Leh

Leh

A place like no other, Leh, is surrounded by two humongous mountain ranges, the Karakoram ranges, and the great Himalaya. Leh has in abundance beauty of nature and the landscapes are to die for. It lies beyond two ranges known as the Zanskar range and the Ladakh range. Leh has a rich culture, the people and their lifestyle is simple and has a very welcoming heart.

Leh has been known by the youths as a place for adventures, bike rides and as a trekking destination but is a lot to give to people of any age. The old brick houses, Buddhist gompas, and souvenir shops will take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city life and transfer to a place which looks like a lonely planet. As Leh has been liked by tourists from all over the world, accommodation and traveling is not a problem. You can stay either in a tent or a comfortable 5 star, whichever suits you. Although due to higher altitude you may take a little longer to adjust, there is a wide array of activities that you can indulge into and extraordinary places to see.

The following are the places and activities you can spend time doing

Nubra Valley Nubra Valley has a lot to offer, from green oasis villages to harsh and arid mountains. There are places which are in ruins and then there are old monasteries where you can find peace and tranquility.Nubra valley is 150 km from Leh and you can reach there through Khardungla pass which is the highest motorable pass in the world. The journey itself is awe inspiring. Nubra’s population includes mostly Buddhists and there are many Buddhist learning centers which attract many people from India and abroad. People come here to witness the sand dunes and also to take a ride on the Bactrian camels. The reason why Bactrian camels are popular is that of their two humps. Nubra valley was one of the main destination in the way of the silk route where the trade of woolen clothes made with Pashmina was sold and also other locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Thiksey monastery Thiksey monastery or gompa is the largest in Ladakh. The Gelukpa sect of Buddhism is followed here and the location and architecture are to look for. It is a 12-storey monastery and the statue of Maitreya future Buddha covers 2 floors and is a 40 feet high statue. The morning prayer is quite an attraction here and the vibrations of the prayer will make you feel fresh and calm. Other than the monastery there are ious stupas, thangkas, wall paintings and swords to see there.

Shanti Stupa The white and magnificent dome-like structure is a beautiful place to visit in Leh. standing tall on top of Chamspa hill. This is place is quite an attraction not only for the architecture and its religious significance but also for the view it provides to see around. It was constructed by a Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomo Nakamura in 1991 and was helped by the Ladakh monks. It was built as Buddhism completed 2500 years of existence. It was also considered as a symbol of Peace is also a part of the Peace Pagoda mission which strives to spread peace through the Buddha's preachings. The stupa look goes a level up during the full moon night.   

Tso Moriri Lake This lake is located in the Changthang wildlife sanctuary. The lake is surrounded by the barren and snow clad mountains and one can see the reflection of the sky in the water. The water looks like sky right down your footstep. It is situated at the height of 2000 meters and is also home to many migratory and Himalayan birds. and during the rest of the year, this lake is under snow. One can also spot the Blue sheep and Himalayan mountain goats in this region and if you are lucky you can also spot the snow leopards. The place is also d as a wetland reserve.

Leh Palace This 17th-century palace was built by King Sengge Namgyal the palace lets you have the entire view of the entire Leh town as well as the Himalayan ranges of Stok Kangri and Zanskar. Even though the palace was ruined during the Kashmiri invasion but still the architecture, old paintings, utensils, and cutlery which was used by the royal family are still there making it an attraction for tourists. This place is now taken care of by the Archeological department of India and remains as a museum. The panoramic view is to drool for and the right time to visit is from April to September.

Magnetic Hill At a distance of 30 km from the Leh city on the Leh Kargil highway, this place is keeping people puzzled for a long time. The specialty of this hill is that it disobeys the rule of gravity and pulls the moving vehicles up the hill. Located at an altitude of 14000 feet high, the place is a spot for the riders to stop and take rest. As soon as you reach the place there’s a board which indicates that the drivers need to keep their vehicles in neutral and from here the vehicle starts moving in 20 km/h. There are many theories which have backed it. The locals believe it to be the way to heaven, those who are lucky get pulled. While the scientific theory says that the hills have magnetic power. Another theory says it’s just an optical illusion. To see whether it is true or not you can definitely go and experience it.

Khardungla pass It is considered to be a strategic pass and is the gateway to the Siachen glacier. It is the highest motorable pass in the world. Travelling through the altitude can be difficult for some people as the air becomes thin and breathing can get difficult. But the scenic beauty that it provides is unimaginable. One will feel that he or she is on the top of the world. This pass has remained quite popular since a long time. Bikers from all over the world come and get the amazing biking experience here. The place has many army canteens where you can stop and spend some leisure time eating and drinking something. You can also get a memento of your visit to this pass. The landscape is marvelous and no less than heaven.