Experiences To Indulge In
1. Kargil War Memorial
2. Shey Palace & Monastery
3. Pangong Lake
4. Magnetic Hill
5. Thikse Monastery
6. Sangam Point Leh
7. Khardung La
8. Hemis Monastery
9. Nubra Valley
10. Shanti Stupa
Shey Palace
Pangong Lake
Magnetic Hill
DISCOVER
1. Kargil War Memorial
The Kargil War Memorial, built by the Indian Army is located in Dras, in the foothills of the Tololing Hill. The memorial is located about 5 km from the city centre across the Tiger Hill. It is located on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway 1D. The memorial commemorates the soldiers and officers of the Indian Army who were killed during the 1999 war between India and Pakistan.
2. Shey Palace and Shey Monastery
15 kms to the south of Leh lies the Shey Monastery or Shey Gompa. Shey once upon a time was the summer capital of Leh. The chief attraction of this place is the giant copper gilded gold statue of Shakyamuni, which is the second-largest Buddha statue in Ladakh. The monastery has many murals which show Buddha in different postures. The place also celebrates two festivals known as the Shey Doo Lhoo and the Shey Rupla to mark the beginning and the end of the harvest season.
3. Pangong Lake
Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake is a series of five sublakes. Pangong Tso is the westernmost lake that lies in Ladakh. Although a saline lake, it completely freezes during the winters. The lake is famous for its diverse flora and fauna. Several migratory birds like Bar Headed Goose and Brahmini Ducks make this lake their homeland for a few months every year.
4. Magnetic Hill
Magnet Hill is a "Cyclops hill" located near Leh. The layout of the area and surrounding slopes create the optical illusion of a hill. The hill road is a downhill road. Objects and cars on the hill road may appear to roll uphill in defiance of gravity when they are, in fact, rolling downhill.
5. Thikse Monastery
The Thikse Monastery is a gompa that is located on top of a hill in Thikse. Designed on the lines of the Potala Palace in Tibet, it is the largest gompa in central Ladakh. This monastery is also known for its nuns who reside in separate quarters after renouncing all worldly comfort and pleasure. It houses several Buddhist items of worship and artefacts like stupas, statues, thangkas, wall painting and swords.
6. Sangam Point Leh
Sangam is the confluence of Indus and Zanskar Rivers in Ladakh. It is located 35km from Leh in Nimmu, on the Leh Srinagar highway. The two rivers can be separately seen meeting at this point. While the Indus River appears as shiny blue, Zanskar River appears muddy green.
7. Khardung La Pass
Khardung La pass is a gateway to some of the most enchanting and unexplored landscapes. This famed mountain pass is very popular amongst adventure seekers and regular tourists alike. Located in the Leh district of the Indian Union Territory, Khardung La is situated at an elevation of 5,359 meters. It is hailed to be the highest motorable pass all across the globe. Historically speaking, Khardung La is quite significant as it lies on the major caravan route that links Leh to Kashgar in Central Asia.
During the second world war, an attempt to transfer war well to China was made through this route. Khardung La was constructed in the year 1976 and was made accessible to public motor vehicles in the year 1988. The pass is maintained by the Border Roads Organisation and is of great strategic importance as it is used to carry goods to the Siachen Glacier.
8. Hemis Monastery
Hemis Monastery is a Himalayan Buddhist monastery of the Drukpa Lineage, in Hemis, Ladakh, India. Situated 45 km from Leh, the monastery was re-established in 1672 by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal. The annual Hemis festival honouring Padmasambhava is held in early June.
9. Nubra Valley
Major attraction of Nubra is the highest motorable road Khardongla pass (18,380ft.) majestic peaks and glaciers enchanting valleys and villages. Diskit and Samstanling Gonpa, Panamik hot spring, double humped camel safari, river rafting, trekking and Sunbathe in the sand dunes at Hunder are also a great source of attraction for the touristsThis valley is popularly known as Ldumra or the valley of orchard/flowers. It is situated in the North of Ladakh, between Karakoram and Ladakh ranges of Himalayas. Nubra Valley is at a distance of 95 km from Leh town.