Ladakh, the spectacular place located in the northern parts of India that stretches from the Siachen in the Karakoram range to the main Great Himalayas and shares its boundaries with Tibet, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Xinjiang. Home to majestic gompas where arid mountains unfold thousands of mysteries that allure numerous wanderers from across the globe to visit Ladakh. The place hosts numerous adventurous expeditions throughout the year, ranging from thrilling bike trips to frozen river treks. If you are planning a journey in the upcoming months then checkout the below-mentioned popular places to visit on a Leh Ladakh road trip that makes you capture the true vibe of the region.
9 Must-Visit Places on a Leh Ladakh Road Trip
Whether you wish to explore the mystic ambiance of the world famous Buddhist monasteries or sneak peek over the artefacts at the war memorials and museums, here’re the places that you must visit on your Leh Ladakh road trip.
1. Pangong Tso Lake
Pangong Lake is nestled at an altitude nearly 4,350 m and is known as the highest saltwater lake. The exquisite color of the lake looks like it’s dyed in blue. Surrounded by arid mountains that creates an aesthetical contrast is truly a paradise for peace seekers. The lake is nearly 160 km long with one-third of its portion residing in India and the remaining part in China.
2. Kargil War Memorial
Kargil War Memorial in Ladakh was established to commemorate the sacrifices made by the Indian soldiers during Kargil war under the ‘Operation Vijay’. The war memorial was built at the Ground Zero location in Dras. The memorial features Amar Jawan Jyoti, Manoj Pandey Gallery and the Veer Bhoomi. It is nearly six kilometers from Drass Town and is frequently visited by travellers heading to Leh city via Srinagar – Leh National Highway.
3. Khardung La Pass
Khardung La Pass is the famous gateway that leads to the Nubra and Shyok Valleys. Known to be the highest motorable pass in the world, it is flooded with tourists crossing over from Leh. The heights of this thrilling route attracts adventure enthusiasts from across the world. This spectacular pass is established at an altitude of 18,379 feet above sea level.
4. Indian Astronomical Observatory
The Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle is the one of the highest located sites for optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes. The observatory is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Located at a height of 4,500 meters, it is the 9th highest optical telescope across the world. According to the latest data, the observatory conditions show about 255 spectroscopic nights every year.
5. Hemis National Park
Hemis National Park is nestled in the eastern Ladakh and being one of the largest national parks in South Asia, welcomes thousands of visitors every year. It is the largest contiguous protected region and extends to over 4400 square kilometers, featuring around 16 species of mammals, and 73 varieties of birds. The park houses endangered animals, including Asiatic ibex, Tibetan wolf, leopards, Eurasian brown bear and red fox.
6. Shanti Stupa
This majestic Shanti Stupa was established in 1991 to promote a sense of world peace and synchronization under the Peace Pagoda Mission. This stupa is located over an edgy hill in Chanspa and the base of its structure houses some relics of Buddha. The 14th Dalai Lama enshrined the Stupa and since its inception, the place has emerged to be a popular attraction for tourists.
7. Magnetic Hill
Magnetic Hills is the site where gravity gives you a chance to get astonished by your surroundings. The act of this site is that you need to park your car at the indicated spot, and you will notice that the vehicle gradually starts moving forward at a speed around 20km/h.
8. Royal Leh Palace
Leh Palace, locally known as ‘Lichen Palkhar’ once served to be the royal palace of the Himalayan town, Leh. The design of this palace can be said to be inspired by the Potala Palace in Lhasa. The foundation stone of this palace was laid in the sixteenth century, and it took nearly 100 years to complete the enormous construction. It was once the tallest building in the region with a well-built nine storeys structure.
9. Tso Moriri Lake
Tso Moriri lake is nestled in Changthang region and the impeccable surroundings here are unmatchable. This largest high altitude lake in India features exquisite blue pallet colors and has a width of around 7 KM and 19 KM is its length. To glance at the exotic flora and fauna of the region, one needs to take prior permission to experience its spellbinding beauty.
Are you planning a Leh Ladakh road trip in upcoming months? Go2Ladakh is one of the most trusted travel companies offering safe and comfortable Ladakh travel experiences to wanderers from across the world. You can share your preferences and get an exclusive itinerary.
