Places to Visit in Ladakh

Home » Places to Visit in Ladakh

Talk about places boastful of nature’s rustic perfection and Ladakh tops the list. Besides being the destination of picturesque beauty and breath-taking excellence, Ladakh also bestows its tourists with life-changing experiences. With a number of places to visit in Ladakh, your Ladakh trip will be nothing less than a memorable joyride.

We’ve picked up some renowned Ladakh tourist places for you which have diverse experiences to offer. Let’s check them out!

1. Blissful Monasteries
2. Nature’s Bounty
3. Enchanting Lakes
4. The Essence of Ladakh

Blissful Monasteries                                  

Ladakh is best known for its monasteries encompassed by snow-capped mountains, dense valleys and a purifying ambience. These monasteries are different from each other with respect to their significance and visiting and exploring each one of them is something that should top your list of things to do in Ladakh.

Hemis Monastery

The Hemis Monastery in Ladakh is adorned with an enormous copper statue of Lord Buddha which in turn, is embellished with spectacular paintings, articles, Thangkas that depict the Buddhist culture and stupas. Situated in the Nubra valley, this monastery celebrates the Hemis festival in the months of June and July with exclusive masked dance performances.

Diskit Monastery

Diskit Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries of Ladakh and gifts its visitors with inner peace and a sense of tranquillity. In your check list of places to visit for Ladakh sightseeing, make sure you visit this beauty to unravel the rich Tibetan culture and marvel at a wide array of Buddha statues, guardian Gods and a humongous drum.

Stakna Monastery

Stakna Monastery is all things serene and jaw-dropping. Nestled on a hill and alongside River Indus this Buddhist monastery is encapsulated by its sister monasteries namely Zanskar-Bardan, Stakrimo and Sani which are worth-visiting. Behold paintings of Sakyamuni, Tsephakmad and Amchi, idols and exotic Buddhist scriptures and have an experience of a life time.

Likir Monastery

Popularly known as Likir Gompa, this monastery is regarded as the first construction led by the Tibetan monks. It also includes a museum that narrates the Tibetan culture and heritage through artefacts and relics. In the 12^th month of the Tibetan calendar, the monastery celebrates the Likir Dosmoche Festival which will leave you awestruck for the rest of your lives!

Phugtal Monastery

Phugtal Monastery offers tourists with the best of both the worlds and it includes a whole lot of solace, serenity and adventure. The monastery is situated at the mouth of a cave cuddled on a hill top and the roads leading up to it are simply mesmerizing. Rocky terrains and challenging mountain roads will make you feel as if you’re touring inside a honeycomb! The divine ambience of this monastery is overwhelming and you can enjoy solitude to the fullest in prayer rooms.

Others

Ladakh tourist places also include various other monasteries such as Chemrey Monastery, Mulbekh Monastery, Sumda Chun Monastery, Rizong Monastery, Shey Monastery and much more and stand apart for their breath-taking beauty and picturesque scenic views.

Nature’s Bounty

Natural beauty in Ladakh exists in abundance and pleases the heart whilst capturing the soul. Once in love with Ladakh, always in love with Ladakh. The flora and fauna here will imprint your heart making your goodbye to Ladakh the most difficult one. Let us explore this gem, one enchanting place at a time.

Zanskar Valley

The Zanskar Valley is one among those Ladakh tourist places that will steal your heart away. Steep terrains covered with blankets of snow form the valley while the River Zanskar invites tourists for an adventure of a lifetime through white river rafting. The best time to visit Ladakh to explore this heaven is from June to September. During any other time than this, the roads are covered with snow and are blocked.

Hemis National Park

A must-have in the list of Ladakh sightseeing, the Hemis National Park is regarded as the largest national park in Southern Asia. Endangered mammals namely Leopards, Asiatic Ibex, Tibetan Wolf, Eurasian Brown Bear and the Red Fox find home in this park and this place is the ultimate heaven for nature lovers and bird watchers. Here, one can closely listen to the euphonious melodies of nature and behold wildlife at its best.

The best time to visit this park is from May to September.

Nubra Valley

Arabian nights in the ever-giving lap of Ladakh? Nubra Valley is definitely a must-visit! With its breath-taking sand dunes and two-humped camels, this destination in Ladakh has a whole together different vibe to offer. The renowned Samstanling Monastery nestles here whereas one can relish hot sulphur springs in its Panamik Village.

The best time to visit here is from July to September for clear skies and a pleasant weather.

Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary

Tucked away in the mesmerizing bounty of Ladakh at a height of 4000 to 9000 feet, the Changthang Widlife Sanctuary offers some spectacular scenic views. Right from diverse floral species to endangered wild animals, this sanctuary has it all. When here, make sure you traverse a few miles to check out some highest lakes of Ladakh namely Tso Moriri, Pangong Tso and Tso Kar and the Korzok Monastery.

The best time to visit the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary is from May to September.

Enchanting Lakes

Besides mighty mountains, soaring peaks and endless beauty, Ladakh is also known as the land of lakes. As a result, your Ladakh trip will be a subtle amalgamation of enchanting lakes and massive mountains. Watch the skies reflect themselves in crystal clear waters bordered with mountain ranges.

Pangong Tso Lake

The Pangong Tso Lake featured itself in our all-time favourite Bollywood movie, 3 Idiots, and has captured our minds since then. Popular among Ladakh tourist places, this breath-taking lake resides in the eastern region of Ladakh on the Changthang plateau. To make the most out of this lovely destination, you can go camping. The lake is less crowded during off season but make sure you visit sometime between June to September for the best experiences.

Tso Moriri Lake

The Tso Moriri Lake is Pangong Tso Lake’s enchanting twin and appears just like the sceneries. With wide-stretched lush green landscapes in the front and barren hills with snow-capped mountains in the background, this lake is a lesser-known tourist attraction savouring the essence and vibe of this place. With camping options available, you can make the most out of your stay here through various activities such as star gazing, watching aquatic birds namely the Brahmin duck, bare-headed goose, the brown-headed gull and Himalayan hares too.

Tso Kar (Salt Water Lake)

The Ladakh valley homes the only salt water white lake of Ladakh, Tso Kar. The lake is an amazing place for a spellbound camping experience, bird watching and yak riding. Some nomadic families reside around the lake which makes it a not-to-be-missed opportunity to interact with locals.

Ladakh Sightseeing

Such overwhelming beauty, your heart will skip multiple beats and your eyes would feel deceived. But pinch yourself once and do that again only to realise that you’re in Ladakh and this is real!

Khardung-La Pass

The Khardung-La Pass is one among the most thrilling journeys that all adventure enthusiasts must experience once in their lives. The pass is usually travelled to reach the Nubra and Shyok Valleys and the passing scenic views will leave you awestruck.

Magnetic Hill

Make sure your Ladakh Tour Package covers the Magnetic Hill. Brace yourselves for a mind-blowing experience! When you park your vehicle at the base of this hill without any brakes (yes, you read that right), your vehicle gradually begins to move uphill on its own. Although the scientific phenomenon is unknown, this tourist attraction in Ladakh makes people go bonkers and is definitely a must-visit.

Stok Palace and Royal Leh Palace

These palaces in Ladakh have gained all the fame due to their unique appearance and the scenic views they overlook. To unravel the historic essence of Ladakh, make sure you visit these palaces and learn more about the royal families that lived here.

Moonland

An area that falls on the way to Lamayaru in Ladakh appears just like the surface of Moon and its craters and is thus, called Moonland. An unseen gem in the abundant bounty of Ladakh, it is considered ideal to visit this land on a full moon night as the moonlight falling on these natural craters and structures gives a surreal experience to its onlookers.

Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame is a tribute paid to the brave soldiers who fought valiantly in the Indo-Pakistan war. The wall is adorned and privileged with pictures of these soldiers and narrates tales of their bravery. The museum is also boastful of arms, ammunitions and amenities that were used by these soldiers.

The Essence of Ladakh

The cordiality and warmth that the people of Ladakh carry in their hearts makes Ladakh all the more beautiful. It is the sense of belongingness that it generates within tourists. What better way to feel closer to Ladakh than to explore its real charm and unravel its truest essence?

Alchi

The Indus valley flourishes with the charm and benevolence of Alchi, a quaint village located in the Himalayan region of Ladakh. A Buddhist Monastery established circa 900 years ago is situated in Alchi and bears Indo-Tibetan paintings in shades of bright green, gold, ochre and azure from the 11^th and the 12^th century. Spend a night in Alchi and immerse yourself in the real Ladakhi village life.

Lamayuru Town

Take a day out of your Ladakh trip and dedicate it entirely to the mesmerizing town of Lamayuru. Village folk tales and mythology suggests that this piece of land was borrowed from the moon. Thus, all houses here have walls adorned with fresco paintings. The Lamayuru Monastery is a must-visit.

Dha Hanu

Dha and Hanu are two different villages nestled in Ladakh and the people of Drokpa tribe reside here. Rich with the culture and heritage of Ladakh, you must visit these villages to explore the heart of Ladakh. These villages are also famed for exotic ornaments and head gears.

Gol Market

Gol Market is the traditional market of Ladakh and hoards woollen clothes, camping items, souvenirs, embroidered Ladakhi items and antiques. Your shopping sprees will be enlivened by mighty mountains and breath-taking landscapes.

Now that you know about the places you should visit in Ladakh, make sure your Holiday Package includes these destinations. Know more about this heaven on Earth by checking out Ladakh Tourism.