Ladakh – The iconic Magnetic Hill, the turquoise coloured Pangong Lake, the confluence of two mystical rivers, ancient and awe inspiring monasteries and the highest passes are a few of the marvellous attractions of Leh and Ladakh in general.
If you are planning to visit Leh Ladakh in next summers or monsoon then you should prepare a list of places to visit. So let us help you in making this list with little bit of introduction of every place so you do not miss them when you visit Ladakh.
Leh Palace
In the sixteenth century this palace used to be the house of the king. Even today this land is under the care of the royal house of Leh.
This palace, which looks like the Patola of Lhasa of China, was the target of the earlier Kashmiri invasion.
The wall paintings present here are quite famous. The Khar Gompa inside it is worth seeing.
From the roof of this palace, you can see the colourful flags used for prayer and for waving. The mind feels happy and relaxed while looking at those colourful flags flying in the blue sky.
Hall of Fame
Built by Indian soldiers, this museum is located near Leh and remains a favourite among tourists.
This museum is a symbol of all the soldiers and brave hearts of India who have been sacrificing their lives for the service of the country at every turn.
Here you can find autobiographies of many soldiers, weapons used in war, etc. A part of the museum is completely dedicated to the Battle of Siachen.
One can find many weapons, shoes and other things and belongings pertaining to the soldiers on display in this museum.
Shanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa is said to be a dome shaped religious temple built in white colour. It was built by a Japanese Buddhist organisation to commemorate the completion of 2500 years of Buddhism.
The temple was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama and is known worldwide as a symbol of peace.
Adorned with white marble, this temple spreads its magic on all the tourists with the waning evening.
Shey Monastery
Situated fifteen kilometres south of Leh, this monastery was built by the first king of Ladakh.
There is a 12 meter high statue of Shakyamuni Buddha which was constructed in 1633. It is considered to be the second most prominent statue of Ladakh.
Thiksey Monastery
Discovered in the 15th century, this monastery is considered to be one of the largest monasteries in Ladakh.
It is the abode of more than 500 monks, in which a 15 meter high statue of Maitriya Buddha is installed.
It is also famous for its hall where many prayer books are kept wrapped in muslin cloth.
Stoke Palace
Situated 14 km from Leh, this palace was built by Raja Namgyal in 1825. Today it is the residence of the people of the royal family.
It is the only museum that is open for tourist activities. This museum holds an exhibition of the clothes and jewellery of the royal family and is a perfect place in order to know the history of the state.
Pangong Tso Lake
The fame of this place increased after it was featured in Amir Khan’s film 3 Idiots. Situated about 160 km away from Ladakh, this river is famous for its clear blue waters and golden weather that remains uniform throughout the year.
If you want to feel solitude and peace then you must visit this place. This lake is considered to be the largest salt water river in Asia and leaves a sudden impression in the hearts of tourists with its immense beauty.
Nubra Valley
Established to the south of Leh, the Nubra Valley passes between the mountains of Ladakh and the Karakoram and has a tributary valley immediately adjacent to it.
Both these valleys make their integral contribution in maintaining the greenery of the place.
Nubra Valley is also known as the Valley of Flowers and many beautiful and brightly coloured flowers can be seen here. This valley gives a picturesque and serene feeling to all its tourists.
Magnetic Hill
Magnetic Hill is actually a cyclone hill located in Leh. Due to the way the place has been drawn, it appears to be a small mountain.
The slope and the ups and downs give the illusion of being a hill. Cars moving on this road appear as if they are going up a hill but in reality they are going down.
This space defies gravity. Many tales and stories are told about this place, the villagers of Ladakh believe that this road was once the way to reach heaven.
On the other hand according to science it is said that this hill has magnetic potential which attracts all the vehicles and objects towards itself.
This power is considered to be so strong that all vehicles deployed for air travel stay away from this path.
Flow of Indus and Zanskar
The Indus River originates from the Tibetan Plateau near the Mansarovar while the Zanskar River comes from the Zanskar Valley, the beautiful confluence of these two rivers in the Nimmu Valley is located between Leh and Kargil.
The green color of the Indus river and the blue color of Zanskar look very prominently divided at the time of the convention, making this convention one of the most beautiful things present in the world. This conference in Leh is known as Sangam.
Also read:-
- Famous Temples of Himachal Pradesh – Part one
- Famous Temples of Himachal Pradesh – Part Two
- Amazing waterfalls in Himachal Pradesh
- Haunted tunnel of Shimla Express Highway
- Top 12 places to visit in Shimla