Leh Town
At a height of over 11,400 feet, the capital city of Ladakh, Leh, is where you will set off from for your Ladakh experience. Spend two days acclimatizing to the altitude. The thin air can take a little getting used to so don’t rush it. Take your time and adjust to your surroundings so you can be on top of your game to enjoy the days ahead.
While in Leh, take time out to see Leh Palace. Once the royal residence, the Leh Palace built on the Namgyal Peak is being restored by the Archeological Survey of India. Visitors can get a glimpse into past glory at the Palace Museum, which houses a collection of thangkas, jewellery and ceremonial dresses.
Traditional Monasteries
Cities have high rises. Ladakh has monasteries. Artistically dotting the landscape, some of the stupas and gompas date back centuries to tell tales of Buddhist culture and history. Worth a visit are Diskit Monastery with a statue of the Crowned Buddha along with several murals and frescos, Thiksey Monastery, which is the largest gompa in central Ladakh housing a 49-foot high statue of Maitreya Buddha and Hemis Monastery dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava. The famous Hemis Festival is held here where cham or traditional masked dances are performed. Other popular monasteries in the area include Alchi, Stok, Shey and Spituk, all of which house old Buddhist artefacts, hand painted thangkas and ancient armoury.
Of Rivers and Lakes
Pangong Lake or Pangong Tso makes for a picture perfect excursion. At a height of over 14,200 feet, Pangong Lake’s 134 kilometre stretches from India to China. Getting to Pangong Lake is about a five-hour drive from Leh town and once you arrive, you’re likely to never want to leave.
Another visual treat is Tso Moriri. Its clear blue glacial waters mirror the surrounding mountains down to every detail. The largest high altitude lake in the trans-Himalayan region, entirely within India, Tso Moriri and the Tso Moriri Wetland Conservation Reserve is home to several species of flora, fauna and wildlife unique to Ladakh.
Land of High Passes
It’s only fitting that when you’re the “land of high passes” that you make your way to them. On the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas spanning 50 kilometres, Rohtang La connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys. Somewhat treacherous to traverse in the winter when the area is cloaked in snow, Rohtang La comes alive in the summer and don’t be surprised if you’re stuck in a traffic jam!
At over 17,500 feet, Ladakh is home to Khardung La, the highest motorable pass in the world. Located to the north of Leh, it’s the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys, the latter of which is also home to the Siachen Glacier. The 39-kilometre long Khardung La will have you at the edge of your seats with a part of the road being paved and the rest being rocky and gravel laden.
Take a deep breath and let the spiritual serenity in Ladakh take over your senses. It’s unlikely you’ll experience anything like it anywhere else in the world.
