Explore the Unexplored: Ladakh

Top right image: Savi and Vid from BruisedPassports 

India, being the largest country in Asia, is known as the land of diversity, presently endless varieties of physical features and cultural patterns. Dekho Apna Desh is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism launched by the Union Minister for Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel at Konark, Odisha on 24th January, 2020. Through a webinar series on Digital India learning, this campaign seeks to boost domestic tourism which is expected to rise in the post-COVID-19 world. One such episode of this series was "Explore the Unexplored: Ladakh" presented by Paras Loomba, Founder(Global Himalayan Expedition) and a 2012 Global  Antarctic expedition member along with Jaideep Bansal, COO(Global Himalayan Expedition) and featured by World Economic Forum among the top leaders inspiring change in the world.

The 2 key questions that were answered through this informative session were: 

1. How is Ladakh promoting sustainable tourism? 

Ladakh is a fragile ecosystem and tourists should be wary of the impact they can have if they pollute this beautiful district with plastics and wastes. Among the many organizations working to promote sustainable tourism in Ladakh, the Global Himalayan Expedition(GHE) is prominent not only in setting up homestays and training locals to promote eco-friendly alternatives to the tourists, but also has played a significant role in solar electrification of more than 110 remote villages of Ladakh. They have collectively impacted 5000 lives and reduced carbon footprint by almost 1000 tons. 

2. Which places in Ladakh are unexplored by 90% tourists? 

Ladakh is a region administered by India as a Union Territory and constitutes a part of the larger region of Kashmir. It is sandwiched between the Karakoram and the Great Himalayan Range. Ladakh is a land of diverse cultures, religions, and people. Starting from Leh, Nubra, Chungthang, Rezangla, Tsomoriri, Lingshed valley, Kargil Valley, Padum Town up to the China and Pakistan border, a  large area of the Ladakh is still unexplored by most of the tourists visiting every year. The questions below throw more details on each of the above-mentioned places and explain why exactly you should visit them on your next road or bike trip to Ladakh! 

The following questions briefly bring out these not-so-popular tourist spots in Ladakh, along with the diversity of culture and geography in this region, as discussed by the 2 speakers in the session. 

1. How can you reach Leh by road? 

The best way to reach Leh from the capital city is by the NH3 highway via Manali. The beautiful scenic roads of Manali make your drive worthwhile. You can also reach Leh by NH1D highway via Srinagar. 

2. What are some of the famous places to visit in Leh city? 

The famous Places to Visit in the Leh City are Leh Market, Shanti Stupa, Khardung La Pass, and of course the extremely popular historic monasteries like the Hemis, Shey, or Thiksey Monastery.  Hemis Festival is a very popular festival held in the month of June-July and attracts 1000s of tourists every year. 

Hemis Monastery

3. What are some of the lesser-known but must-visit areas in Leh? 

Among the most unexplored places is the Hemis National Park, which is the largest National Park in South Asia. Spread over 4400 sq km, the park is home to 16 species of mammals and 73 of birds. The park is home for endangered mammals like leopards, Asiatic ibex, Tibetan wolf, the Eurasian brown bear, and the red fox. Among the diverse wildlife of this area, the Snow Leopard is popularly known as the Pride of Ladakh. 

The Marka Valley, situated along the Markha river in Hemis National Park, is popular among the seasoned trekkers. This trek passes through beautiful villages tucked in the deep valley surrounded by towering mountains. The high pass of Kongmaru La offers spectacular views of the Kang Yatse peaks. You can stay in homestays throughout the trek and it’s an excellent opportunity to discover the everyday life of locals.

The other places that deserve a mention are the 11th-century old Sumda Chun Monastery, the 17th-century Chemrey Monastery(especially during the annual festival of this monastery, known as Chemrey Angchok), and the Chilling village full of copper artesian. 

4. How much time does it take to reach the beautiful Nubra valley from Leh? 

It usually takes around 4 hours(150 km) to reach the Nubra valley from the Leh airport. From the airport, all tourists can board a taxi, bus or a jeep to the Nubra valley. However, it's worthwhile to note that you will need an Inner Line Permit(ILP) to enter Nubra. All concerned states issue ILP which can be obtained by applying online or directly at the government office. 

5. What is so unique about Hunder sand dunes and what should you wear there? 

The Hunder sand dunes is a cold desert in the Nubra Valley and the only place in the country where double-humped Bactrian camels can be found. The temperature falls to -10°C in the winter months(February-March)  and can be even 20°C in summer(April-May). Keeping in mind the large temperature difference, it is recommended that you wear merino wool thermals blended with bamboo, which makes it suitable for any temperature between -20°C to 15°C.

The cold desert in Nubra Valley: Hunder Sand Dunes

6. What are the places you should miss visiting in Nubra valley? 

The gorgeous Nubra Valley is known for places like Turtuk Village, Hot Springs  Panamik, Yarma, Diskit Monasteries, Warshi village which is the last village of India before Siachen Warsi(the Pakistan border area). You can also visit the Yarma Gompa monastery by crossing the Siachen River or travel to the  Yarab Tso Lake, which is considered holy by the locals. 

7. What was the lake which was featured in the movie "3 idiots" and what should you keep in mind while visiting it? 

The Pangong Tso Lake, the highest saltwater lake, situated at 13000 feet, was featured in the hit movie "3 idiots" and has become a popular tourist destination now. This place experiences heavy snowfall in the winter and moderate rainfall in the rainy season, with temperatures being as low as -20°C in winter and as high as 20°C in the summer or monsoon. So, if you are visiting this place, make sure you pack the best winter jackets for extreme cold and rain. Also, while you are here, make sure to visit the Changla pass, which is home to beautiful Marmots and the Maan Village which has some beautiful homestays you could spend a night at while signing up for the astronomy sessions this place is known for. 

8. What are some places to visit in or near Hanle village? 

Hanle is a large historic village located in the Hanle River valley on an old branch of the ancient Ladakh–Tibet trade route. It is the site of the 17th century Hanle monastery of the Drukpa Kagyu branch of Tibetan Buddhism. More recently, Hanle is known for the Hanle observatory, one of the world's highest sites for astronomical observation made by the Indian Astronomical Observatory. The other places to visit here are the picturesque Tso Moriri or "Mountain Lake" and the Korzok village with its nomadic villages. Moving towards the China border, you can also visit the Rezang La War Memorial created in the remembrance of the brave soldiers of the 1962 Indo-China war. 

Hanle Observatory in Hanle village, Ladakh

9. Which is the best place in Ladakh for bird lovers? 

The Tsokar lake, which is a fluctuating lake(great variations in alkaline content due to a mixture of salt and sweet water)  situated in the Rupshu Plateau in the southern part of Ladakh, is a bird watchers paradise. A lot of migratory birds from the Tibetan plateau, including the black-necked crane, are found here. 

10. Which place is known for the famous Sand Mandala artwork, made from 1000 grands of colored sand? 

The most famous Sand Mandala artworks can be found at the Lingshed Monastery located in Lingshed valley. The best time to visit this place is during the Mandala festival which happens annually and witnesses thousands of finely blended mandala artworks being created and destroyed. The sand mandala is ritualistically dismantled once the rituals are over to symbolize the Buddhist doctrinal belief in the transitory nature of material life.

The sand mandala artworks are made from grains of colored sand

11.  What are some of the famous tourist spots in the Kargil valley? 

The Kargil valley, located at 9000 feet, is a peaceful and unexplored city of the Western Ladakh region. The Mulbekh Chamba statue of the 8th century and the drass war memorial of the 1999 Indo-Pak war are the 2 most popular spots here. The Suru valley, situated at a distance of 40km from Kargil city, is a beautiful destination with green landscape and dense plantation and is also the base for four days trek to Shargole via Rusilla and Sapi and is known for Kartse Khar Chamba Rock statue of the 7th century. It is also famous for the Suru Boulder festival, the idea of which is to unite the climbers from all across the globe, and is a festival premised on celebrating the power of youth and adventure.

12.  When should you visit the apricot blossoms in Kargil and what should you carry? 

The Apricot fruit(also known as "chulli" by locals) has become an integral part of Ladakh's culture, heritage, and economy. The Apricot blossoms in Kargil deserve a special mention in this regard and the best time to visit this place in August-September, when the trees are laden with yellow and orange shaped fruits that start getting harvested to be sold around the world. This time of the year experiences heavy rainfall in Kargil and ideally, you should be equipped with the best hiking rain jacket which are water repellent and suitable over a wide temperature range( -5°C to 15°C).

Kargil valley apricot blossoms

13. What are the places of interest in Padum Town? 

Padum Town is the most unexplored town in the Himalayas and is just a 12 hours drive from Kargil. The places of interest here are Rangdum and Karsha monasteries where locals give visitors their traditional welcome by serving them the local beer called chhang, the Drang Drung Glacier and the small village of  Marling(which has some real nice homestays). Apart from these, one can also trek 8 hours from the town to reach Phugtal, a 2500 year old cave monastery. It remains one of the few monasteries that can only be reached through foot in summer and by crossing the frozen Zanskar river in winter. A road is however, expected to be built soon for the vehicles to reach this cave. 

14.  Is winter a good time to plan a trip to Ladakh? 

Contrary to popular opinion, winter is indeed a good time to visit Ladakh with frequent archery and ice hockey tournaments being held in different parts of Ladakh. The winter season is however extremely cold with temperatures regularly falling below the 0°C mark. It is thus important to carry accessories like monkey caps, gloves, mufflers and most importantly, find the best  thermal socks for cold weather to keep your feet warm and comfortable(as most of the body heat escapes through our feet). The locals  also  interact more in this season as life comes to  standstill due to heavy snowfall, making it an ideal place to visit for adventure seekers. 

15. Finally, what can we do to promote eco friendly tourism in Ladakh? 

While visiting Ladakh,we should be wary of the impact they can have if they pollute this beautiful district with plastics and wastes. So, it's recommended that we carry your own water bottles to minimize usage of plastics. It's also important that we stay in homestays run by the locals  which follow a sustainable lifestyle,serve clean & healthy food along with clear water from the glaciers. Finally, we should always try buying the local handicrafts to support these women with their livelihood and in turn, boost the economy of this region. 

Image Credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/44124414060@N01, Alin Dev