Ladakh boasts of a lot of things right from challenging passes and roads to alpine and beautiful lakes. The natural beauty of Ladakh has been mesmerizing adventurers and visitors for a long time now. Year after year, the number of people visiting here keeps increasing. From avid bikers enjoying a bike trip to Ladakh to families spending their vacations; Ladakh’s popularity has also steered newlywed couples to celebrate their honeymoon here.
Read Also: Best time to visit Ladakh
It’s true that Ladakh is utterly beautiful and adventurous but that doesn’t mean the places around Ladakh are any less beautiful. So here in this article, we will discuss the amazing places to visit near Ladakh. But before that, you must know the important attractions that fall en route. So, keep reading the blog to soak up the information about the best places you can visit during your trip to Ladakh, and none of these places are in Ladakh.
Route to Ladakh
There is basically one circuit that defines Ladakh; you can start it from Srinagar and end it in Manali. The other route is vice versa. There are multiple routes inside Ladakh given below is a quick look at both the routes including the important information related to them.
Srinagar- Leh Highway route
The total distance one has to cover between Srinagar and Leh is approximately 434 km.
Srinagar- Ganderbal- Kangan- Sonmarg- Zoji La- Drass- Kargil- Lamayuru- Khaltsi- Uleytokpo- Alchi- Nimmoo- Magnetic Hill- Pathar Sahib Gurudwara- Leh
Places to visit near Ladakh on Srinagar- Leh highway
1. Sonamarg
- Sonmarg is a breathtaking town located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir.
- This is an important destination for adventure enthusiasts as well as pilgrims.
- Sonmarg Valley is home to Amarnath Peak, Kolahoi Peak, as well as Sirbal Peak.
- While traversing this route, you can plan on staying at Sonmarg to enjoy a quick sightseeing tour.
- The popular attractions of Sonmarg include Vishansar Lake, Zoji La Pass, Nalagarh River, Krishnasar Lake, and a few more.
2. Gulmarg
- One of the finest places to visit near Ladakh is Gulmarg which is another enchanting town in Kashmir.
- Gulmarg is an avid adventurer’s destination where people enjoy Gondola Ride, Golfing, Skiing, and a lot of other snow sports to say the least.
- The best time to visit here is between March and October unless you wish to enjoy snow sports.
- But according the best time, when you visit here, a large variety of flowers is what welcomes you to the valley.
- Small lakes, valleys filled with flowers, snow-capped mountains, and lush greenery; all of this make Gulmarg an absolute stunner.
3. Aru Valley
- Located in the Anantnag district which is approximately 12 km from Pahalgam. This is a small town but beautiful enough to get the attention it deserves.
- Apart from enjoying the beauty of the valley, you can also try your hands at some amazing activities too.
- Horse Riding, fishing, photography, and skiing are some of them to name.
- This might surprise you, there is a small fee of 25 INR that you will have to pay as an entrance fee to the valley.
4. Srinagar
- Srinagar is one of the best attractions to visit near Ladakh while traveling to an amazing destination.
- While you travel to Ladakh from the Leh-Srinagar highway, you will be crossing this amazing city. Stop by and visit the fine attractions of the place.
- Srinagar is popular for its aromatic gardens, houseboats, and lakes; try to stay for a while at any of these places and enjoy your time.
- If you love shopping, then Pashmeena and dry fruits are the best things to get from here.
5. Ganderbal
- Ganderbal is another amazing town that can be visited around Ladakh on the route, from Srinagar to Leh.
- This is one of the most enchanting and peaceful places in all of Jammu And Kashmir. Therefore, if you have the bandwidth ensure that you visit here.
- Ganderbal is also important because of its petrol pump which is supposed to be one of the last pumps on the way to Leh.
- Ganderbal Lake is an interesting place to sit and relax. The ambiance or surroundings is pristine and rejuvenating.
6. Kangan
- Kangan is another tourist destination near Ladakh that arrests the eyes and attention of people. It is a top destination that can be visited by friends and family.
- Apart from the beautiful attractions, Kangan is considered to be a popular place for outdoor activity lovers too.
- A lot of newlywed couples and young enthusiasts visit here owing to the beauty and adventure activities offered by the place.
Manali- Leh Highway route
The total distance one has to cover between Manali and Leh is approximately 474 km,
Manali- Rohtang La- Suraj Tal- Baralacha La- Sarchu- Gata Loops- Nakee La- Lungalacha La- Moore Plains- Taglang La- Rumtse- Leh
Places to visit near Ladakh on Manali- Leh highway
7. Spiti and Lahaul
- From enchanting valleys and temples to lakes and monasteries, Spiti and Lahaul are two amazing districts in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
- While you take this route, this is one place near Ladakh, precisely on the border where you can enjoy your heart out snow riding or indulging in other activities.
- One can visit here between May and October because, after that, heavy snowfall isolates the place from the other parts of the state.
- The valley is located at 12, 500 ft above sea level which is daunting and amazing at the same time.
- There are small villages in different areas, apart from this the entire valley is barren.
8. Sarchu
- Sarchu is another town in the Spiti Valley that falls on the border of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
- Sarchu falls in between Lachulung La and Baralacha La mountains providing an amazing view for which tourists spend a lot of time here.
- Sarchu is approximately 222 km away and the best time or we can say the only time to visit here is between May and October for the same reason as discussed in Spiti.
- You can find multiple semi-permanent tents and camps in Sarchu that are offered to the riders who cross through the town.
9. Rohtang Valley
- Rohtang is one of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh and near Ladakh.
- Rohtang Valley is about 421 km from Ladakh and people usually spend some time in the valley while heading toward Ladakh.
- Rohtang is just 51 km from Manali and can be reached by road between June and October. Apart from these months, it becomes inaccessible due to heavy snowfall.
- Rohtang is not only a heaven for nature lovers but adventure junkies too. There are multiple snow activities that people get to enjoy during their visit.
- In Rohtang, Atal Tunnel is also an attraction where on the other side you get the amazing Sissu.
10. Solang Valley
- Just before you climb to Rohtang Valley, Solang will be welcomed by the Solang Valley.
- The place is popular for a lot of things including paragliding and snow sports.
- Solang Valley is also an important tourist destination because it is the highest point in Manali that you can reach during winters. This is the reason why people visit here in the winter season.
- Solang Valley is approximately 13 km from Manali and can be reached by car or cab.
- To visit here the best time is between 9 am and 6 pm.
11. Manali
- Coming a little farther from Ladakh, approximately 434 km away; you get the amazing and beautiful Manali.
- The amazing attractions of Manali make it a top-notch attraction to visit because you will love it.
- Buying some delicacies here will be an additional thing but as a souvenir, it should be done.
- Visit the old Manali market to check out the amazing stuff that can be bought as souvenirs.
See Also: Best time to visit Manali
Conclusion
Although there are a lot of other amazing places near Ladakh, these have unparalleled beauty. Your time at these will be unmatchable and there is no denying how wonderful it will be. So while you plan to visit Ladakh, integrate these attractions as per the time allowance. Ladakh, with its rugged landscapes and rich cultural heritage, is a unique destination that attracts travelers from all over the world. But there are also many other places to visit in Ladakh that offer their own unique charm and appeal.
Some of the most popular destinations include the stunning Pangong Tso Lake, the historic town of Alchi, the breathtakingly beautiful Nubra Valley, and the picturesque Zanskar Valley. Other must-visit attractions include the Hemis National Park, the Leh Palace, and the Shanti Stupa. With so much to explore, there’s no shortage of adventure, culture, and natural beauty to discover in the region.
See Also: Top tourist places to visit in Ladakh | Hidden places to visit in Leh Ladakh
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