The captivating landscape stretching across the "land of highways" explains why Ladakh Tourism tops every adventurer's bucket list. Rejoice a vacation here with the trip to Leh Ladkah by witnessing the mesmerizing views of the turquoise lakes rippling amidst the rugged valleys of the terrain. Leh Ladakh tour guide welcomes everyone to the land of adventures where trekking might seem like a hundred-to-one task but biking through the roadways thoroughly holds its own charm. Make sure to cover all Ladakh tourist places on this once in a lifetime trip. Ladakh is located in the north-easternmost part of Jammu and Kashmir in India. It lies about 410 km away from Srinagar and 474 km from Manali via Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh. It takes about 20 hours to travel from Manali to Leh by road. Tourists can opt for Volvo buses to Manali and then take shared taxis or local buses to reach Ladakh from Delhi by road. Another convenient way is to take a direct flight from Delhi or Mumbai to Leh. Follow up the travel guide to Leh Ladakh and drive towards any destination from here and get enchanted by the pristine elegance and composure of the foothills of Kargil, one of the most popular Leh Ladakh places to visit. Besides, the crowd- pleasing Sham Valley which harbors various monasteries of Alchi, Likir, and Lamayuru is too, a major attraction.

History of Ladakh- Earliest inhabitants of the region were Indo-Aryans. Ladakh was under the rule of Kushana Empire in the 1st century AD and Buddhism spread via Kashmir and eventually to western Tibet. In the medieval period, due to several Muslim invasions several Balti people converted to Islam. Dogra Zorawar Singh invaded Ladakh in 1834 and annexed the area to the Sikh Empire. The region was divided into two district of Leh and Kargil in 1979.

Trekking in Ladakh- Stok Kangri Trek is an ideal summit trail for adventure seekers and avid mountaineers. Held every year in the summer season, this 8-day trek allows breathtaking views of glaciers and Zanskar Range. In the month of January, hundreds of trekkers reach Leh to explore Chadar trek in the Zanskar region which remains cut off by road. Suru Valley and Markha Valley is one of the most rewarding trails in Ladakh.

Bike Trip to Ladakh- Riding a bike to Ladakh is a dream of many. From Manali or Jammu, one can drive all the way to Leh, depending on the weather and road conditions. Crossing mighty mountain passes and small villages with unique culture is a major highlight of a bike trip to Ladakh. Upon reaching Leh, one can plan expeditions to Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri, and Nubra Valley by bike.

While riding from Manali, one can explore Keylong, Sirsu, and Tanglang La mountain pass to reach Leh in about 2 days. Whereas, on a bike trip from Srinagar to Leh, one can ride past places such as Zoji La, Kargil, Dras, and Lamayuru. Rated among the many dangerous pathways, a drive to the Khardung La and further down to the Nubra Valley, acknowledging well about Leh Ladakh tourism also calls for some serious aldosterone rise. A ride through the agape valleys run riot by the tributaries of Shyok and observe the improbable sand dunes of Hunder inviting the visitors with appreciating historical myths. A walk towards the ancient monasteries of Diskit and Samthanling is known to unfold many legendary anecdotes.

Ramble up to the world’s third highest pass of Chang La to witness the ravishing view of the Pangong Lake and experience the true thrills and shrills about Leh Ladakh tourism. Ladakh is well decorated with numerous silt stupas across many depreciated halts, however, topping the recommendation list of Leh Ladakh tourism, the city dots with many monasteries like Hemis, Thiksey, Tangtse, Stok, Spituk, Naropa Photang and a few more.

Tips to Visit Ladakh- 1) Make sure to get road and trekking permits in Leh well in advance. 2) Pack sunscreen, woollens, raingear, and first-aid on a visit to Leh. 3) Do not ignore weather warnings for dust storm and snowstorm in Ladakh. 4) Do not litter at Pangong Lake or any other place in Ladakh. 5) While trekking in Ladakh, be aware of fragile eco-system and do not harm the wildlife.

Leh…Land of Queer Beauty and Sheer Adventure

Complimenting the northern periphery, Leh is a land of queer beauty and sheer adventure. The lofty mountains, the alpine lakes, divine Gompas and the quaint settings make Leh one of the best places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir. Located 434 kms from Srinagar, it majorly intrigues adventure enthusiasts and people with artistic bent of mind. The architectural grandeur of spiritual places like Alchi Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Matho Monastery, Spituk Monastery and Thiksey Monastery dazzles visitors, whereas General Zorawar fort, Stok Palace and Jama Masjid has the potential to surprise spectators. At Leh, one would get a perfect blend of adventure and spirituality, which is of course accompanied by natural scenic beauty. Trekking and Mountain Biking couldn’t excite adventure seekers more; there are several beautiful trails that instigate opportunity for brilliant adventure experience. Clad with beauty of nature, Leh also provide opportunity to witness the Himalayan panaroma.

Hemis…Live the Spirit of Ladakh

Located about 45kms away from Leh, Hemis is amongst the best places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir. Situated on the western bank of River Indus, this small village is famed for its prestigious monastery and a national park. Better known as Hemis National Park, it extends in a 600 sq km of area and provides shelter to many rare species like the snow leopards and bharals. An apt place for nature lovers and naturalists, this sprawling National Park is an asset to Hemis Village. Travel enthusiasts have the opportunity to visit the spectacular Hemis Monastery, which is the largest monastery in Ladakh. The best time to visit Hemis is during the month of June or July, when the entire region is imbued in the color of Hemis festival.

Leh…Land of Queer Beauty and Sheer Adventure leh Complimenting the northern periphery, Leh is a land of queer beauty and sheer adventure. The lofty mountains, the alpine lakes, divine Gompas and the quaint settings make Leh one of the best places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir. Located 434 kms from Srinagar, it majorly intrigues adventure enthusiasts and people with artistic bent of mind. The architectural grandeur of spiritual places like Alchi Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Matho Monastery, Spituk Monastery and Thiksey Monastery dazzles visitors, whereas General Zorawar fort, Stok Palace and Jama Masjid has the potential to surprise spectators. At Leh, one would get a perfect blend of adventure and spirituality, which is of course accompanied by natural scenic beauty. Trekking and Mountain Biking couldn’t excite adventure seekers more; there are several beautiful trails that instigate opportunity for brilliant adventure experience. Clad with beauty of nature, Leh also provide opportunity to witness the Himalayan panaroma. Nubra Valley…Redefining Ladakh

Exotic is what comes in mind, whenever Nubra Valley is mentioned. It is situated where River Shyok and River Siachen meet, so you can expect an impressive view. The most fascinating feature of Nubra is its diversity; it’s an absolute surprise to spot a desert in Ladakh! Hunder, which is situated in Nubra Valley, is a long stretch of desert area, where one can enjoy ride on the Bactrian camels. Another brilliant experience is passing through Khardung La, which is one of the highest motorable roads in the world. Do not miss out on Panamik, which is the last village that is accessible to tourist. Ensa, Samstanling, Diskit and Hunder monasteries are also worth visiting here.

Zanskar…Entrenching Beauty and Excitement

Blessed with nature’s best, Zanskar defines Ladakh, it has in fact one of the most beauty locales that attract lot of adventure and nature lovers. Zongkhul, Zangla, Stongdey, Karsha and Panikhar are the highlights of the Zanskar region, where Zongkhul and Stongdey are old monasteries; there Zangla is an old castle. Another spectacular place to visit in Zanskar is Pensi La which is a high pass that divides Zanskar from Suru Valley. Panikhar, which is the border of Sur Valley, is also an excellent place to visit in the vicinity of the valley of Zanskar. You can also enjoy mountaineering, trekking and rafting activities here as well.

Pangong Lake…The Azure Beauty

The beautiful Pangong Lake has become a popular place to visit in Jammu & Kashmir after it was featured in the bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiot. The lake is situated about 214kms away from Leh and is famed for its azure water and its picture perfect surroundings. The marshy area in the vicinity of the lake is a shelter for many indigenous and migratory birds, thus a nature lover can also enjoy bird watching.

Magnetic Hill, Ladakh

The Magnetic Hill in Ladakh is a road stretching on the Leh to Kargil national highway in the Himalayan region at an altitude of 14,000 KMs which is about 30 km from Leh. Magnetic Hill has Sindhu River flowing in its east which gives it picturesque beauty with the background of magnificent Himalayan Mountains. Magnetic Hill of Ladakh is also known as the ‘gravity hill’ since the area layout and the surrounding land creates an optical illusion by making a downhill slope appear to be an uphill slope. So, if a car is kept in neutral gear, it will start rolling uphill against gravity up to 20 Km per hour speed on its own. It is conceived that this mysterious wonder happens due to magnetic force. Hence the aircraft flying on this region increase its altitude to escape the influence of the magnetic field. Some people just drive through this region without knowing this effect. But those who know would stop their car at the spot to experience this mystical happening. This effect will work only at the right spot not anywhere else.

Magnetic Hill Myth

Magnetic Hill has an eccentric belief attached to it. The local people of the place has a view that earlier this road was the gateway to heaven. The people who did good deeds were taken directly to heaven through this road.

Magnetic Hill Illusion

This story states that there is no presence of any magnetic force on Magnetic Hill. It defines the gravity-defying phenomenon which states that the optical illusion makes the Magnetic Hill look like an upslope because the optical illusion causes downslope.

Activities to Do at Magnetic Hill

Magnetic Hill is a scenic place where one can admire the natural and surreal beauty of nature. One thrilling activity which one should definitely try in Magnetic hill is quad biking which is one thrilling experience of the lifetime. Another interesting thing to do here is to experience the gravity phenomenon by placing your car at neutral gear at the yellow box which is near Magnetic Hill only. After some time, you will notice the car moving on its own at a speed of 20km/hr. This is a great experience to witness here in the Magnetic Hill.

The BRO (Border Roads Organization) has marked the spot by putting a billboard and a yellow box on the Magnetic Hill road to let the people know the right spot. Local village people of this area believe that this place has supernatural powers and this path will lead to heaven. They have folklore that says that the good people will be pulled on to this path while the others will be left out. But in reality, it is a purely optical illusion not magnetic force or supernatural power.

Magnetic Hill’s geographical location and high altitude make the magic here. To experience this peculiar effect, pack your bags and start towards Magnetic Hill in Ladakh and forget about reality for some time and be mystified in the beauty of this unbelievable place.