heavy snowfall in the region. The only way of reaching Zanskar during the winter months of December to February is undertaking the challenging Chadar Trek.

Turtuk is a small village located in Nubra Valley region of Ladakh, on the banks of Shyok River. It is the northernmost villages in India lying very close to the India Pakistan border, in the Baltistan region. Turtuk is an unexplored and offbeat place, opened to tourists only in 2010. There isn't much to do in Turtuk apart from trekking and visiting the 2 monasteries and the Royal House. The picturesque village with its tiny houses and fields is surreal. It remains cut off from Ladakh for 6 months during winter.

The upper area of this village is what the actual Turtuk was decades ago, and later on, it expanded to the lower region. Notably, the Turtuk Village covers three areas, namely - Chutang, Yul, and Farol. Chutang is the area right next to Shyok River. It is the village center today, where the local school and health center are situated, and all the educational and cultural activities are organized. Yul is the lush green area where most of the farming takes place, and it is the oldest part of Turtuk. Lastly, Farol is the area encompassing most of the guest houses in Turtuk, and you will have to cross a wooden bridge to reach here. Farol features buckwheat fields, and visitors can also view the K2 peak from here, the second-highest peak in the world after Mount Everest.

Kargil Tourism
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.

Kargil is one of two districts and a significant town in India's Union Territory of Ladakh, located on the Leh-Srinagar route, 220 kilometres from Leh and 210 kilometres from Srinagar. Kargil is Ladakh's second largest town after Leh. Ladakh is divided into two districts: Leh and Kargil.

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. Kargil has a rich history dating back to the 16th century, amalgamating Buddhist and Turkish architecture.