Top 5 Places to Visit in Ladakh

There is no other place like Ladakh! The scenic natural beauty of the mountains, lakes and the cultural blend of Indian, Tibetan as well as Buddhism ethos makes any visit to LehLadakh one of the best experiences. The majestic beauty and charm of this place is unmatchable, and must be at the top of your bucket list of places to visit. Ladakh boasts of a number of tourist attractions in the form of lakes, wetlands, snow clad mountain peaks, valleys and how can we forget, the famous ‘3 idiots’ shooting spot. The ways to reach Ladakh is via road, and if you wish to rent a car then you can use zoomcar coupon to avail a great discount.

Here are some of the places in Ladakh that you must definitely visit:

1. Khardung-la Pass

The highest civilian motorable pass in the world, the Kahrdungla Pass is a treat for all driving enthusiasts. The gateway leads to the Nubra and Shyok valleys, and is must visit place for all the motor bikers and adventurers. It is one of the most difficult passes to ride on, but is equally thrilling. The slippery roads due to ice, and freezing temperatures of the region add on to the difficulty level, but once you reach the end of it, it all seems worth it! The experience of driving through the mountains and valleys of this roads is a lifetime one, and you must have it.

2. Pangong Tso Lake

Wake up the Bollywood buff in you, and be excited about this one! Do you remember the astonishingly magnificent lake from the movie 3 Idiots where Kareena Kapoor drives in a scooter, dressed up like a bride, and confessed her love to Rancho? Its this very lake! It is one of the most popular tourist charms in LehLadakh, and is located on the Changtang plateau. It is a popular camping site, and you can even spot the actual Kareena scooter around the lake, and click a picture or two!

3. HemmisMonastry

Ladakh is one of the few places in India that exhibits a blend of Indian, Tibetian and Buddhist cultures, coexisting so beautiful. Hence, it is only natural to find beautiful monasteries all over Ladakh, Hemmis Monastery is one of those. It happens to be one of the most famous monasteries in all of India, and is best known for hosting its annual mask festival. The mask festival is spread over two days on Tse Chu, which is the tenth day in lunar month in the Tibetan calendar. It is celebrated in the memory Gautam Buddha’s reincarnation, Guru Padmasambhava.

4. Zanskar River: Chadar Trek

As the names suggests, The Chadar Trek offers you the chance to trek over a ‘chadar’ of ice, over frozen rivers, the Zanskar River being the most popular one. The trek is organised by a number of private companies and individuals, and is usually undertaken in large groups. It is generally done in November, because this is the time the river is frozen, and at the same time, the outside environment and surroundings are not too harsh to survive. The lack of resources, and extreme cold temperature makes the trek a challenging one, but is sure to give you an experience of a lifetime.

5. Nubra Valley: a desert

The last thing you will expect while planning a trip to the mountains, is a desert. Yes, you read that right! Nubra valley on the north of Ladakh is a breathtakingly beautiful desert that is sure to give you the complete feel of the Arabian nights like experience. You can also spot the famous two-humped camelshere, and often a highlight for animal lovers. The desert is supposed to be originated from the Tethys Sea, which was located between the Euarasian plate, and the Indian plate, before the latter moved towards it, subsiding the sea under it. It from the depths of the Tethys Sea, that the Himalayas are said to have been formed.

During the winters, major part of the Ladakh region remains mostly dysfunctional due to the severe winters and snow-clad mountains and roads, and the frozen lakes. Hence, the best time of visit Ladakh is the summer months between April and September, so that you can enjoy the beauty of the place, and not get weighed down by the weather. Plan your next vacation to Ladakh, and you’ll thank us later!

News Reporter