A place with mesmerizing views? Spots with breathtaking views? Or a place with majestic unbelievable views in any month of the year. Ladakh is what you are looking for.
This place is a dream come true. So pure, so clean, so calm, so surreal. Thew views will go beyond your expectations and will make you visit it again and again.
A few tips :
Pack water. Pack some snacks. Pack medicines if you are afraid of heights or have breathing issues if going on a little elevation. Pack warm clothes properly and thoughtfully. And most importantly, book well in advance.
This place is a dream come true. So pure, so clean, so calm, so surreal. Thew views will go beyond your expectations and will make you visit it again and again.
A few tips :
Pack water. Pack some snacks. Pack medicines if you are afraid of heights or have breathing issues if going on a little elevation. Pack warm clothes properly and thoughtfully. And most importantly, book well in advance.
We took the trip back in June 2014. Some weather and timing details about Leh Ladakh are:
Leh Weather - Morning and Evenings are cold. Afternoons are hot.
Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley Weather - Cold throughout the day.
Travel Time by Road
Leh to Pangong OR Leh to Nubra Valley - 6-8 hours
*Best time to visit Leh Ladakh - From mid June to end July.
Post that it starts snowing, so roads to Pangong Lake or roads to Nubra Valley are generally closed.
Leh Weather - Morning and Evenings are cold. Afternoons are hot.
Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley Weather - Cold throughout the day.
Travel Time by Road
Leh to Pangong OR Leh to Nubra Valley - 6-8 hours
*Best time to visit Leh Ladakh - From mid June to end July.
Post that it starts snowing, so roads to Pangong Lake or roads to Nubra Valley are generally closed.
Arrive Leh, capital of Ladakh. And spend the rest of the day in resting to get used to the elevation level. Visit the local downtown. Shop if you would like to. Enjoy food, bakeries, wood fired pizza, and the views.
Visit the local Leh market - full of bike rent shops, food joints, and a famous German Bakery. Surprisingly you won't find any alcohol shop here because of the high altitude, so you might to carry one from Delhi if you plan to party at night. But recommended not to do so because of high altitude.
"Grand Himalaya" is the hotel we stayed at. Friendly staff to check you in. Delicious food, good rooms with a view of mountains.
Ladakh has a lot of monasteries so please do your homework and research which ones you want to visit. We would recommend "Indus Valley Monastery" including "Shey Palace". We also recommend to go see "Sindhu Ghat" and "Thiksey Monastery" - an impressive complex rising tier upon tier on a hill above village.
"Rancho's School" is something you can visit. This is the exactly the same location which was shown in 3 Idiots movie. And also the area/wall where the small kid in that movie did pee on.
Rancho school still got lot of kids studying, not well maintained though, but the place is open for tourists to visit but can only go inside with a tour guide inside.
Rancho school still got lot of kids studying, not well maintained though, but the place is open for tourists to visit but can only go inside with a tour guide inside.
Take a tour bus and enjoy your ride from Leh to "Nubra Valley".
145 kms | 8 hour drive approx. Preferable to leave early in the morning as soon as sun rises to reach there on time and spend some time seeing the valley, desert, double hump camels and monastery.
145 kms | 8 hour drive approx. Preferable to leave early in the morning as soon as sun rises to reach there on time and spend some time seeing the valley, desert, double hump camels and monastery.
To reach Nubra Valley, you need to cross "Khardung-la-pass" which is the highest motorable road in the world at 18,380 ft. It is consider to not stay there for long since at such a height, people can faint due to breathing problems. We had a 5 min stop there just to have tea or use washroom and its very cold out there, so layer yourself in clothes. The place was full of bikers biking from all over the world. Nubra Valley is situated to the North of Ladakh between the Karakoram range and Ladakh range of the Himalayas.
"Samstaling Monastery" and "Sumur Sand Dues" is something worth visiting. One can enjoy "double hump bacterian camel ride" there.
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"Lharimo North" is the resort we recommend. Its a clean and small resort. The staff is very friendly and will make you feel like family, treat you with tea and pakoras as soon as you reach there to make you feel comfortable, its heart warming.
One thing to keep in mind is that in Nubra Valley, there is no electricity and the only time they get power is 7 pm to 11 pm so people can cook, eat, and get ready to sleep. Apart from this, there is no electricity there so you need to be prepared and carry a torch for night if you want to go to washroom in your room because it can get really dark in night. Skies are clear and beautiful.
One thing to keep in mind is that in Nubra Valley, there is no electricity and the only time they get power is 7 pm to 11 pm so people can cook, eat, and get ready to sleep. Apart from this, there is no electricity there so you need to be prepared and carry a torch for night if you want to go to washroom in your room because it can get really dark in night. Skies are clear and beautiful.
Drive back to Leh, a 7-8 hour ride; 190 kms in total. On your way back you can visit "Diskit Monastery" (highly recommend) where there is a huge buddha statue and the views of mountains and valley are breathtaking.
Early morning start, take a tour bus or a mini van again and enjoy your drive to "Pangong Lake". 145 kms, 7-8 hours drive
The end scene in the movie 3 Idiots was made here. Pangong Lake is famous for its majestic views. Deep dark blue water. The place is heaven, a dream too good to be true.
You have to book your tents here much in advance because they are generally overbooked so its better and a safer option. And again, the electricity issue is the same as in Nubra Valley. We stayed in a tent called - "Camp Sambhala" and would recommend because the staff was helpful and food was good which is important in such an area.
The end scene in the movie 3 Idiots was made here. Pangong Lake is famous for its majestic views. Deep dark blue water. The place is heaven, a dream too good to be true.
You have to book your tents here much in advance because they are generally overbooked so its better and a safer option. And again, the electricity issue is the same as in Nubra Valley. We stayed in a tent called - "Camp Sambhala" and would recommend because the staff was helpful and food was good which is important in such an area.
To reach Pangong Lake, you need to cross "Changlangla pass" at 5486 mtrs. Situated at 14,000 feet (4,267 m) is a long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven kilometers at its widest point and over 130 km in length. It is bisected by the international border between India and China. We felt so close to nature and environment and the scenery was unforgettable. I can still remember my time there while writing this article.
Drive back to Leh and visit "Hemis Monastery" on your way which is one of the oldest monastery there.
If you still have energy and time, you can visit "Alchi" which is a 3 hour drive from Leh, around 65 kms.
Recommended places to see -
"Hall of Fame" which is technically a museum, situated in an army area.
Also a must visit to "Gurudwara Patthar Sahib" (Please note that photography is not allowed inside). It is built by Lamas of Leh in 1517 to commemorate the visit of Guru Nanak Dev. Both Hall of Fame and Gurudwara were constructed and maintained by Army.
Further to this, we visited "Magnetic Hill" which defines the Law of Gravity.
We then visited "Indus and Zanskar" river from Nimoo, 2 rivers which joins in one. Rafting options are available there. One can buy the tickets from there itself and do rafting if time permits.
Now some final pointers to end your trip :
* You can buy shawls from there, pure all kind of shawls and bargaining can be done easily. You can also buy nice cheap warm clothes from there, they have a huge local market.
* There's a very famous German Bakery there, between bike renting shops and the main market. Must must try that! From A to Z, all of the stuff is yummy there. Also, thupka - must try. Yum!
Apart from this, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. You can email us or just comment here. Have a amazing time if you are planning this trip this year or next.
Adios!
Drive back to Leh and visit "Hemis Monastery" on your way which is one of the oldest monastery there.
If you still have energy and time, you can visit "Alchi" which is a 3 hour drive from Leh, around 65 kms.
"Hall of Fame" which is technically a museum, situated in an army area.
Also a must visit to "Gurudwara Patthar Sahib" (Please note that photography is not allowed inside). It is built by Lamas of Leh in 1517 to commemorate the visit of Guru Nanak Dev. Both Hall of Fame and Gurudwara were constructed and maintained by Army.
Further to this, we visited "Magnetic Hill" which defines the Law of Gravity.
We then visited "Indus and Zanskar" river from Nimoo, 2 rivers which joins in one. Rafting options are available there. One can buy the tickets from there itself and do rafting if time permits.
Now some final pointers to end your trip :
* You can buy shawls from there, pure all kind of shawls and bargaining can be done easily. You can also buy nice cheap warm clothes from there, they have a huge local market.
* There's a very famous German Bakery there, between bike renting shops and the main market. Must must try that! From A to Z, all of the stuff is yummy there. Also, thupka - must try. Yum!
Apart from this, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. You can email us or just comment here. Have a amazing time if you are planning this trip this year or next.
Adios!
1 comments :
I appreciate your work because i enjoyed reading alot. keep up the good work. Will look forward for more such informative blogs ladakh trip
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