Things to do in Ladakh

To reach Nubra Valley, you cross the Khardung La, one of the highest motorable passes in the world. The valley is a cold desert with silver sand dunes at Hunder.

Here you can ride the double-humped Bactrian camels, a legacy of the ancient Silk Road trade. Seeing sand dunes with snow-capped mountains in the background is a visual paradox.

The Diskit Monastery, with its massive Maitreya Buddha statue facing the valley, adds a spiritual dimension to the landscape.

Pangong Tso is a high-altitude endorheic lake extending from India to China. At 4,350 meters, the water is freezing and brackish. It is famous for changing colors from shades of blue to green to red.

The sight of this vast blue water body surrounded by dry, brown mountains is surreal. While camping right on the banks is restricted now, staying in cottages nearby allows you to witness the magical sunrise.

The movie '3 Idiots' made it famous, but its raw beauty is what keeps travelers coming back. It is stark, silent, and mesmerizing.

Hanle is home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, one of the highest in the world. Located in the Changthang region, it has some of the darkest skies on earth.

It has been declared India's first Dark Sky Reserve. Stargazing here is an out-of-body experience. You can see the Milky Way with the naked eye in vivid detail.

It is a pilgrimage for astronomy enthusiasts and anyone who wants to feel the vastness of the universe.

In winter, the Zanskar River freezes over, forming a sheet of ice (Chadar). The trek involves walking on this frozen river for days, in temperatures dropping to -30 degrees Celsius.

It is one of the most challenging and unique treks in the world. You walk through narrow gorges with frozen waterfalls hanging from the cliffs.

It tests your endurance but rewards you with a landscape of pristine, frozen beauty that few get to see.

Run by the Indian Army, this museum acts as a memorial for the soldiers who lost their lives in the Indo-Pak wars. It gives a glimpse into the harsh life of soldiers at the Siachen Glacier.

Reading the letters written by soldiers to their families and seeing the captured weapons is an emotional experience. It instills a sense of respect for the guardians of the border.

Hemis is the largest and richest monastery in Ladakh. The annual Hemis Festival, held in summer to celebrate the birth of Guru Padmasambhava, is a riot of colors.

The highlight is the Cham dance (mask dance) performed by the monks to the beat of drums, cymbals, and long horns. They wear elaborate brocade costumes and fearsome masks representing deities.

It is a vibrant display of Tantric Buddhism.

On the Leh-Kargil highway lies a stretch of road that defies gravity. If you park your car in neutral at the marked spot, it appears to move uphill on its own.

While often explained as an optical illusion created by the landscape, experiencing it firsthand is mind-bending and fun. The surrounding scenery is barren and beautiful.

Rafting at the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers (Sangam) is thrilling. The Zanskar canyon offers grade 3 and 4 rapids.

The water is freezing cold, and the canyon walls rise vertically on both sides. The scenery is dramatic and rugged.

It is one of the highest river rafting expeditions suitable for adventure seekers.

The Shanti Stupa is a white-domed Buddhist stupa on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh. It was built to promote world peace.

The climb up the stairs is a workout, but the reward is the panoramic view of Leh city and the surrounding mountains. Watching the sunset from here, painting the mountains in gold, is peaceful.

It is illuminated at night, looking like a beacon of peace.

Thiksey is one of the most beautiful monasteries in Ladakh, resembling the Potala Palace. Attending the morning prayer ceremony (Puja) with the monks is deeply moving.

The sound of the conch shells, the low-throat chanting, and the smell of butter lamps create a mystical atmosphere. The view of the Indus valley from the roof is sweeping.

It houses a beautiful 15-meter high statue of Maitreya Buddha.