A trip to Leh, Ladakh must be on top of your bucket list. Its lunar landscape, flexuous roads, barren high mountain passes, enchanting monasteries, surreal lakes and the unique culture will create an eternal effect on you. There is so much to do and see that you may feel overwhelmed on your first visit itself. To make it a riveting experience on your first visit, we have listed 10 best things to do on a maiden trip to Ladakh.
Here are the top 10 things to do for the first time traveller:
1. Visiting Leh Palace & Namgyal Tsemo Gompa
On the top of the Tsemo Hill overlooking the Leh city lays the magnificent Leh Palace, the erstwhile royal palace of the Namgyal dynasty. It is one of the most visited places and a dominant historical structure in Leh. Built by the King Sengge Namgyal like a Potala Palace in Lhasa (in Chinese occupied Tibet), this nine storied building now holds a rich collection of jewellery, ornaments, ceremonial dresses and crowns. Panoramic vistas of Leh city and the nearby areas can be seen from its rooftop.
Situated just behind the Palace at a hilltop is the Namgyal Tsemo Gompa. It was founded in 1430 by King Tashi Namgyal and it houses three storied high gold statue of Maitreya Buddha, ancient manuscripts and frescoes.
2. Walk to Shanti Stupa to Treasure the Sunset
Sitting at a distance from the Tsemo Hill on a hilltop in Chanspa village is a Buddhist white domed stupa called the Shanti Stupa. It was built by the Japanese in 1991 as a part of the Peace Pagoda mission to promote world peace and to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism. It does not reflect a Ladakhi architectural style but it is a popular tourist attraction.
A walk to Shanti Stupa to see the sunset will reward you with a mesmerizing view of the Leh city and the surrounding mountains. There is also a motorable road leading to this place and it is open for a public visit from 5:00 a.m to 10:00 p.m.
3. Watch Traditional Archery Competition
Enjoy watching a round or two of traditional archery competition. Archery is a traditional game and it is played in almost every corner of Ladakh. Traditionally it is played only in the spring season with much fervour and enthusiasm but now competitions and demonstrations are held throughout the tourist season.
4. Visiting Monasteries around Leh City
A hotbed of Tibetan Buddhism, Ladakh is a region overflowing with Buddhist culture, traditions and intricately built monasteries dating some of which are centuries old. On a maiden trip to Ladakh, it may not be possible to visit all the Gompas or monasteries but there are three beautiful monasteries near to Leh city that you must visit.
Thiksay Monastery – Considered to be one of the most beautiful monasteries in Ladakh, the Thiksey Gompa is referred to as ‘mini Potala’ due to its close resemblance to the actual Potala Palace in Lhasa. It is a 12 storied building on a hilltop with 10 temples and the main prayer hall with a 40-foot tall statue of Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha) seated on a lotus.
Hemis Monastery – About 45 km south of Leh city is the Hemis monastery which is one of the largest monasteries in Ladakh. The annual Hemis festival is held here on the 9th and 10th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan calendar to celebrate the birth ceremony of Guru Padmasambhava. It has an amazing collection of age-old relics, Thangkas and silver stupas of Buddha.
Shey Monastery – Situated at 16 km from Leh city en route Hemis and Thiksey lays the Shey Palace which also houses a revered 3 storied statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in its monastery. It has a chapel that houses the largest collection of Thangkas in Ladakh.
6. Driving or Riding to Khardung La Top
Driving or riding to Khardung La top is a must thing to do on your maiden trip to Ladakh. It is a gateway to the Nubra Valley and until recently it was known as the highest motorable road pass in the world. Nevertheless, the thrill of driving or riding to the pass is immaculate and you will be astounded breathtaking landscape that you will witness along the way.
6. Double Humped Camel Ride in Nubra Valley
A tour of Nubra Valley will rapt you with a sight of an alluring cold desert landscape, striking green oasis, ancient ruins and monasteries. This cold desert is a gateway to the Siachen Glacier and is the only place in India where you can see the Bactrian camel. You can go on a camelback ride on these unique double-humped Camels or try your hands on quad bikes in the sand dunes between Deskit and Hundar.
7. Adore the Beauty of Pangong Tso Lake
Pangong Lake is the largest brackish lake in Asia at about a height of 13,900 feet and is around 134 km long. Only the one-third of the lake is on the Indian side and the rest falls under China occupied Tibet. A visit to the lake will leave you awestruck, undeniably the most beautiful place you will ever see through your naked eyes. The crystal clear water of the lake changes its color according to the formation of the clouds above it. Probably it is the only place on earth that does not need any photo edits!
8. Camping
What can be more experiencing and equally adventurous as camping in a cold desert? Camping in Ladakh will give you the luxury of sleeping under billion stars along with a memorable sojourn in the mountains. The camps located in the region are known for its sprawling campsites and great hospitality.
9. Rafting in River Indus or Zanskar
This one is for the adventurous souls planning to travel Ladakh for the first time. One of the most fascinating adventure activity that this region offers is the white water rafting in River Zanskar or Indus. The gushing water of these two rivers makes the rapids strong and all your efforts to keep hanging around the raft on twists and turns makes white water rafting an intense experience.
10. Exquisite Ladakhi Shopping
It is hard to go on tour and to come back empty hand, at least a souvenir makes its way in everyone’s bag. In the sprawling market of Leh you can spend hours while browsing through souvenir shops, Tibetan jewelleries, Buddhist masks, Pashmina shawls, hand-woven carpets, dragon motifs, Thangka paintings on silk, prayer wheels , flags and fresh organic products like Apricot jam, oil etc. Make sure that you carry cash there are many shops that don’t accept credit or debit cards and POS machines don’t work most of the times. Bring back some unusual curios or souvenirs that will remind you of your adventure in Ladakh.
If lack of time is the primary reason for your continuous postponement of visiting this Himalayan paradise then you must follow these top 10 things to do on your maiden trip to Ladakh. Schedule your holidays and pack your bags for an incredible Himalayan Odyssey.
Zuley!
