Green-trees,Leh Ladakh

Leh Ladakh, Ahhh! The headline defines my experience.There are a very handful of places in India where you feel yourself being away from home. Leh Ladakh is a place which brings your dreams into reality and allows you to be close to the Mother Nature, who bestows on you her beauty and blessings. Yes it simply does! The culture, people, place and even the non-tangible elements of this place are beyond one’s imagination.

Step by step, mile by mile you are blown away with the kind of landscapes you get to see. So how do you plan your trip? When do you go? How do you go and what are the best places to cover? This article is an attempt amongst those thousand articles written in the past. No no, my article is not the bible for your trip to Leh Ladakh, but certainly will make a quick good reference.

How to plan trip to Leh Ladakh

snowcapped peaks

To begin with, I must admit that you have to plan your trip to Leh Ladakh well in advance, 2months prior to journey day is ideal. You cannot cover all places in one trip unless and until you are at the leisure of deciding your leaves from work. From the health perspective, this barren paradise comes with a few rules and precautions you will have to keep in mind. It is not easy to immediately get acclimatized to the high altitude. People from all walks of life come to explore the natural treasures hidden behind in the Himalayan region. You have to take care of the “Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)” syndrome which is very common here. So, if you are flying to Leh directly from a place which is at a lower altitude, you might face casualties of AMS.
If you are planning a roadtrip from Chandigarh to Jammu &Kargil, then you might breathe easy, as AMS usually suddenly shifting from a lower altitude to higher is where AMS syndrome hits anybody. A very common & easily available medicine “Diamox” helps you combat AMS. It comes in very handy for those who are flying directly to Leh. All you have to do is before you board your flight, just pop in the half tablet of “Diamox” and you are sorted. Yes it is that simple! (I am not a doctor by profession, so cannot comment if there are any side effects that might affect your body). Once you are at Leh airport, and if you still feel dizzy or if you have a headache, the first thing is to do is have some quick snack, take another 1 full tablet of Diamox and sleep on it for 2-3 hours (Note: Similar sickness might occur at higher altitude points like Khardung La. The best thing to do is to descent to a lower altitude immediately).Rest through your first day & you should be well acclimatized to begin small trips to nearby places(Watch out for my section on trip essentials at the end of the article).

Khardungla-Top

I planned to fly from Delhi on a 7-day trip to cover top key places in LehLadakh. Like mentioned above I popped on a half tablet of Diamox just before boarding the flight & was well sorted for the whole journey. I landed on a sunny Sunday morning at 10.30am to witness thick blue sky surrounded by white clouds making it love at first sight. If you ask me I highly recommend August end and September first week as the best period to visit Leh Ladakh. One of the reasons being you get to see sun as well as the snow, as September last week onwards the real winters start. I just did that and saw some amazing landscapes and snow-capped mountains (refer to pics). You can also plan your trip in June,which is usually considered ideal, but what is the fun when you don’t get to see both sides of the world. If you have to plan your trip to LehLadakh, plan it in a way to see the real beauty at the right time. One of the biggest reasons I recommended September also is because most of the tourists don’t visit then and you are mostlikely to have many cheaper hotel options (refer to my section on hotel choices later).

Places to see in Leh Ladakh

Khardungla at Leh Ladakh

Below are the places I visited on my 7-day trip to Leh Ladakh
Shanti Stupa, River confluence aka Sangam, Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Hall of fame, Khardung La peak(the highest motorable road in the world),Nubra Valley, Diskit Gompa and Monastery, Sand Dunes of Hunder, Panamik hot water streams, Samstalling Monastery, Yarab Tso lake, Pangong Tso, Shey Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Thiksey Monastery, Stok Palace & Museum. I visited the above 17 places well spread and planned over the 7days. If you go to these places, then you have easily covered 70% of the Leh Ladakh.  Apart from these there are many other places if you may want to explore nearby including Siachen glacier, Kargil, etc.
Writing about all these 17 places will create a very long article, hence I am going to focus on top places I visited, and which must not be a missed by any traveler i.e. Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso and Monasteries (Samtalling, Shey, Hemis, Thiksey) and Stok Palace & Museum.

How to plan your each day?

Zanskar Route

Once you have arrived in Leh, rest during the day. In the evening, head to Shanti Stupa. The Shanti Stupa provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and an especially beautiful sunset. The beautiful lights at 7pm make Shanti Stupa a sight worth seeing. Couple your evening visit with some nice local “Kehwa or Kahwa” which is good for your health & the local option available instead of tea. For the rest of your evening, just relax and get yourself acclimatized to the high altitudes of 3500 meters above sea level.
On the second day,make short trips around Leh. See the fabulous confluence of the major rivers of Ladakh, Indus and Zanskar – aka Sangam,as the localites call it. En-route take a brief halt to witness the gravity defying phenomenon of the Magnetic Hill. Here it is said that the vehicle is pulled by itself due to magnetic force and car gear can be on neutral. At the Sangam you can enjoy river rafting at Zanskar.

Zanskar and Indus-Sangam, Leh Ladakh

Note: Rafting is only possible for a minimum group of 4-6 people. So if you travelling as a couple, go catch another couple! The river rafting charges are between Rs. 400-600 per person.

Zanskar Pass-Magnetic-Hill

On your way back to Leh, you can pay homage to the war heroes at The Hall of Fame. The Gurudwara Pathar Sahib which was created in memory of the founder of Sikh religion and the first guru , Guru Nanak Dev ji is worth your visit. All these places are easily covered in one day with some breath taking view on its route.

Best places to see in Leh Ladakh

Coming to the best places in Leh Ladakh :Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso &Monastries. These places are out of the world.

Nubra Valley

Nubra-Valley

You have to drive north towards Siachen Glacier (world’s second longest glacier outside the Polar Regions) to reach NubraValley, also fondly called Valley of flowers. It is a beautiful valley with fresh water streams & open mountain landscapes. En-route to Nubra Valley, you will cross Khardung La pass at 5602m (18,379ft), the highest motor able road in the world. This pass or point is heroic. The temperature here can go to -1 degree, making it difficult at times to spend time there. There is an army canteen, which serves awesome black tea, Maggie, pakoda’s and you must not miss it. It tastes unique and the experience of having a black “garam chaai” is different. The route from Leh to Khardung La is also known as “Silk route”(refer to my pic). Moving ahead to Nubra Valley, you will come across some attractions like: DiskitGompa, Panamik Hot water springs,Samstalling Monastery &Hunder sand dunes. Yes, you read it right, Sand dunes of Hunder in Leh. It was a surprise for me as well, but the place is decent which also offers you camel rides. though I did not opt for it!

Diskit Gompa

Diskit-Gompa

Diskit Gompa is one place you will never forget in your life. Diskit is believed to be the largest and oldest monasteries in NubraValley.  The sight of the huge structure standing tall with beautiful art and painting work makes it an impeccable piece of work! (refer to my pic). The Buddha structure is balanced high above the town on a rough land. You can drive up here and spend time sitting in front of the tall structure wondering the kind of imagination gone intomaking this masterpiece! Everywhere by the road you will see some round structures painted in white. These are whitewashed dome-shaped monuments housing Buddhist relics. Another good attraction here is SamstanlingGompa. Built in the 1840s, you will notice that monks here are still preserving the Gompa along with two main prayer halls. The Panamik hot water springs isclose tothe Samstanlingmonanestry, which is a good place to sit and spend some time at. At the Nubra valley I was camping at Thongsal Heritage, which is besides a lake. Food here was good given how far it is from the main city. The night was beautiful with clear sky, visible stars & constellations lighting up the world around me. After this unforgettable experience, I drove back to Leh. My hotel in Leh–Thongsal Hotel, was very good with all the necessary but modern amenities including room heaters. The staff was extremely polite and helpful.. Travell and Nubra Valley and back takes two days.

Pangong Tso Lake

pangong-lake-1

Next I set myself on a ride which I never imagined would be my best ever so far. Pangong Tso Lake, this is where the heaven is! Situated in the Himalayas at an altitude of 4350 meters the lake is known for its unique characters and spectacular views. The lake is a wonderful sight with crystal clear blue water surrounded by colourful barren mountains. The Pangong Lake is one of the most amazing lakes in Asia for it changes its color 4 5 times a day. Surprisingly, it is a dead lake with no aquatic life, yet making it the most beautiful place. I was told by the locals that the lake stretches upto 140kms, with only 40kms in India & rest in China. You will find the border forces guarding it & the sight in front of you is amazing. All you have to do there is see the beautiful blue water, free your soul & mind, and most importantly be close to yourself. The raw beauty in front of you is the best experience you will ever have.

pangong-lake,Leh Ladakh

Coming to the final phase of my trip, “The Monastries”. Any trip to Leh Ladakh is incomplete without the visiting great monasteries and Stok Palace & Museum.

Monasteries

I visited three major monasteries, Shey, Thiksey and Hemis. Other famous & popular monasteries are Alchi, Spituk and Lamayuru, which I could not visit due to limited time. Nevertheless, these three major monasteries near Leh are enough to give you a rich experience of what are they known for. One thing that amazed me the most is that in the form of Prasad, visitors also keep cold drink bottles, biscuit packets, etc. in front of the Buddha statue. All these monastries have open space in front & the outer walls are full of ‘prayer wheels’. One wheel has many prayer strips inside it making it a ritual for every visitor to rotate them with their hands.

Thiksey

Thiksey has one of the Largest Statue of Buddha installed inside. Hemis monastery is the biggest monastery in Ladakh and is hidden in a chasm. Shey monastery has similar characteristics & worth the visit. However, the Stok palace & museum is one place you must visit. It is one of the best & well maintained museums with unique architecture &scenic landscape views.

Where to eat and shop

Thiksey view,Leh Ladakh

If you are wondering about the various food options, then Leh Ladakh food trip is best enjoyed with local food. Have the locally made maggi, thukpa, kehwa or kahwa, momo’s, etc. It is not a place where you would find fine dining places, but yes local small food joints are always your best bet. For shopping, there is only one option which is the Leh main market. Right from warm clothes, to rings, bags, flags, prayer strips, unique art crafts, etc. are all available. You have to wear your bargaining hat to get some good deals. I personally bought mini prayer wheels & prayer strips.

Staying options at Leh Ladakh

Hemis-Monks

Some of the top places to stay In Leh that I highly recommend are: Hotel Thongsal – they are well located and also have camps in Nubra& other places; followed by Norbu Guest House and Drift Wood Residency. If you want to stay at Pangong Tso, Red Start or Camp Whispering waves are your best bets. These are all good category hotels & better than those many budget hotels in Leh.

Hemis

Trip to Leh Ladakh is not about a leisure experience, it is an adventure in itself. You have to have a traveler’s attitude to explore this serene place and understand the true meaning of “Bliss”. Think through it and decide whether you have the time for a road trip or you want to go through trip planners. There are some real good trip planners in Delhi who package it well for you as per your needs. Also, if you have a long leave planned and want to explore the city on your own, go ahead and do it! Leh Ladakh is one place which can be enjoyed in one week or even in one month. Plan your trip basis many days you have and make the best of it. After Leh Ladakh, I plan to soon explore Kargil side.

Some important points

Shanti-Stupa-Evening

1. Carry energy bars or dry fruit to boost your energy levels, especially during the Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso trip. Both are about 4-6 hours drive.
2. Advisable to carry a good winter jacket, windcheater, gloves, woolen cap/headband, ear cap, thermal wear, walking-shoes, SUV protected sunglasses, lip-balm, thick socks, and light woolen clothes along with spare batteries for your torch.
3. If you are travelling in July–August the summer time in Leh, then carry a sunscream lotion which has SPF-50 on it. When you are in Pangong Tso the open heat can burn your skin
4. If you are feeling unwell but not sick after the first night go down to Alchi which is four hundred meters lower than Leh. The hospital there can provide oxygen. There are some decent hospitals in Leh
5. Anti-Diarrheal Medication -Norflox TZ, Anti vomiting –Domstal, Anti mountain sickness (espladakh/ spititavelers) – Diamox tabs. These are only suggested medication. Best is to consult your doctor
   Oral rehydration salts (ORS) & carrying water mixed with Glucon C/D is a good idea while traveling at high altitude
6. ATMs beyond Srinagar and Manali are only available in Kargil and Leh
   

   Shanti-Stupa-Sunset-Siloutte

Article and photographs by Ritesh Shete

About Ritesh Shete

Ritesh Shete is a publicist by profession and photographer by passion. He likes to explore new places, meet people capture moments  and write about them. A travel freak and lover of Electronic Dance Music(EDM). Follow and love only 2 religions in life Karma & Cricket!

Ritesh Shete

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