A trip to Ladakh is almost in every travel lover’s itinerary in India. I was fortunate enough to finally visit this heaven on earth in May 2022. I have listed the top to do, places to stay, the best way to travel and the delicious dishes to try in Leh, Nubra and Pangong. If you would like to read my adventures more in detail, visit the links below.
Travel through Ladakh – Leh: https://blog.thefitfoodietravels.com/travelling-through-ladhak-part-1-leh
Travel Through Ladakh – Pangong tso & Nubra: https://blog.thefitfoodietravels.com/travelling-through-ladakh-part-2-pangong-tso-and-nubra-valley
Leh
Leh Palace – The first and easy stop. Right there near the main market. A short hike takes you to the main entrance, and for a small entry fee you can spend some time looking at the region’s history, through the photo exhibition that is on display in the palace. A beautiful backdrop gives you enough spots for a photo session. If you are up for it, you can hike up a little higher for a amazing panoramic view of Leh city. Be careful, the drops are steep. To access this, you will have to walk left, once you reach the fork to go to the palace entrance which is on the right.
Jama masjid – This mosque sits at the top of the Leh market and is striking in it’s beautiful exterior and colour. I am a sucker for wood! (What did I just say?!) Simple structure with a colourful carpet inside and a view of the bustling market from it’s windows.
Leh Market – Clothes, jewellery, souvenirs and the best places to eat at! You have everything here. I wanted to keep it for the last day but thankfully we did shop through it almost every day we were there. Remember to bargain!
Shanti stupa – Leh trip is incomplete without visiting the Shanti Stupa. Whether you drive up of hike (I recommend this!), the final view is breath taking. The structure itself is very beautiful and I had the chance to go there twice in one trip. Take a moment in the meditation room and soak in some peace and quiet.
Central Asian museum – Not talked about enough. While the artefacts were just as expected, with clothes, weapons, jewellery etc from the olden era, the building itself stole my heart. Made out of wood, it has a little bridge that was just too adorable! I obviously spent some time taking pictures here. Rather, mostly trying to set up my tripod.
Hike to Namgyal Tsomo – Now this was my absolute favourite! The Namgyal monastery is a little more above and beyond the Leh Palace. It has multiple routes to get to it, depending on the mode of transport you choose. Even if you go in a car, you have to do a bit of climbing. The monastery opens for worshiping only on special events, but it still is a definite must do for the view . If you decide to hike, it is an exhilarating experience.
Stok palace – This beautiful palace is a heritage hotel now and if you are ready to spend some moolah, you should consider staying here. If you would instead just like to visit the palace, you can do so too. For a very small entry fee, you can go on a guided tour of the public areas of the palace. Beautiful wooden structure, old photos, paintings and artefacts. My favourite part was the kitchen. There is a little monastery with a very friendly monk who will happily tell you all the stories. You can also join the evening/morning prayers if booked in advance.
Thangka paintings – These are traditional Tibetan paintings that depict the Buddhist way of life, teaching and mandalas. You will find them at almost all the monasteries and palaces. You can buy your own painting at the market, or best, attend a workshop to do it yourself!
Hemis gompa/monastery – This beautiful and very large monastery is a riot of colours. A daytrip from Leh, this can be combined with the other monasteries and Shey palace. My favourite here was the museum which has one of the best collection I saw in Ladakh. Each item as gorgeous and I wish I could take them home.
Shey Palace – The Shey monastery and the shey palace complex are jut 15kms from Leh. Like almost every other place, it has a beautiful view. Loads of places to take as many pictures as you would like. When we had gone there, there was a local festival being celebrated in the monastery and we got to experience the loving Ladakhi hospitality.
Thiksey monastery – This has become one of the most iconic images of Ladakh. You can see it coming from a while away and the bright colours just grab your attention. Be ready to walk to explore this monastery. It’s large and has a lot of different sections and steps!
Sangam – The point where Indus and Zanskar meet is a must do. You will need barely 10 minutes here and it’s on the way from magnetic hill to Lamayuru. The two beautiful colours mixing together is a sight you have to see.
Magnetic hill – Photo shoots? Get ready! The layout of the area and surrounding slopes create the optical illusion of a hill. The hill road is actually a downhill road. Objects and cars on the hill road may appear to roll uphill in defiance of gravity when they are, in fact, rolling downhill.
Lamayuru – We might not be able to go to the moon but we can definitely feast our eyes on this lunar landscape in Lamayuru. The drive itself is the best part. You will be gasping at the beautiful scenery every few minutes. The final destination, the monastery is a small place but with beautiful paintings on the wall.
Alchi monastery – One of the most underrated spots. No photography is allowed inside the monastery and that makes it an even better experience. The whole complex has multiple little temples and this is the only monastery still in a decent condition that has been made with Kashmiri architecture instead of the Ladakhi architecture like the other monasteries. The Indus river flows right behind the monastery and you can definitely take pictures of this. 🙂
Khardungla pass – The gateway to Nubra valley, this was the highest motorable pass untill Umling La usurped it. You will pass through Khardung La if you are going towards Nubra. If you go in the spring, you will be lucky to find the snow. Eat some maggi, drink some hot chocolate and take loads of pictures!
The plains – This was a surprise! Driving down from Khardung La, this beautiful landscape with goats! Stop by for a moment of soaking in the beauty.
Pangong tso – The most popular spot of Ladakh, thanks to movies and influencers. But, this won’t disappoint you. Absolutely gorgeous location and your heart literally soars looking at it. You will have to stay the night here so you can either book yourself in one of the tented locations, or ask for some local help for home stays. It is really really cold, so come prepared.
Chang la pass – Another pass that you have to pass to go to Pangong. Another round of maggi and hot chocolate please!
The Nubra desert – The Nubra valley shows you what a cold desert means. Beautiful sand dunes everywhere with dark mountains and sparse vegetation. This region is very different to Leh or Pangong.
ATV ride – Sand dunes and no ATV? How is that possible?? On the Nubra desert you can go ride an ATV at the spot where Farhan Akhtar had shot for Milkha Singh!
Bactrian camel ride – I was on the fence for this but what a fun experience! The double humped camels are local to this region and you can go on a short ride on them in Nubra.
There are a lot more things you can do in this region. I have only listed the ones I went to and found worth visiting.
Things to not do
Don’t be in a hurry to explore. High altitude is not a joke and AMS (Altitude Motion sickness) can be very dangerous.
Drink alcohol or smoke constantly. You need to stay hydrated and well nourished if you want to beat AMS and also not load your lungs with nicotine when it is already struggling to breathe.
Think you are a superman/woman. Please carry enough warm clothing, the right footwear, sunglasses, sunscreen etc if you are visiting this region.
Do not travel if you have any medical condition that makes it life threatening. Talk to your physician before you book this holiday.
Places to Stay
Leh has a lot of options. Multiple home stays, hotels etc. Staying near the market area is great because then everything is a stone’s throw away. Staying slightly further away is good too. The city is quite small and you can easily walk around.
Nubra is also full of hotels but my favourite is the Snow leopard. Beautiful view and spacious rooms.
Pangong tso has a lot of tented accommodations and it’s recommended to book before you get there. If you have a local connect, go for a home stay which is a much better option.
What to eat
Everything! Be open and try all that comes your way.
Gesmo restaurant in Leh
Sky wok in Leh
Lehvenda cafe in Leh
Pumpernickel German bakery in Leh
Lala’s art cafe in Leh
Bodhi Greens in Leh
Amdo in Leh
Alchi Kitchen in Alchi
How to travel
If you aren’t travelling in your car or bike, it’s best to rent a bike (if you are used to riding in such terrains) or hiring a car with a driver as public transport is almost non existent and very unreliable.
Remember to enjoy and savour your time. To dos are great to give you an idea and help plan an itinerary but don’t let it rule your holiday.
Bon Voyage!
Comments