Places of Interest

Zanskar

The Zanskar valley is noted for its high ranges, fine Gompas and gentle people. The most isolated of all Himalayan valleys, Inaccessible for 8 months in a year, it is now popular destination with trekkers. Set in a plain where two swift flowing tributaries join to form the Zanaskar River. Padum the main habitation and the sub divisional headquarter. Close to the town area of ancient rock carving and two picturesque monasteries, the stagrimo and pibting gompas. And two hours trek from padum takes one to karsha and other interesting monasteries.

Nubra valley

This valley of flowers is perhaps the most inexplicably beautiful place you can ever dream of visiting. Once a trading route through the Karakoram ranges from Tibet to Turkistan, it was only recently opened to tourists. The road to the valley, inaccessible for most of the year, is wild and treacherous, and at the same time breathtaking -with its arresting view of the stately Karakoram Mountains. There is only one road to Nubra valley: the road from Leh, through Khardungla pass, the world’s highest motorable road. At 18,380 feet above sea level, this road is under snow cover all through the year. As you drive at that dizzy height, with a sheer fall on one side, you’ll know what it’s like to be driving through the mountains that are among the worlds highest.

Tso-Moriri

The drive to Tso-moriri seems eternal. Once you drive off the tarred road along the Indus you’re faced with miles and miles of land running through the mountains with nothing on the way, save a few refreshment tents flapping away in the scorching afternoon wind. The drive to Tsomoriri is no doubt grueling and long; but where you reach at the end of it all is probably worth a hundred such journeys. When the lake is just round the next mountain, it yet can’t be seen, but you know it’s there as you are suddenly hit by a blast of chilled air. And the rough, dusty brown landscape starts easing out into shades of green; Small marmots peek over rocks at passing cars like a Disney animation, the snowcaps fade into view and the cold breeze continues to blow.

Pangong Lake

The only thing India and China have in common: its blue, brackish waters extend across the Indo-Chinese border. It was only few years ago that the government decided to allow  tourists to visit this natural beauty. The Lake is 134 km long and only 40% of it lies in  India, while the rest extends into China.Its mesmerizing, serene beauty captivates everyone as it stays in your minds long after you’re returned home -those white sands crunching under you feet, marmots peeking over rocks and dancing on small patches of green, the bar headed geese forming patterns in the heaving waters, the birds returning home as the golden orb (bigger than you’ve ever seen) dips into the water, your feet taking strange shapes as the transparent ripples coalesce at the surface – these images and sensations stay on long after memories of the rest of your trip have faded away.

Suru Valley

One of the most beautiful regions of Ladakh, the Suru Valley forms the mainstay of Kargil district. Lying nestled along the north-eastern foothills of the great Himalayan Wall, it extends from Kargil town, first southward for a length of about 75 Kms Upto the expanse around Panikhar, thence eastward for another stretch of nearly 65 kms upto the foot of the Penzila watershed where the Suru valley rises. Its composite population of about 30,000 — mainly of Tibeti-Darad descent — is Muslims who had converted their Buddhist faith around the middle of the 16th century.