One of the finest places to visit in India that has got a lot of traction in the past couple of decades is Leh-Ladakh. Conquering the high-altitude passes and enjoying Ladakhi cuisine, riding bikes on challenging roads, and going off-roading are some amazing things that it offers to the visitors.
But if you are visiting here, it is not only the activities that would interest you. There are multiple enchanting and enthralling attractions throughout the newly made union territory. So, if there is the slightest of interest inside your brain to visit here.
This is the list of best tourist places in Leh Ladakh that you should visit during your trip.
1. Pangong Tso
- It is the highest saltwater lake in the world situated at an astonishing 4350 m above sea level.
- While you stay here for a night, you will see the lake changing color over time. When the sun shifts its position, there is a slight color difference that the lake showcases.
- If you don’t want to visit here in your vehicle, you can take a bus from Leh and it will take approximately 8 hours to reach here.
- From swiss tents to normal ones, you can stay at any of these options. Enjoying dinner under the sheet of stars and sunrise is simply breathtaking.
- Pangong is 5 km wide and 134 km in length even though only one-third of the lake is in India.
- In winters people enjoy ice-skating and trekking on the lake because the temperature goes down to freezing temperature and the entire lake becomes ice.
2. Magnetic Hill
- Magnetic Hill is a wonderful place in Leh district offering a gravity-defying phenomenon.
- This amazing attraction is approximately 25 km from Leh city located on the Leh-Srinagar Highway.
- The entire hill is an optical illusion and what scientists call it “has highly magnetic activity” that pulls the quad bike up the hill even when you are on neutral or not pressing the acceleration.
- It is an amazing experience to visit Leh on your way to the Hall of Fame and Sangam.
3. Hemis National Park
- Hemis National Park is one of the best places in the world where you can enjoy a winter safari.
- It is the second-largest protected area in India sprawling in over 3350 sq. ft.
- The national park is home to approximately 16 species of mammals and 73 species of birds (including migratory birds).
- The main attraction of Hemis National Park is the Snow Leopard.
- It is an amazing place for bird watchers as they can enjoy spotting a lot of species of birds including fire-fronted serin and robin accentor.
- The park is beautifully located on the west bank of the river Indus.
4. Thiksey Monastery
- One of the finest places in Leh. To reach the top you will have to climb a lot of stairs.
- While you reach the entry of the monastery, do follow all the rules that are written on the gate.
- You can chat with the monks to know more about Buddhism.
- Clicking pictures with the monks without taking their permission.
- Be very silent inside the monastery and do not disturb the monks at any cost.
- The entire monastery is divided into 4 sections; assembly hall, guardian deity shrine, Maitreya temple, and Tara Temple.
- The major attraction of the monastery is the Maitreya statue which was built in 1977.
5. Shanti Stupa
- From the Leh taxi stand, Shanti Stupa is approximately 15 minutes of walking but it will be all worth it.
- Shanti Stupa also has a temple in the lower part of the monument. If you feel out of breath after a 15 min walk, you can rest in the lower section and enjoy drinking warm water.
- The entire place gets a positive aura from the incantation of the mantras by monks.
- You can enjoy a wonderful view of the entire valley and the villages around.
- Tourists can only visit here between 5 am and 9 pm but sunsets are the most preferred ones.
- You will have to climb 500 steps to reach the top of Shanti Stupa and that’s where the 360-degree view becomes breathtaking.
6. Likir Monastery
- Likir Monastery is beautifully located with Maitreya Statue being the highlight of the place which is 75 ft tall.
- The visiting hours are between 8 am and 5 pm, so plan your trip accordingly.
- There is no entry fee but the only thing that people have to keep in mind is obeying the rules of the monastery. Also, if you want to visit the museum, you will have to pay 20 INR for entry.
- One can find murals, thankas, and paintings on display here at the Likir Monastery.
- Visitors can also find the hand-painted mandala.
- There is a Monastery Museum in the vicinity where people can enjoy spotting different relics and items.
- If you are here in February or March, check the calendar and you might be right in time for the Dosmoche festival.
- If you want to stay around the monastery, there are a few homestays and guesthouses around so you can spend a night around the monastery.
7. Spituk Monastery
- Spituk Monastery is open for travelers to visit between 8 am and 1 pm and then between 1:30 and 6 pm. It requires approximately 2 hours to explore and enjoy at the monastery.
- It was built by Lha Lama Changchub Od’s elder brother Od-de and is a spectacular attraction in Leh.
- The entry fee for the Spituk Monastery is just 30 INR.
- One of the festivals that are celebrated at the monastery with a lot of zeal is Gustor. This festival is celebrated from the 27th to the 29th day of the 11th month according to the Tibetan Calendar.
- Visitors can also be a part of the festival and enjoy the dance, rituals, as well as food preparation for the events on these days.
8. Leh Palace
- The UNESCO preserved monument’s construction started in 1553 and ended in the 17th Century.
- It is now an active tourist attraction that can be visited between 7 am and 4 pm every day.
- People who love architecture can visit here for the amusing Medieval Tibetan architecture that it is constructed in.
- The entry fee for Indians is just 15 INR and for foreign travelers, it is 100 INR. The best time to visit here is between April and July.
9. Hall of Fame
- People can visit the Hall of Fame between 9 am and 1 pm and then between 2 pm and 7 pm.
- The best time to visit here is between April and July when the union territory experiences the summer season.
- The entry fee for the Hall of Fame is 25 INR and if you wish to carry your camera, you will have to pay 50 INR additionally.
- There is a statue of Lord Buddha that’s erected in front of the Hall of Fame and it has a quotation written on it that states, “It is better to conquer yourself than winning a thousand battles.”
- The attraction is approximately 4 km away from Leh and it falls on the Leh-Srinagar highway.
10. Zorawar Fort
- Zorawar Fort reminds the tourists of the amazing victory of General Zorawar Singh Kahluria over the Chinese.
- This fort is one of the major attractions of the city and it was once a wealth-holding place for the Dogra Dynasty.
- Now the fort also has a lot of specimens in its vicinity. There are several coins of different ages and all of them are on display here.
- The Zorawar Fort is approximately 15 minutes from Leh Market. Walking, hiring a cab, or commuting by bike- all of these are the ways to visit here.
Conclusion
Leh being a haven on earth is considered to be one of those places where people should visit at least once in their lifetime. Although this union territory is popular amongst people of young age (especially bikers), you will find a lot of travelers from different age groups visiting here.
