Ladakh (Leh) Reviews

Food, sight-seeing and shopping
In the beginning of the journey, one can visit the beautiful monasteries, many of which are in close proximity to Leh. A prominent structure in Leh is the Leh Palace, which was earlier home to the royal family and has been declared as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. Another feature of the capital city is the Shanti Stupa, a recent addition built with the help of the Japanese and inaugurated by his holiness, the Dalai Lama. The sangam or merging of the Indus (or Sindhu) and Zanskar rivers is a sight to see ? one can easily distinguish the two different coloured river waters blending into each other. Another place to visit is the magnetic hill, where on can switch off one?s vehicle and witness it defy the laws of gravity. There are numerous areas in Leh where one can shop for souvenirs and traditional clothing. The variety is food is limited, however, one can relish the lovely Tibetan dishes such as Momos and Thukpa. One of the must visit areas is the Khardung La pass, which at a height of 5578 m is arguably the highest motorable pass in the world. One can then travel down across the pass to reach the Nubra valley, traversing the village of Khardung and the small town of Khalsar on the way. The multi-veined Shyok river flowing through the Nubra valley is a sight to behold. Apart from the beautiful views, the valley has little to offer the tourist and one of the two roads down the valley leads one in the direction of Siachen. The other takes one to the quiet towns of Diskit and then on to Hunder, beyond which civilians are not allowed to travel. Hunder is marked by crescent shaped dunes and one can get to see double humped Bactrian camels on the way. Another not-to-be-missed feature of this region is the Pangong Tso lake, which is the highest salt water lake in the world and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful lakes in this region. The lake can be reached by traversing through the Chang La pass, arguably the third highest motorable pass in the world. The sight of this lake is simply stunning and one is always tempted to throw caution to the winds and start running to reach the crystal clear heavenly waters. The lake is an enigma in itself, and seems to be made up of different shades of blue, green and white. Only one-fourth of this lake lies in India, the rest is a part of China. One can?t help but wonder at the beauty of this marvel of nature. This is one of the best places to click photographs, and to immerse oneself in the splendour of the place. A treat for nature lovers is the lake Tso-Moriri, which is inhabited by numerous species of water birds and other wildlife. This beautiful serene lake can be reached after a 7 hour journey from Leh.

Activities & things to do
Ladakh is a great place for tourists and one can spend time in various activities ranging from the sightseeing and Yak safaris for the leisure travelers to mountain climbing, trekking and cycling for adventurers. What is on offer for all the travelers are the breath taking views all around especially the snow-covered landscapes.

Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc.
One can travel by road via the Manali-Leh or Srinagar-Leh highways or take a flight to the Leh airport. Carry a lot of warm clothes and be prepared for temperatures to plummet rapidly, especially when it becomes cloudy. A word of caution ? one should always take time to acclimatize to the surroundings. The first few hours in Leh should be spent sleeping or resting and relaxing, and only in the evening should one venture out to nearby areas. A full day?s rest in Leh is ideal. One should also avid exertion of all kinds, and if required take adequate rest. One should also carry all possible medicines that may be required for the journey. Food is scarce and there are very few eating places in these areas, so adequate snacks and food items should be carried along. Intake of sufficient amount of water is essential and it makes sense to stock enough at the beginning of the road journey. The routes to the passes are some times covered with slippery ice and one should be sure of the road conditions before planning travel to these areas. Having said this, Ladakh is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on earth and is definitely a must-see for all.