Leh’s Julley! In Ladakh, that means “Hello,” and everyone is eager to greet you with that.The incredibly welcoming alpine city of Leh is waiting for you to come see them.You will be met with the most breathtaking expansive views of snow-capped mountains, historic palaces, and Buddhist stupas when you reach here, whether by bus or airplane. In addition, it’s a much-needed haven from sultry, crowded places like Rajasthan and Delhi. This is the comprehensive travel guide to Leh Ladakh, covering how to get there, the best things to do, where to stay, and what to eat.
The comprehensive travel guide to Leh Ladakh
Where in India is Leh Ladakh?
- Because Leh Ladakh sits on the Chinese border and has a history strongly tied to Tibet, it offers an intriguing blend of cultures and cuisine!
- The best thing about Leh is that you will definitely find yourself wondering frequently what country you are in.
- Which season is ideal for traveling to Ladakh?
- Since Ladakh is a dry place in a country where it rains all the time, the best time to visit is really during the monsoon season, which runs from June to September!
- It’s advisable to visit before mid-September or use a plane because they close the road after that time.
Every day at this time of year is gorgeously sunny, and because you’re higher up at 3,500 meters and closer to the sun, everything nearly seems saturated!
- In addition, the weather is ideal for trekking, which is why most visitors come here.
- How to go to Leh Ladakh: by road or by planehttps://thirdeyetraveller.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/kc-garden-leh.jpg
- There are typically two ways to get to Leh Ladakh.
- The majority of travelers choose to fly straight from Delhi to Leh Ladakh in order to avoid the lengthy bus ride that passes via the Indian states of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
- However, this implies that you won’t be able to acclimate quickly, and you might experience altitude sickness that will take several days to resolve.
- You can purchase medications to help if you are prone to altitude sickness. The alternative is to travel from Manali to Leh on a protracted bus ride.
- This is the least expensive choice and isn’t nearly as risky as many think.
- Although the roads are hectic, the breathtaking scenery make the time spent by yourself worthwhile.
- There will be waterfalls, mountain passes, and valleys to traverse. You won’t soon forget the experience, and in many places there are no signs of life at all.
Getting to Leh by bus from Manali
From Manali to Leh, which was actually twenty hours away, I took an eighteen-hour bus, and we arrived in the middle of the night.
Our bus driver was very kind to let us off in Changspa’s backpacker zone, which is home to many guest houses. We had no idea, though, that none would be open for business past midnight!
We spent a short time hanging out with some other bus travelers in a late-night bakery that was transformed into a bar, listening to the same Ed Sheeran song repeatedly.
While sipping chai, we discussed our next course of action, which involved visiting every hostel in the vicinity!
After some time, we ran out of places to stay, so KC Garden, a bar, volunteered to let us spend the night there. It was a that was utilized for parties and get-togethers with friends!
It was quite cold, had no windows, and let in the sound of barking dogs. But we had enough of blankets to be warm and it was a place to crash for the night.
Given that he had little to give in the first place, it was incredibly kind of him. He was also quite generous in not charging.
In Leh Ladakh, we were stuck.
The property owner allowed us to sleep in until noon, but when the workers arrived the following morning at 7 am, they turned on loud music to force us to wake up!
It started off as just the sound of Buddhist chanting, which was quite soothing.
They turned up the volume with techno music at 9:30 am, at which point everyone awoke groggily from their beds.
The following day, we proceeded to try and find a room after having a chai together and thanking the people at KC Garden.
Changspa is the place to stay in Leh Ladakh.
The cheapest hotel was Hotel Asia, where we ultimately stayed.
The best activities in Leh Ladakh
Since Leh is the biggest city in Ladakh and has convenient access to Srinagar, Pangong Lake, and Nubra Valley in Kashmir, most visitors utilize it as their base of operations.
Nonetheless, Leh Ladakh itself offers a plethora of activities.
Together with a spectacular mountain range, old palaces, and the well-known Shanti Stupa, it is also incredibly beautiful to explore.
You are never truly bored, not even if you only look around you.
Leh Palace
To begin your journey in Leh, this would definitely be an excellent place to start. The rest of the city is overlooked by the historic palace.
This residence served as the model for the Tibetan Potala Palace in Lhasa and was inhabited by Ladakh nobility.
The palace is rich in history, although not many of the royal family’s old relics are still there, despite the fact that it was constructed in the seventeenth century.
Except for the old photographs that adorn the walls, the building’s nine stories are empty.
The views from the rooftops are actually the nicest part of exploring this palace!
Great panoramic views of the entire city are available. Go ahead and explore; there aren’t really any boundaries to your exploration!
Tsemo Castle
Perched atop the hill above Leh Palace is Castle Tsemo.
You can either walk the long, twisting hike uphill or hail a cab for about 250 rupees to get there in Leh Ladakh!
The Namgyal Tsemo Monastery and the castle comprise the two components of Castle Tsemo, a Buddhist shrine.
When you’re finally breathing easier after the stroll, peek inside to see the exquisitely kept golden Buddha.
There’s a trek up to the monastery next, and entry costs 20 rupees.
I initially thought this was great because it was so inexpensive, but then I saw that you had to climb these ridiculous ladders to reach the monastery’s rooftops!
It was a wobbly ascent to the summit because these frail, weak ladders were not fastened to the wall in any manner!
The others were nearly vertical, even though they were low!
The vistas were definitely worth it, but there was a catch: how was I going to descend again?
My boyfriend had to practically put my foot on each rung of the ladder because I was so terrified.
As soon as I reached the bottom, I was completely out of breath!
I can joke now, but I really did believe I was lost. I wouldn’t suggest it if you’re frightened of heights because it’s really absurd.
Leh Ladakh’s Shanti Stupa
In Leh Ladakh, the Buddhist Shanti Stupa was one of my favorite sights to see. Built in 1991 and blessed by the Dalai Lama himself, it was provided by the Japanese.
The views and the stupa make the 500 steps to the summit well worth the effort! When we got there at roughly ten in the morning, nobody was in sight.
The Leh Ladakh Shanti Stupa is best seen at sunset, when the temperature isn’t as high and the sun casts a stunning crimson glow over the surrounding mountains.
Additionally, there’s incredibly lovely live Buddhist chanting music that comes from the neighboring temple.
The Stupa comes to life as the lights go out in Leh Ladakh, and you can see the countless stars that emerge here because there is less light pollution. It had a magical quality.
Since a government official was present when we paid our visit in the evening, some Kashmiri military were obviously on duty.
I was able to hold this one of them! More bizarre incidents have occurred.
