If you can imagine yourself sipping chai gasping at snow clad mountains, sand dunes and cobalt blue skies all at once, then Ladhak is calling and you must go.
Things to keep in mind while you plan your trip to Ladhak:
1. Say goodbye to your prepaid sim cards because they will not function in the whole of Ladhak. Airtel and BSNL postpaid connection has descent network in most of Ladhak except in Pangong area.
2. Carry power banks and spare batteries to be on the safer side while travelling in Ladhak because road blocks and landslides might occur.
3. Carry lots of layers and also a good pair of thermals because the temperature here is unpredictable.
4. Carry woolen socks and gloves because your fingers and toes get frozen first, so the normal cotton ones will do no good.
5. Carry lots of sunscreen, body lotion and lip balm because your skin gets very dry too quickly.
6. Carry a water bottle with you and keep sipping water to avoid dehydration.
7. It’s rare to find rest rooms on the way to Nubra valley and Pangong Tso because the journey is via rough terrains so do carry lots of tissues and hand sanitizer. Because you might want to use one so badly but all you might spot is one with no water supply.
8. Carry tablets for altitude sickness (Diamox), vomiting, diarrhea, headache and cold. Even if you happen to fall sick, don’t hesitate to visit the hospital in Leh, the doctors just charge 5₹ for consultation. ( 5₹ – you heard me right)
Keep your eyes wide open as soon as your flight departs from New Delhi because you will be witnessing the Himalayas in a whole new perspective the next one hour.
KUSHU GUESTHOUSE, LEH
We checked into Kushu Guesthouse in Leh. The people of Ladhak will impress you if you haven’t already got impressed by the sight of this place. The staff here were very friendly & the room was warm and cozy with a view.
We took rest for a while because too many people had spoken about altitude sickness but we dint face any such thing.
INDUS (SINDHU)- ZANSKAR CONFLUENCE ( SANGAM, Leh)
This was our first stop and we really felt like being inside a painting. The two rivers with visibly different shades ( Indus - green and Zanskar - blue) flow through the mighty Himalayas.
This hill is believed to pull the vehicle against gravity when placed in neutral gear. While some say it’s magnetism others say it’s an illusion.
This was our first monastery visit in Leh. We learnt to spin the bell and had the famous Butter Chai for 10₹.
Do visit this place during sunset to witness the white structure more beautifully. The roads leading to this place is bad but it’s just a 15 minute drive from the Leh Main Bazar Area.
We got back to our room to find a 6 course meal waiting for us. The breakfast and the dinner was a compliment from the guesthouse.
We got up early to proceed to Nubra Valley via Khardung la pass. But when we started nearing Khardung la, we were forced to stop due to the unpredictable weather in Ladhak.
People had warned us of the scorching heat of the sun and the UV rays but little did we expect to face snow storms and negative temperatures during the month of May. The landslide due to the sudden change in climate made us change our plans for the day with a heavy heart.
We decided to turn back and explore more of Leh.
Ladhak is the only place in India where the Sindhu/ Indus river flows before entering Pakisthan. A ghat is built to perform puja during the monsoon months.
Get used to climbing inclined roads and driving through mountain bends because Ladhak is the land of passes and every place of attraction is located high up.
RANCHO’S SCHOOL & CAFE
This place is named after Aamir Khan’s character in 3 idiots and this was the exact same location where the final school scene was shot.
This is another famous monastery in Ladhak with a museum that reads out the history behind theses Tibetan structures.
We bought few winter wear from the Tibetan Refugee Market and strolled through the bazar streets.
We finally got a chance to taste the local cuisine . We tried thukpa (soupy noodle) , momos (dumplings) and hakka noodles.
We travelled through deserts, snow clad mountains, bumpy roads, high altitude passes & freezing temperature for 7 hours to reach Pangong Tso. There are no words to explain the beautiful landscapes that kept changing.
We totally forgot about the tiring journey as soon as we spotted the mesmerizing Pangong lake. We wore all the layers we could before stepping outside to face the negative temperatures and chilling breeze.
We stayed the night in a tent in PANGONG SARAI and it ended up being the coldest night of my life. The food and ambiance was good but the facilities to face the negative temperatures was insufficient.
This is the second highest motorable pass in the world after Khardung la. It was pouring snow outside, still we made it a point to capture some pictures.
We started back to Leh through the same route and fell in love with the contrasting landscapes of Ladhak.
We wanted to carry a part of Ladhak with us back home and immediately the Tibetan Prayer Flag crossed my mind. You get to see them in every nook and corner of Ladhak and they supposedly bring luck when gifted. They come in varying sizes and are available in almost every shop.
The sun came up high after 4 days and it was time for us to bid goodbye to this paradise. Ladhak is an underrated tourist place. It has so much to offer for everyone, from beautiful landscapes to rich culture.
We booked our accommodation and transport within Ladhak with the untravel team and I would definitely recommend them. They were very flexible and took care of all our needs.
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