Offbeat Experience and Unseen Places At Nubra Valley

by Shaurya Chalmela Travel consultant

Khardung La

An exclusive and offbeat experience of a lifetime in unexplored regions of the most popular hotspot in Ladakh - The Nubra Valley. Read on to know more about the unheard and unique experiences which will leave an everlasting impression encountered in Nubra Valley.

Nubra Valley is a stunning landscape in the north of Ladakh. The view of the snow-capped mountains against the backdrop of the majestic blue sky and green grass is truly unforgettable. One of the major hotspots for trekkers and adventurous souls, this place will push your endurance limit to another extent with its one of a kind experiences. Located approximately 120 km from Leh, this breathtaking landscape is an excellent destination for lovely walking trails, camping, and trekking.

There are many sightseeing places in Nubra, including beautiful monastery like Diskit, which is also one of the largest and ancient Buddhist monasteries in the valley. People come here to visit the Shyok river, to witness the largest statue of Maitreyi Buddha and do camel safari in the desert of Hunder. Apart from this, Nubra also has stunning hot springs in Panamik, and the fair trials will take you to a few hidden places like Lukung, Tegar, Samstaling, Tirit, and Sumur. Visitors also come to this place to enjoy the thrill and excitement of camping.

Let us see in detail what are the best things and places to see while you are at Nubra Valley:

Panamik village in Nubra Valley:

This undisclosed destination in Ladakh is famous for its therapeutic hot springs. Situated on the bank of Nubra river, this village looks heavenly with snow-clad peaks and green valley surrounding the charming town. This place seems mind blowing with fluffy clouds all around as you walk by. Pashmina goats and Bactrian camels with humps are two other attractions for which this place is famous for. Months between June to September is the best time to visit this place.

You can rent a cab from Leh to reach Panamik village through Khardung la Pass. Many tourists visit the town to take a dip in the hot springs, and it is believed to have cured various health diseases. Besides that, tourists also flock here for Kashmiri carpet, Pashmina shawls and woolen clothes. You will also find Horticulture products here to take home like apples, apricots, almonds, and walnuts.

Camel Safari in Hunder Village:

This valley of flowers is famous for Safari packages. You can choose to ride a camel in this fascinating valley and enjoy the scenery of a stunning backdrop and surreal landscape around the valley. These stunning silver dunes in the valley for Ladakh are like an oasis amidst the cold desert. The hunder sand dunes look nothing less than extraordinary when you decide to take a ride on the camel safari surrounding the incredible snow-capped peaks. The dunes are home to Bactrian beauties who are major key players in the ancient silk routes along with the Pashmina goats.

Tourists come here to indulge in camel safaris at Hunder Sand Dunes where you can enjoy the ride on Bactrian camels and click some awesome pictures of the panoramic views. Located at the height of 4000 meters, tourists can hire a cab from Leh to reach here. July and September the best months to plan a visit at Hunder Sand Dunes

Visit the scenic Yarab Tso Lake at Nubra Valley:

Touted as a best-kept secret of Nubra Valley is the picturesque and enchanting Yarab Tso Lake. Known as a one of the popular and sacred places to visit in Ladakh, this lake is tucked away 15 km from the Diskit region hidden in Sumur village. This lake can only be reached through trekking by foot from Panamik village. The crystal-clear water seems to have healing properties and is considered holy by locals of Ladakh.

The calm and serene lake will bring you much needed solitude and harmony besides the breath of fresh air. You will be covered by stunning surroundings with a picturesque backdrop and colorful flags fluttering all around the lake. This lake is about 15-20 minutes from the Panamik village, and you can hire a private cab to reach here from Leh. The weather is more pleasing during July and September when more and more tourists come to visit this isolated lake.

Samstanling Monastery in Nubra Valley:

Amidst the scenic mountains and green valleys, there is a small little monastery in the beautiful village of Sumur at Nubra Valley. This monastery was built in the 18th century and has a stylish traditional look in shades of red, white, and gold. You will find exciting shades of reds and yellows with small trees and colorful prayer flags amidst the brown mountains and blue skies. The monastery has stunning architecture and is governed by approximately 50 monks who give their blessings every day with morning prayers.

You can hire a cab or visit the monastery on a local bus from Sumur village. It’s a must visit destination for people visiting Nubra Valley. Visitors prefer to come here between June to September to enjoy this little gem of Ladakh.

Beautiful and milky white Diskit Monastery:

Diskit Monastery is a must visit place amidst the barren and stark Nubra valley. The monastery belongs to the yellow hat section of Tibetan Buddhism and is also known as the oldest and largest monastery in the Nubra valley. The prayer hall of this monastery is adorned by 102 feet tall statue of Lord Maitreya Buddha along with huge drums and fierce guardian deities. It took four years to build this majestic statue, which faces the Shyok river and Pakistan. This monastery also features a distinctive sculpture of Champa in its prayer hall.

Diskit Monastery also runs a school in collaboration with an NGO, which is known as ‘The Tibet support group.’ The monastery is famous for its scapegoat festival (Dosmoche). You can reach here via Khardung La pass or Wari La Pass. You can hire a cab or taxi to reach this monastery once you land in Nubra Valley. Dosmoche Festival is held in February, but July and September are the best time to plan a visit to Diskit Monastery.

Adventurous tour to Khardung La Pass:

This motorable Pass is a much sought-after gateway to Nubra Valley and Shyok river. Considered as the highest or topmost motorable Pass in the world, this famous place is one of the most visited landmarks in Ladakh. The feel of driving down this Pass in the middle of the most dramatic and unseen beauty of Ladakh promises to be the most adventurous and splendor ride you have ever taken.

This scenic valley has historical importance where materials were transferred to China during World war II. It connects you to both Manali and Srinagar and mostly visited by adventure enthusiasts for mountain biking. Experience the exhilarating and most unforgettable journey of your lifetime by visiting this Pass at least once in your life. From May till September is considered as the best time to visit this most famous La.