Ladakh calling

 

It is as if nature took it's time to create a pristine painting, so magical that one look and it is etched in your memory for a lifetime. Snow-capped mountain ranges look into the mirror of crystal clear rivers and the skies join in to add some more hues. Ladakh... it sure is a wonderland!

A dream destination of every avid traveller, Ladakh is located in Jammu & Kashmir and it borders Tibet to the east. The beautiful place has acquired many nicknames like The Last Shangri-La, The Little Tibet and The Rooftop of the World. We must be thankful to Bollywood for taking us through the place though briefly in various movies, and also facilitating the rise in tourism in the region. Did you know that parts of Rang De Basanti, 3 Idiots (the part where the secret of Phunshukh Wangadoo is revealed) and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (the training scene) were shot in Ladakh! Also, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's upcoming film Mirza Sahibaan (in which Anil Kapoor's son Harshvardhan will make a debut) will also be shot in Ladakh.

Coming back to details about Ladakh, its capital and the largest town Leh is blessed with the beautiful Indus, Shayok and Zanskar rivers. The ideal time to visit Leh is between the months of May and September. There are two ways to reach Ladakh by road - Srinagar to Leh and Manali to Leh. You can also reach the Kushok Bakula Rimpochhe Airport in Leh, which is one of the highest airports in the world above the sea level.

In addition to getting mesmerized by the picturesque beauty, there are a host of activities to do in Ladakh. Trekking, camping, river rafting, attending the local and international festivals or simply watching the famous archery competition will leave you spellbound.

AWESOME PLACES TO VISIT IN LADAKH

1.       Zanskar valley

2.       Panong Lake

3.       Royal Palace of Leh

4.       Tso Moriri Lake

5.       Magnetic / Gravity Hill

6.       Nubra Valley

7.       Shanti Stupa

8.       Karhil

9.       Shanti Stupa

10.   Khardung La Pass

11.   Monasteries

THINGS YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE YOU TRAVEL TO LADAKH

Languages: Ladakhi, Hindi & English

Acclimatization: Since Ladakh is located at a very high altitude, you need to take care of altitude sickness and acclimatize yourself. It involves ensuring a gradual increase in altitudes. After reaching 10000 ft, you need to stay overnight, get your system tuned to the climate and lower oxygen levels and then proceed. Again, you need to take a day's break after crossing another 3000 ft. also, you need to keep yourself hydrated and avoid smoking.

Festivals: You might want to make the most of your Ladakh trip by visiting it during the festivals like Ladakh Festival, Losar Festival, Hemis Festival, Ladakh International Film Festival (LIFF), Dosmoche Festival, Sindhu Darshan Festival, Ladakh Festival, Tak-Tok Festival, etc.

So start making plans for visiting the awesome place today and you will treasure the memories forever. And if you been to Ladakh already, we would like to hear about your trip here! 

Anuradha