Ladakh – Land of High Passes
The union territory of Ladakh is renowned for its high mountain passes, altitude desert, Nubra valley,grassland lakes and culture. Ladakh land of high passes is composed of the Leh and Kargil districts and offers list of unique places of tourist interest such as Nubra valley, Drass, Tso Moriri lake, motorable pass, trekking destinations and Buddhist monasteries tourism.
Leh and Kargil are two largest districts in the Ladakh region at an altitude of 3,524 metres, connected to Srinagar by national highway 1 through high mountain passes and to Manali via the Leh Manali Highway passes through Rohtang, Tanglang La pass and Lachulung La pass.
Tourist Places to Visit in Leh Ladakh
Leh-Ladakh is famous for mountain landscape, Buddhist monasteries and tourist attractions including Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, Hemis gompa, Nubra Sand Dunes, Tanglang La pass, Pangong Tso Lake and Zanskar trek.
Dras is the coldest place in India, also known as the Gateway to Ladakh and Diskit monastery, Nubra valley and Zanskar range are popular destination for tourist in Ladakh
Leh Palace
Leh Palace is the best and must visit tourist places in the town of Leh and provides panoramic and extremely exciting views of Leh areas, Palace is take care by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Shanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa on a hilltop at 11,841 ft in Leh district was part of the Peace Pagoda mission and most famous tourist attraction of Leh that also provides breathtaking views of the landscape and surrounding mountains.
Maitreya Buddha
There is a largest statue of Lord Buddha also known as Maitreya Buddha in the Nubra valley of diskit monastery, Ladakh. Diskit Gompa in the Nubra valley is one of the most beautiful Monastery of Ladakh, house largest statue in Ladakh.
Magnetic Hill
Magnetic Hill near Leh in Ladakh is the most famous tourist site, located 30km from Leh on Kargil – Leh highway where gravity takes control of your vehicles.
Notable Lakes in Ladakh
Pangong Tso grassland lake is a separate landlocked river basin, at a height of 14,270 ft and known as one of top tourist place in Ladakh. The lake is saline water lake, wetland of international importance and remain frozen during the winter month.
- Pangong Lake
- Lake Moriri
- Tso Kar
- Yarab Tso
- Mirpal Tso
Lake Moriri in the Changthang Plateau is largest lake entirely within Ladakh and also largest high altitude lakes entirely located in India. These Himalayan lakes and valley supports unique species of birds and wild animals such as Lynx, Tibetan Ass and Tibetan wolf.
Beautiful Valleys Of Ladakh
Nubra Valley is a must visit places in Ladakh and should be in your bucket list for 2020. The valley at about 10,000 ft altitude is one of the known places in India where Indian citizens also required an Inner Line Permit to visit.
- Nubra Valley
- Zanskar Valley
- Dras Valley
- Indus Valley
- Markha Valley
The world famous Chadar Trek is a popular international adventure tourist destination in the Zanskar region of Ladakh, Known as one of the most difficult treks in the world.
Mountain Passes in Ladakh
Ladakh is land of high altitude mountain passes and tourist come visit these motorable passes, lakes and glaciers of Ladakh. These are dozens of motorable passes including Marsmik La pass, Khardung la , Lungalacha La, Chang La Pass and Namika La Pass.
- Marsmik La
- Khardung La
- Taglang La
- Chang La
- Bara Lacha La
The high altitude passes connect Leh Ladakh region to Srinagar, Manali via snow capped mountains, altitude desert, valleys, gateway and adventures drive.
Monastery Tourism in Ladakh
There are 35 Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh region of India, One of the bigger tourist attraction in Ladakh and must visit places from the bucket list of Indian destinations of 2020.
- Hemis Monastery
- Thikse Monastery
- Diskit Monastery
- Likir Monastery
- Phugtal Monastery
Monasteries in Ladakh are now more than a religious center and one can find inner peace, list of monasteries in Ladakh also includes Spituk Monastery, Stakna Monastery, Alchi Monastery, Phyang Monastery, Takthok Monastery amd Lamayuru or Yuru Monastery.
Himalayan Wildlife of Ladakh
The cold desert valleys, snowy hills and high altitude mountains of Ladakh offers great diversity of wild animals, birds species and wildlife. High altitude wetlands such as Tso Moriri lakes and cold mountains are home to unique species of birds such as Black necked crane and ground for many migratory birds like Bluethroat, brahminy duck and Rosy starling.
- Snow Leopard
- Himalyan Wolf
- Brown Bear
- Blue Sheep
- Himalayan Marmot
- Bactrian Camel
- Kiang Wild Ass
- Black Necked Crane
- Golden Eagle
- Lammergeier Vulture
- Himalayan Griffon Vulture
The protected area of Ladakh host number of species of endangered mammals like Ladakhi Urial, Tibetan Sheep, Blue Sheep and 200 snow leopards around Rumbak and Skiu villages.
Among wild animals found in Ladakh includes Himalayan marmot, Tibetan argali, Mountain weasel,Tibetan antelope, Shapu sheep, Tibetan gazelle, Brown bear, Indian wolf, Lynx and very rare Snow leopard.
Hemis National Park
Hemis High Altitude National Park of Ladakh is famous for the breeding population of snow leopards in India, Know to house highest density and also largest National park in India by area.
The park and the protected area of the Himalayas are also home to rare and endangered brown bear, Tibetan wolf, red fox, Asiatic ibex and Bharal Blue Sheep, also noted for big birds of prey like the golden eagle, Himalayan griffon vulture and rare lammergeier vulture.
