Ladakh’s tranquil, turquoise lakes, adventure sports like river rafting and trekking, and the numerous Buddhist monasteries, make it among the most unique travel destinations in India.
| TRAVEL SEASONS | MIN/MAX TEMPERATURE | SEASON |
| April to July | 15° C to 30° C | Summer |
| July to Sep | 3° C to 17° C | Monsoon |
| Oct to March | 0° C to 15° C | Winter |
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Rainfall (mm) | 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.7 | 12.9 | 14.1 | 7.2 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 |
The Best time to visit Ladakh is during the summer season from the month of April to July. Ladakh is known for its extremely low temperatures almost all through the year. While it is quite pleasant in the summer time, the winters are exceedingly cold unforgiving. Well, in that case, naturally the best time to visit Ladakh is during the summers.
Ladakh’s cuisine, while greatly influenced by Tibetan culture, still has a voice of its own. You must absolutely taste Thupka, a delicious noodle-soup made using boiled vegetables, chunks of chicken, pork, and meat. Ladakh is famous for its butter tea – a pink coloured, fragranced liquid made from tea leaves, butter, salt and water.
You will find articles in Ladakh that are inspired by Tibetan culture since the area is located quite close to Tibet, and most people living out there are Buddhists. Tourists usually shop for items like Tibetan Handicrafts, Jams made of Apricots, Pashmina Shawls, Jewelry made of silver, and many more.
Hindi, English and Ladakhi (also called Bhoti or Bhodi)
1. MONASTERIES
Ladakh, famous for its numerous monasteries, belongs to the Tibetan Sect of Buddhism. The Spituk Gompa which is one of the most famous monasteries in Ladakh can be found on the top of a hill and is renowned for its beautiful carvings and beauty. Another famous monastery is the Hemis Monastery in Ladakh.
2. THE CONFLUENCE OF ZANSKAR AND INDUS
What is famous in Ladakh is the point where the rivers Zanskar and Indus converge and flow down into Pakistan as the Indus River. You will find that the colours and hues of the river differ in every season with each of them being worth witnessing.
3. WHITE WATER RAFTING
If you visit Ladakh in a summer (which is the ideal time to visit this place) and wish to opt for an adrenaline-charged activity, then you must indulge in white-water rafting which is an extremely popular sport here.
4. HIGHEST MOTORABLE PASSES AROUND THE GLOBE
Apart from the famous monasteries in Ladakh, this scenic place is also famous for its dangerous passes and roads. The Chang-La and Khardung-La are some of the highest motorable passes around the globe which are flocked by enthusiastic, experienced and adventurous bikers from India and abroad.
5. CAMPING AND TREKKING
Camping and trekking are two activities which are very famous in Ladakh as it offers a plethora of options such as mountaineering, jeep safari, white water rafting; all of which are included in a fun-filled and adventurous camping or trekking activity. Ladakh is quite famous for its incandescent mountains and longing valleys; all of which makes it a hot favourite amongst travellers. Some top-notch places for trekking and camping include Tso Moriri, Stok Kangri, Chadar and Markha Valley.
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES – (AS OF MAY 2023)
1. LEH
The main town, very picturesque, Leh is an excellent base for exploring Ladakh. Good hotels, guest houses and restaurants. Majority of population is Buddhist.
The neighbourhood of Leh is home to some breathtaking sights of the majestic Himalayas. Some of the main attractions include the Magnetic Hill, where the strange gravitational waves make vehicles go uphill, the Hall of Fame which commemorates the sacrifice of the fallen soldiers in the Indo-Pak war and the Khardung La Pass which happens to be the Highest Motorable Pass (at the height of 5,602m).
2. SHANTI STUPA
The Shanti Stupa is a white-domed Buddhist monument. It is a religious place for Buddhists as it holds the relics of Buddha, consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama. It is also popular amongst tourists as it offers a sweeping view of Leh and the nearby Changspa village. Shanti Stupa looks exceptionally beautiful during the full moon night when it is naturally illuminated by the moonlight.
3. PANGONG LAKE
The most popular tourist attraction in Ladakh, Pangong Lake is an endorheic (landlocked) lake situated at 4350 meters. Also known as Pangong Tso it is 12 kilometres long and extends from India to Tibet. Almost 60% of Pangong Lake lies in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. A unique feature of the lake is that it does not remain blue throughout the year or even the day, rather it changes colours from azure to light blue to green and grey too! It is famous amongst tourists as Ladakh Lake, the spot where the Bollywood movie “3 Idiots” was shot.
Since the enthralling Pangong Lake falls on the Sino-Indian Actual Line of Control, an inner line permit is required to visit it. The Indian Nationals can easily obtain individual permits while other foreign nationals need to obtain a group permit, with at least 3 persons in the group, accompanied by an accredited guide. The permit can be obtained at the tourist office in Leh, for a small fee. Owing to its altitude, the Pangong Lake temperature ranges from -5°C to 10°C as a result of which it freezes completely during winters in spite of its salinity.
4. TSO MORIRI
Tso Moriri Lake is the largest high altitude lakes in India situated at an altitude of 4,595m. Located between Ladakh and Tibet in the Changtang region, it is a twin to the Pangong Lake. This lake offers a scenic place of peace and tranquillity flanked by mountains, measuring about 28 km in length from north to south, and 8 km wide. An inner line permit is required for visiting Tso Moriri.
The stunning Tso Moriri can be visited only during the summer months starting from April when the lake starts to melt. May, June, July and August are the peak tourist season. Tso Moriri remains inaccessible and entirely frozen from January to March.
5. NUBRA VALLEY
Famous for its white sand deserts and double-humped camels, Nubra Valley is certainly one of the best places to visit in Ladakh. Not just the scenic slopes of Karakoram Range but also the confluence of Shyak and Siachen rivers is what makes Nubra valley an exquisite voyage!
The region is currently under military supervision because the road further leads to the Siachen base camp, which happens to be the highest battlefield in the world. Most tourists travel to Nubra Valley from Leh through Khardung La.
6. KHARDUNG-LA PASS
Khardung La, also known as Khardzong La, is a high mountain pass in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, near Leh. It serves as the gateway to Shyok and Nubra Valley. Khardung La is popular as the highest motorable road in India at an elevation of 5602 metres. However, contrary to the belief, its actual elevation is 5359 metres making Dungri La the highest motorable road pass in India.
Khardung La pass is a perfect getaway for adventure enthusiasts, peace seekers and mountain biking aficionados. An Inner Line Permit is required by the tourists to enter the pass and travel through it. Due to heavy rains and snowfall, the Khardung La pass remains closed from October to May.
7. MAGNETIC HILL
The popular Magnetic Hill of Ladakh is a cyclops hill where vehicles defy the force of gravity and move upwards on the hill when parked at the marked location. To experience this phenomenon, park the car in neutral gear in the yellow box marked a few metres ahead of the Magnetic Hill road. From this point, the car starts moving at a speed of 20 kmph.
The hill lies at a distance of 30 km from the town of Leh on the Leh-Kargil highway, at an elevation of around 14,000 feet above sea level. It is one of the major tourist attractions and an almost essential stopover for all those who travel to Ladakh. An optical illusion or actuality, the Magnetic Hill in Ladakh has mysterious magnetic properties that draw tourists from across the globe.
8. HALL OF FAME MUSEUM
Located at approximately 4 km from Leh on the Leh-Kargil Road, the Hall of Fame is a museum was built in memory of the brave soldiers who lost their lives fighting for India at the Indo-Pakistan war.
Maintained by the Indian Army, the Hall of Fame showcases seized arms and amenities of Pakistani Army, pictures and biographies of brave soldiers. A section of the museum also displays Siachen area, exhibiting apparel and amenities used by the Indian Army in the region. Apart from this, one can also witness items related to Ladakhi culture, history, vegetation and wildlife found across the globe.
9. THIKSEY MONASTERY
Thiksey Monastery is a tibetan-style monastery located 20km south of Leh, on Leh Manali highway. The twelve-storey monastery is located on top of a hill, giving 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 covers two-stories of the building and is the largest such statue in Ladakh.
10. SHEY MONASTERY AND PALACE
Shey Monastery or the Shey Palace is an ancient monastery located 15km from Leh. It once served as the summer capital of Ladakh but is mostly in ruins now. Located on top of a hillock, it offers stunning panoramic views. The highlight of the monastery is 39ft tall Shakyamuni Buddha statue which is the second largest Buddha statue in Jammu & Kashmir. A special permission needs to be taken to visit the monastery.
11. HEMIS MONASTERY
Hemis Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located 45 kms south of Leh. Built by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal, it is ranked as one of the wealthiest monasteries in India. Hemis Monastery is most visited during the annual Hemis Festival, held every year in early June.
Hemis Monastery houses a spectacular copper statue of Lord Buddha along with stupas made of gold and silver, thangkas (a painting on cotton or silk, depicting Buddhist deity) and murals.
12. PATHAR SAHIB GURUDWARA
Gurudwara Pathar Sahib is a beautiful gurudwara, dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev. It is located 25km from Leh on Leh Kargil road. The gurudwara is highly revered as it houses a rock which resembles Guru Nanak’s back. It is built at the site where he is believed to have vanquished a demon. The gurudwara is looked after by the lamas and the Indian army.
13. LEH PALACE
The Leh Palace, also known as ‘Lhachen Palkhar,’ is a 17th-century former royal palace and one of the central attractions in Leh. Built under the patronage of by King Sengge Namgyal, it used to house his family. The nine-storey dun-coloured palace now houses a museum and a prayer room, while the highlight is the sweeping view of Leh and the surrounding Zanskar Mountain from the rooftop.
14. KARGIL
Usually a stopover for people travelling towards Leh from Srinagar, Kargil is a tourist hotspot that’s small enough to be explored by wayfaring. Situated close to the line of control, Kargil is also a volatile region. However, apart from its glorious past, Kargil is bestowed with natural beauty and adventure. Kargil has a war memorial which is the main attraction of the region. The Dras War Memorial is built by the Indian Army in memory of the soldiers and officers who lost their lives during the Kargil war in 1999. Also known as Vijaypath, it is built of pink sandstone and has an epitaph dedicated to the valiant soldiers. The main highlight here is the pink sandstone wall engraved with the names of the soldiers who died fighting for the country.
15. SANGAM
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. It is a spectacular site to witness.
16. SPITUK MONASTERY
Spituk Monastery also called Spituk Gompa, is a Buddhist monastery located about 8 kms from Leh. One of the most dazzling monasteries in India, it houses 100 monks and a giant statue of Kali, which is unveiled during the annual Gustor Festival held every year. It is famous for its collection of Buddhist objects of antique arms, icon, ancient masks and numerous Thangka paintings. Spituk Monastery, with its commanding view of the Indus Valley and the surrounding beauty, is often visited by tourists from all across the globe.