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Live Hemis Festival at Hemis Monastery in June
In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Leh-Land of Lamas and Monasteries you can’t miss out on!

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Leh-The capital of Ladakh Union territory resembles the CPU of a computer-like CPU that acts as a center of coordination among all other parts of a computer. Similarly, Leh is the node from where you plan tours in the Ladakh district one by one.Nubra Valley,Pangong Tso,Tso Moriri,Sham Valley,Zanskar Valley and so many treks can be planned from here .It has rich culture and heritage to be proud of. Stay tuned to know more…

Reasons why you must visit Leh:

  • Monasteries are life in Leh Ladakh. This reflects a part of the regional culture as well. The tranquillity offered by the location of these monasteries is unmatched.
  • Trekker’s paradise is what Leh is, and Chadar Trek in winters is one among them. There are all sorts of trekking of varying difficulty. Drang Drung is another beautiful one!
Hemis festival at hemis monastery in Leh in June
Hemis festival at Hemis monastery in Leh in June
Pangong Tso Lake in evening
Pangong Tso Lake is one of the most sought destination in Ladakh
  • Leh has a beautiful night view from Shanti Stupa, and Tsemo Castle has a fantastic view of the city. Not to forget Namgyal Tsemo and the Hall of Fame!
  • Leh gives you a winter rush in June or July without letting you drench in the rain! Perfect weather for Travel.Right!
The beautiful vistas on my way to Padum through Zanskar Valley
The beautiful vistas on my way to Padum through Zanskar Valley
  • Rafting is what the Himalayas is so known for.Jump to Leh to catch up some rafting in routes like Phey-Nimo, Saspol-Khaltsey, and Sangam-Alchi.
  • Thukpa, SKU, and Momos-yes, the indigenous food of the region, are a must-try, and why miss out when you are in Leh?
  • Some famous festivals in the vicinity are the Hemis Festival, the Dosmochey Festival, Spituk Gustor, and the Losar Celebration. Just check out dates on google, and off you set a plan and go…

Location  :  Leh is capital of Ladakh U.T. about 500 kms north of Manali and 500 kms east of Srinagar, placed in extreme north of India.

Leh city view from Tsemo Castle in evening
Leh city view from Tsemo Castle in evening

Tourist Attraction in Leh:

Leh has a lot to offer in and around it. Hemis, Thiksey, Shey, and Spituk monasteries are a few options, and the Hall of Fame museum, Shanti Stupa, Zorawar Fort, Leh Palace, and Namgyal Tsemo are in Leh. So the whole summation is that you won’t be bored touring in and around this beautiful city.

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Hanle, Pangong lake, Sham valley (Magnetic hill, Nimoo, Alchi, Rizong, Likir monasteries, Basgo Palace), Tso Moriri, Khardung La, Turtuk, Panamik, and Diskit. Not to forget, Kargil and Zanskar Valley also add to the treat package!

Panamik in afternoon within Nubra Valley
Panamik in afternoon within Nubra Valley

Distance Charts:(Ex Leh)

Hanle Monastery at a visible still far off distance
Hanle Monastery at a visible still far off distance

How to Reach Leh:

Road Routes:

Delhi-Ludhiana-Jalandhar-Jammu-Anantnag-Srinagar-Sonamarg-Dras-Kargil-Lamayuru-Leh
OR
Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla-Kullu-Manali-Keylong-Jsiap-Pang-Hemis-Leh

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Try hopping in Leh by road via Manali-Keylong instead of Jammu-Srinagar-Kargil, as the latter will be lengthy and a bit risky compared to the former. Scenery-wise, I feel the Manali route has more to offer.

2)Leh is around 3 K.M. height above sea level, so whether it’s June or September, have a jacket with you and some full sleeves as temperatures dip at night, even in summers.

3)Avoid taking flights and use road transport to avoid breathing/respiratory problems. Yes, if there is a time constraint, you can prefer flights with a two-day rest in Leh.

Samstanling Gompa on Panamik side
Samstanling Gompa on Panamik side

4)Don’t forget to keep a day aside for all the permits to tour around Leh. 14-day permits are usually given at maximum, after which renewal is necessary.

5)Have the timings noted in mind when visiting monasteries or monuments as for various tourist places, the timetable varies. Again, use the website or ask travel agents to help you out.

Suraj Taal(Lake) near Jispa,Manali-Leh Highway

Suraj Taal(Lake) near Jispa,Manali-Leh Highway
Suraj Taal(Lake) near Jispa,Manali-Leh Highway

RAIL:Railways are restricted upto Shimla thereafter which you need to hop in a bus to get to Leh!

AIR: Leh has good connectivity by air all over India

ROAD:You need to be at Leh either through Rohtang Pass(June onwards) from Manali side or from Srinagar side via Zozila Pass.

In case you want to reach from Delhi or Chandigarh, the Shimla-Manali-Leh corridor shall be a better choice in terms of scenery and safety, which will take 3 days with a one-day halt at Keylong to acclimatize. Even from Jammu side, it will take 3 days but acclimatize option can be left out pretty easily.

Map:

Leh in and around-local sight seeing map -go to Hemis,Spituk,Shey,Thiksey
Leh local sight seeing map

Time to Visit:

June to Mid-October

Night view of Leh from Sanchi Stupa
Night view of Leh from Sanchi Stupa

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple, Groups

Food and Lodging:

Hotels and flooding are not a problem, but in peak season, you’ll land in trouble for hotels. Hotels will be packed, and even if you find one, it will be rented at a fiery bumper price. Please get in touch with travel agents and plan a tour with them; they might help you get a room at a much cheaper rate-reasonable in peak season, to be precise. Food -north Indian, local dishes, and south Indian are available- no problems with food! Goibibo, MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip if you want a booking. Zomato and swiggy can be used for food breaks!

Expense:

Local sightseeing takes one day. But who can miss out on Hemis festival that happens once a year and hence,Leh trip slid on to a two day trip-a memorable one of course.

Live Hemis Festival at Hemis Monastery in June
Live Hemis Festival at Hemis Monastery in June


Food:INR 200/person/day(3 times a day)X5
Transport:INR 3500 for leh local sightseeing by private car;for Hemis festival-I took a shared bus to Hemis which costs around INR 50 one way-100 INR both ways. You can save a lot by using public transport for local sight seeing-just add an extra day of food and lodging as not all places have public transport connectivity and even if they have you need to come to Leh for many a time. (You can save INR 1500 by this method)
Lodging:INR 700/day X2 @ Leh
Entry Fees includes various places (varies):Entry fees is there for museums and monastery antiques at few places(INR 250 max)

Leh Palace at dusk time,Leh
Leh Palace at dusk time,Leh

Total: 6250 INR( Can be brought down to 4000 INR by public transport and cheap food/lodging)

Nearby Attractions(Leh)

Shanti Stupa in evening
Shanti Stupa in evening
Basgo Palace in Sham Valley
Basgo Palace in Sham Valley

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Landscape around Tso Moriri
In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Tso Moriri-A more enticing tourist destination than Pangong Tso

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Tso Moriri-A lake has a much more mild effect with beauty unmatched, quiet romantic too – not to forget it’s less visited compared to Pangong Tso and hence you’ll find this place more memorable if you are a peace nature lover!

5 reasons why you must visit Tso Moriri(Lake):

  • If peace and beauty are the pair you are looking for; you are at the right place!-Less crowded, more beautiful, and more memorable than the lakes in the vicinity.
Tso Moriri
Tso Moriri in the month of June
  • The lake changes its color throughout the day, season after season-You won’t get tired watching this unparalleled miracle! It’s worth spending a day or two sitting beside the lake, watching it change colors.
Sunset in Tso Moriri
Sunset in Tso Moriri(Dusk Time)
  • (Dusk Time)Tso Moriri is at an altitude(15000 ft) higher than Pangong Tso and is more beautiful because this is a wildlife conservation area -you may encounter Tibetan wild ass, marmots, and several migratory birds-so many reasons to turn on your DSLR or your mobile cam-Right!
  • Tsomoriri, lapped and nestled in the Changthang area, is the largest of the High Altitude Lakes(HAL)in the Trans-Himalayan biogeographic region. 

Location: Tso Moriri or Moriri Lake is 220 km southeast of Leh, about 6 hours drive by a private or shared car and 8-9 hours by state-run buses.

Tso Moriri Lake
Tso Moriri Lake as it is…

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Tso Moriri is a place I can’t forget – it’s so scenic and beautiful that you can’t forget! The beautiful reflection of orange sky and gold kissed snow caps on the still Tso Moriri is a view not to be missed. There’s wildlife too so you may be lucky to see some birds by the lakeside and some marmots! A 2-day stay at Tso Moriri is recommended.

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Hunder, Pangong Tso, Hanle, Khardungla, and Turtuk within a radius of 400 km.

On the way to Tso Moriri
En route to Tso Moriri

Distance Charts:(From Tso Moriri)

View of hotel from Tso Moriri
View of hotels and village from Tso Moriri Lake

How to Reach Tso Moriri(Ex Leh):

Road Routes:

Leh-Shey-Thiksey-Hemis-Upshi-Kiari-Chumathang-Karzok-Tso Moriri Lake viewpoint

Tso Moriri lake in morning
Tso Moriri lake in morning

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1) Travel by shared car and spend some time in Tso Moriri. Traveling by Bus makes you bound to return by the next day to Leh (as Bus runs once a week on this route ), and you can’t enjoy it much. Trust me; this place at least needs a whole day!

2)Have a thick woolen jacket for Tso Moriri because, even in June, you’ll feel sub-zero temperatures from dusk itself upto say 8-9 am. It’s pretty chilly by the lakeside!

3) Prefill vehicle oil tanks as petrol pumps are less numbered.

4)Since restaurants are few on the way, it’s better to have food and water with you.
Roads are not that great. All over dusty, but the scenery around compensates for the bad roads. Buses aren’t a great option, but it’s damn cheap!!!

Cattle grazing on field on way to Tso Moriri
Cattle grazing on field on my way to Tso Moriri

RAIL:Railways is a possibility upto Jammu or Shimla after which it’s all on roads.

You can watch the below video to get a better idea! Do like and share if you find it worth…

AIR:Leh is the nearest airport for Tso Moriri.

ROAD:You first need to come to Leh either through Rohtang Pass(June onwards) from Manali side or from Srinagar side via Zozila Pass. After this, you can either get a shared car through an agent or go by once a week state transport bus.

In case you want to reach from Delhi or Chandigarh, the Shimla-Manali-Leh corridor shall be a better choice in terms of scenery and safety, which will take 3 days with a one-day halt at Keylong to acclimatize. Even from Jammu side, it will take 3 days but acclimatize option can be left out pretty easily.

Map:

Tso Moriri Map from leh to Tso Moriri by Road route
The road map to Tso Moriri.You can get to Hanle or Pangong as well from Tso Moriri

Time to Visit:

Early June to Mid-October (There are no rains in June through September here).

River Indus
River Indus on way to Tso Moriri

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are in good numbers and readily available due to less tourist inflow. The hotel pricing is cheap (500 INR in June, which is peak season), and food in these hotels is also available at a reasonable cost. Booking as such isn’t necessary for Tso Moriri accommodation. Have food and water on your bucket list as that will be scarce on the way to Tso Moriri from Leh(You’ll find a few hotels on the way, though!). Goibibo, MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip if you want a booking. Zomato and swiggy can be used for food bookings!

Expense:

For a 2-day trip by state transport to Tso Moriri, with one night stay at Tso Moriri, the cost was as follows:

Landscape around Tso Moriri
Landscape around Tso Moriri


Food: INR 150/person/day(3 times a day)X2

Transport: INR 350 INR by bus(Shared car will cost approx 3000 INR/head)

Lodging: INR 500/day X1 at Tso Moriri (one night stay)

Entry Fees include various places (varies): No entry fees

Blue sheep or bharal on the way to Tso Moriri

Blue sheep or bharal (napo)
Blue sheep or bharal on way to Tso Moriri

Total: 1750 INR(Can go upto to 4500 INR if a shared car is availed)

Nearby Attractions(Tso Moriri) (30-40 kmph is expected speed of vehicle)

Afternoon in Tso Moriri
Afternoon in Tso Moriri
Grassland in Tso Mrori
Grassland in Tso Mrori
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In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Pangong Tso And Hanle-an Enticing Offer You Will Grab For Sure

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You must have heard these movies, and many would have watched this movie-3, idiot!What about Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Jab tak hai Jaan…Did you know some scenes of these movies were shot in Pangong lake itself! That indicates the beauty of this place, which attracts thousands of people every year to Pangong Lake, and it remains a must-visit spot for most of the tourists who come to Leh. The bonfire camping and the clear waters with the sunset reflecting on the lake are some memories you’ll take along forever. And yes, the colors of the lake change from day to day and are seasonal, basis-something not to be missed at all. Ahh, what about watching the Milky Way from Hanle in a clear night sky! The Milky Way view is a real treat for those who visit Hanle. What are you all waiting for, folks! Get a flight to Leh and go for a joyful roller coaster…

Reasons why you must visit Hanle and Pangong Tso(Lake):

  • Do you love the night sky full of stars ?? If yes, fly to Hanle and stare all night at the clear crystal sky, which would make your night!
Pangong Lake as it is!
  • Do you know there are different colors of Pangong as seasons change? Yes, that is true.. interesting enough to visit this place!
  • What about the sunset views by the lakeside and couple with snow-capped mountains? You don’t want to miss them, right!Hop into Pangong Tso region…
An enchanting landscape of Ladakh
  • Camping Ummm, I almost forgot! A bonfire? How’s the idea. Crazy right! What are you waiting for? Pack your bags, rush to Pangong Lake, and set up a bonfire beside it!
  • A winter experience in summers.!!Yes, you heard it right! You’ll feel chills in the wind both at Pangong and Hanle. So don’t hesitate to bring your woolen jacket!

Location: Both Hanle and Pangong fall on the east part of Ladakh UT.250 odd kilometers east of Leh, and you hop in these two places but do remember both places are 300 km apart! So set aside four days, and you are good to go!

Pangong Tso- where tranquility rules!

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Pangong Tso offers a plethora of beauty with crystal clear waters unto which the reflection of snow-capped mountains happens. The sunrise and sunset are not to be missed. Hanle is known for clear skies, which help see the milky way galaxy. It’s just a treat to watch at clear midnight. Also, there’s a monastery in Hanle.

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Khardungla (Pass), Hunder, Tso Moriri, and Turtuk within a radius of 300 km.

En route to Pangong Tso

Distance Charts:(Ex Pangong tso | Ex Hanle)

A hotel view of Pangong Tso

How to Reach Pangong Tso(Ex Leh):

Road Routes:

Leh-Shey-Karu-Changla Pass-Tangtse-Phobrang-Pangong Tso

Monastery in Hanle

How to Reach Hanle(Ex Leh):

Road Routes:

Leh-Shey-Karu-Upshi-Kiari-Chumathang-Mahe-Mood-Hanle

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)The night sky at Hanle is worth a watch(the only reason to be here), but do see weather predictions for overcast conditions beforehand.

2)Have a thick woolen jacket for Hanle and Pangong Lake because, even in June, you’ll see sub-zero temperatures in the night and early morning as soon as Sun says goodbye or hasn’t knocked on nature’s door!

3) Prefill vehicle oil tanks as petrol pumps are less numbered.

4)Snacks and meals are scant outside Leh. So, in that case, have food and water with you.

5)Buses can be advised only if you have plenty of time to wait for the day the bus will go to the destination. The buses run once a week to these places and return the next day. Hence if you are short on time, share a car ride with fellow passengers.

RAIL:Railways aren’t an option to reach Hanle or Pangong Lake .You can reach Jammu or Chandigarh by rail and after that,you are all on highways.

AIR:Leh is the nearest airport after which shared cars/buses can only take you to these two places.

ROAD:You first need to come to Leh either through Rohtang Pass(June onwards) from Manali side or from Srinagar side via Zozila Pass.After this,you can either get a shared car through an agent or go by once a week state transport bus.

In case you want to reach from Delhi or Chandigarh,the Shimla-Manali-Leh corridor shall be a better choice in terms of scenery and safety , which will take 3 days with a one day halt at Keylong to acclimatize.Even from Jammu side,it will take 3 days but acclimatize option can be left out pretty easily.

Map:

Map of Leh to Pangong Lake and Hanle
Map of Leh to Pangong Lake and Hanle

Time to Visit:

Mid June to Mid October(There’s no rains in june through September here).

Excellent camping facilities at Pangong Tso

Spend Time With:

Family,Friends,Solo,Couple,Groups

Food and Lodging:

Hotels will be available in both places, but Hanle might be having trouble due to fewer accommodation facilities. However, the hotel prices are reasonable, and food in these hotels is also available reasonably. Except for Pangong Tso, prebooking is advised on the online portal for Hanle and Leh, especially for peak season(June to September/October). Food is hardly available in transit except for Chumathang, for example. So, have food and water in your bags. Goibibo, MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip if you want a booking. Zomato and swiggy can be used for food bookings!

Expense:

This was a 4 day (1.5 days actual * 2) trip by shared car for Pangong Tso and state bus for Hanle. There were 2 night stays at Leh as for both the places weren’t covered in a circuit.

Journey to Hanle


Food:INR 200/person/day(3 times a day)X4
Transport:INR 1500 for booking a shared car for local sight seeing (would be 300 INR by bus) .Hanle covered by state bus at INR 300 approx
Lodging:INR 700/day X2 @ Leh,X1 @ Pangong, X1@Hanle
Entry Fees includes various places (varies):No entry fees

A mamot posing at camera near Pangong Lake

Total: 7000 INR( Can be brought down to 4500 INR by public transport and cheap food/lodging)

Nearby Attractions(Pangong Tso | Hanle)

Hanle Obervatory
Hanle Obervatory
A banner at Pangong Lake
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