Kargil is a tourist hotspot that is usually a stopover on the way from Srinagar to Leh and is small enough to be explored en route. Due to its location near the Line of Control, Kargil is also an unpredictable region. However, apart from its glorious past, Kargil is also blessed with natural beauty and adventure. Kargil has a war memorial which is the main attraction of the region. The region is home to the famous Nun Kun Peaks and offers excellent opportunities for mountaineering and trekking. Kargil is situated on the banks of the Suru River and offers unique opportunities for river rafting. Kargil has a rich history dating back to the 16th century, blending Buddhist and Turkish architecture.   The town is situated at an altitude of 2704 metres above sea level and offers exemplary views of the Himalayan mountain range. Besides tourism, this region is also known as an important centre for trade and commerce. Kargil is dotted with apricot farms and is one of the largest apricot

  Pathar Sahib Gurudwara, Leh Ladakh  The Pathar Sahib Gurudwara is a beautiful gurudwara dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev. It is located 25 km from Leh on the Leh-Kargil road. The Gurudwara is highly revered as it houses a rock that resembles the back of Guru Nanak. It was built on the spot where he is said to have defeated a demon. The Gurudwara is guarded by the lamas and the Indian army.  The locals believe that Guru Nanak stayed at this place in the 15th century, which was ruled by a demon. When the locals asked him for help, the demon threw a boulder towards Guru Nanak, which turned into wax when it touched his back and took his form. This rock is worshipped today at the Gurudwara Pathar Sahib. Most vehicles stop here and pay their respects before continuing their journey. Other destinations to travel at Ladakh & Near Ladakh Pangong Lake Ladaka Khardung La weather and best time to visit Hundar in the Nubra Sangam, Leh Ladakh Shanti Stupa, Leh Ladakh Tso Moriri, Leh L

  Hemis Monastery, Hemis Hemis Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located 45 km south of Leh. It was built by the Ladakhi King Sengge Namgyal and is considered one of the richest monasteries in India. The Hemis Monastery is mainly visited during the annual Hemis Festival, which takes place every year at the beginning of June. The Hemis Monastery houses a spectacular copper statue of Lord Buddha as well as stupas made of gold and silver, thangkas (a painting on cotton or silk depicting a Buddhist deity) and murals. The large courtyard and a picturesque veranda are decorated with colourful paintings of the Buddhist Kalachakra. Hemis Monastery belongs to the Red Sect or Dugpa Kargyupta Order of Buddhism. All four sides of the monastery are decorated with colourful prayer flags that flutter in the breeze and send out prayers to Lord Buddha. It is also an institution for the teaching of Tantric Vajrayana. Other destinations to travel at Ladakh & Near Ladakh Pangong Lake L

  Stok Palace, Leh Ladakh  Located about 15 km from Leh, Stok Palace is the summer residence of the royal family of Ladakh and descendants of King Sengge Namgyal. It was built in 1820 by King Tsepal Namgyal and opened to the public by the Dalai Lama in 1980.  The Stok Palace has been converted into a heritage hotel and houses the Stok Palace Museum and Temple. The hotel's rustic interiors exude regal, antique décor alongside some whimsically decorated rooms. Besides, the Stok Palace is also a well-preserved traditional piece of Buddhist culture. The hotel is divided into six units within the Stok Palace and three more units in the Chulli Bagh Villa. Stok Palace Museum Inside the magnificent palace is the Stok Palace Museum, which houses valuable artefacts and jewels of King Sengge Namgyal and his descendants, attracting many historians and anthropologists. Ancient coins, royal seals, valuable jewellery and photographs are kept in this museum. Here you will also find the royal

  Shey Monastery and Palace, Leh Ladakh  Shey Monastery or Shey Palace is an ancient monastery located 15 km from Leh. It once served as the summer capital of Ladakh, but is now mostly in ruins. It is located on a hill and offers a breathtaking panoramic view. The highlight of the monastery is the 39-foot- tall Shakyamuni Buddha statue, the second largest Buddha statue in Jammu and Kashmir. Special permission is required to visit the monastery.  Shey Monastery is often visited along with the surrounding monasteries of Thiksey, Hemis, Stakna and Matho. The monastery complex is decorated with various murals and rock carvings of Buddha. 400 metres away is another shrine that houses the Shakyamuni statue in a seated position. The best time to visit the monastery is during the Shey Rhupla and Shey Doo Lhoo festivals, celebrated in July or August. The Shey Palace was built in 1655 by Deldan Namgyal, the king of Ladakh, in memory of his father. Other destinations to travel at Ladakh &

  The Chadar Trek or the Frozen River Expedition is one of the most unique and challenging treks in India. The 6-day Chadar Trek across the frozen Zanskar River in Ladakh takes place in the second half of January to the end of February or sometimes even in the first week of March, depending on the weather. The locals, or Zanskaris as they are popularly known, usually take a road from the Zanskar to Nerak and beyond to work, which in summer usually consists of trading goods. In winter, the road is blocked and dangerous to travel, so locals walk along the Zanskar River, which is frozen over at that time. The thick ice cover formed by the Zanskar River resembles a white blanket called "chadar" in the local language. Hence, the trek along the frozen Zanskar River is also known as the Chadar trek. Although the trek seems to be challenging, it is not the most difficult as it is basically a flat trek along the Chadar with only a few metres of elevation gain. If you can walk f

  Zanskar Valley, Leh Ladakh The enchanting Zanskar Valley is located in Kargil district in eastern Ladakh (about 105 km). It is pronounced Zahar or Zangskar by the locals and is separated from Ladakh by the Zanskar mountain range, which is part of the Tethys Himalayas. Zanskar is known for its rugged landscape and is mostly travelled for trekking and river rafting. The semi-desert region is flanked by snow-capped mountains and sparkling clean rivers, and boasts unique flora and fauna. The easiest way to reach Zanskar is from Kargil through the Suru Valley. Due to heavy snowfall in the region, it is cut off from the rest of the world for over 9 months of the year. The only way to reach Zanskar in the winter months from December to February is the challenging Chadar Trek. Other destinations to travel at Ladakh & Near Ladakh Pangong Lake Ladaka Khardung La weather and best time to visit Hundar in the Nubra Sangam, Leh Ladakh Shanti Stupa, Leh Ladakh Tso Moriri, Le

  Thiksey Monastery, Leh Ladakh Thiksey Monastery is a Tibetan-style monastery located 20 km south of Leh on the Leh-Manali highway. The twelve-storey monastery is perched on a hill and offers magnificent views of the town and the Indus Valley below. The main highlight of Thiksey is the Maitreya Temple, which houses a 15-metre high Maitreya Buddha statue. It spans two floors of the building and is the largest statue of its kind in Ladakh. Thiksey consists of numerous white buildings arranged in a hierarchy, standing out against the rocky, golden-brown hills. It resembles the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Thiksey consists of 10 temples and currently houses over 100 monks. The monastery houses Buddhist stupas, thangkas, swords, murals and statues. Other main attractions at Thiksey include the Tara Temple, Lamokhang Temple, Assemnly Hall, Nunnery, Library and Roof Terrace. The monastery also serves as a residential monastery for monks. Other destinations to travel at Ladakh &am

  Hall of Fame Museum, Leh Ladakh  The Hall of Fame is a museum located about 4 km from Leh on the Leh-Kargil road, built to commemorate the brave soldiers who lost their lives for India in the Indo-Pakistani War.  The Hall of Fame is maintained by the Indian Army and displays confiscated weapons and equipment of the Pakistan Army, pictures and biographies of brave soldiers. A section of the museum also displays the Siachen area, which exhibits clothing and equipment of the Indian Army that was deployed in the region. You can also admire exhibits on Ladakhi culture, history, vegetation and wildlife from all over the world. Other destinations to travel at Ladakh & Near Ladakh Pangong Lake Ladaka Khardung La weather and best time to visit Hundar in the Nubra Sangam, Leh Ladakh Shanti Stupa, Leh Ladakh Tso Moriri, Leh Ladakh Magnetic hills, Ladkh Hall of Fame Museum, Leh Ladakh Thiksey Monastery, Leh Ladakh Zanskar Valley, Leh Ladakh The Chadar Trek, Ladakh Shey Monaster

  Magnetic Hill, Leh Ladakh  The popular Magnetic Hill in Ladakh is a cyclops hill where vehicles defy gravity and move up the hill when parked at the marked spot. To experience this phenomenon, park the car in neutral in the yellow box marked a few metres before the road to Magnetic Hill. From this point, the car will start moving at a speed of 20 km/h.  Although there are some myths about the mysterious Magnetic Hill, the fact is that the layout of the area and the surrounding hills are an optical illusion. The road going downhill appears to be a road going uphill, which causes the car to slowly gain momentum and appear to be going uphill against gravity, when in fact it is rolling downhill. The myth behind the mystery of the magnetic hill We live in a strange world where sometimes there is no logical explanation for beliefs and superstitions. People say the hill has superpowers that transport the worthy to heaven. However, there is not one but two plausible scientific explana

  Tso Moriri, Leh Ladakh  Lake Tso Moriri is the largest high altitude lake in India and lies at an altitude of 4,595m. It is located between Ladakh and Tibet in the Changtang region and is a twin of Lake Pangong. This lake offers a picturesque place of peace and tranquillity flanked by mountains. It is about 28 km long (from north to south) and 8 km wide. A permit for the inner line is required to visit Tso Moriri. The stunning Tso Moriri can only be visited in the summer months from April onwards, when the lake starts to melt. May, June, July and August are the peak tourist season. From January to March, Tso Moriri remains inaccessible and completely frozen.  Tso Moriri is a designated Ramsar site, which means that you are not allowed to pitch a tent or build anything near the lake. A number of birds can be seen at Tso Moriri, such as the naked-headed goose, great crested grebe, Brahmin duck and brown-headed gull. Himalayan hares are also found here in large numbers. The lak

  Shanti Stupa, Leh Ladakh The Shanti Stupa in Leh is a magnificent white Buddhist monument perched on a steep hilltop at a dizzying height of 11,841 feet. It is a religious site for Buddhists as it houses the Buddha's relics, which were consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama. It was consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama. It is also popular with tourists as it offers sweeping views of Leh and the nearby village of Changspa. The Shanti Stupa looks particularly beautiful on the night of the full moon, when it is naturally illuminated by moonlight. The Shanti Stupa was built in 1991 by the Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura. It was built jointly by the Japanese and Ladakhi Buddhists to celebrate the completion of 2500 years of Buddhism and to promote world peace. It is part of the Peace Pagoda Mission, which aims to spread peace through the preaching of the Buddha. The Shanti Stupa is a perfect place for those who seek peace by offering prayers to God and for those who want to

  Sangam, Leh Ladakh Sangam is the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers in Ladakh. It is located 35 km from Leh in Nimmu, on the Leh-Srinagar highway. The two rivers can be seen separately at this point. While the Indus is a bright blue, the Zanskar River is muddy green. It is a spectacular sight that you can experience here. The flow of the two rivers at Sangam changes according to the season. While the Zanskar River is swollen and raging in summer, the Indus River is calmer. In winter, the Zanskar slows down and almost freezes, while the flow of the Indus is even less. The Indus is one of the longest rivers in Asia and rises in Tibet. The Zanskar River originates in the Zanskar Valley region. Other destinations to travel at Ladakh & Near Ladakh Pangong Lake Ladaka Khardung La weather and best time to visit Hundar in the Nubra Sangam, Leh Ladakh Shanti Stupa, Leh Ladakh Tso Moriri, Leh Ladakh Magnetic hills, Ladkh Hall of Fame Museum, Leh Ladakh Thiksey

  Hundar in the Nubra Valley, with its barren mountains in the background, is famous for its rides on Bactrian camels.  Bactrian camels are one of the rarest species that have two humps and were the main means of transport on the Silk Road. The Diskit Monastery in the Nubra Valley is famous for the 32-metre high Maitreya Buddha statue, which is located near the monastery. There are many activities in the Nubra Valley such as ATV rides and ziplining. The region is currently under military surveillance as the road continues to Siachen Base Camp, the highest battlefield in the world. Most tourists travel from Leh to the Nubra Valley via the Khardung La. Other destinations to travel at Ladakh & Near Ladakh Pangong Lake Ladaka Khardung La weather and best time to visit Hundar in the Nubra Sangam, Leh Ladakh Shanti Stupa, Leh Ladakh Tso Moriri, Leh Ladakh Magnetic hills, Ladkh Hall of Fame Museum, Leh Ladakh Thiksey Monastery, Leh Ladakh Zanskar Valley, Leh Ladakh The Chadar

  Khardung La Pass, Leh Ladakh  The Khardung La, also known as Khardzong La, is a high mountain pass in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, near Leh. It serves as a gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys. The Khardung La is known as the highest motorable road in India with an altitude of 5602 metres. However, contrary to popular belief, the actual altitude is 5359 metres, making the Dungri La the highest motorable road pass in India. The Khardung La pass is an ideal excursion destination for adventure seekers, peace seekers and mountain bike fans. Tourists need an inner line permit to enter and ride on the pass. Due to heavy rains and snowfall, Khardung La Pass remains closed from October to May.  The Khardung La was built in 1976 and opened to the public in 1988. The pass is very important for India as supplies are transported to the Siachen Glacier through it. From the top, you have a picturesque view of the Karakoram Range and the Himalayas. Khardung La weather and best time

  Pangong Lake, the most popular tourist attraction in Ladakh, is an endorheic (landlocked) lake located at an altitude of 4350 metres. Also known as Pangong Tso, it is 12 kilometres long and stretches from India to Tibet. Almost 60% of Lake Pangong lies in the Tibet Autonomous Region. A special feature of the lake is that it does not stay blue all year round, but changes colour from azure to light blue to green and grey! It is known among tourists as Ladakh Lake, the place where the Bollywood film "3 Idiots" was shot. Since the fascinating Pangong Lake lies on the actual China-India Line of Control, a permit for the inner line is required to visit it. Indian nationals can easily obtain an individual permit, while other foreign nationals need a group permit for at least 3 people accompanied by an accredited guide. You can get the permit for a small fee at the tourist office in Leh. Due to its altitude, the temperature of Lake Pangong varies between -5°C and 10°C, so it