Places worth seeing in Leh

Kargil is also a good place to stock up on any requirements. Foreign exchange transactions can also be done at the State Bank of India. Some of the interesting spots worth visiting around Kargil are Mulbek Camba, the Suru valley, Kartse Khar, Karpo Khar and Panikhar.

Drass: This is the first village, soon taking on the proportions of a town, as you cross over the Zojila Pass at 11,500 feet. It is the second coldest inhabited place in the world where winter temperatures dip down to fifty degrees below zero. It is located 60km west of Kargil. The population here consists of a mix of people with Kashmiri and Dard origins. It is also a strategic location for the Indian Army and a famous mountain top popularised, again thanks to a military conflict, named Tiger Hill can be clearly seen from here. Drass locals are also known for their liking of the sport of polo.

Zangskar: This beautiful but extremely desolate area lies to the south west of Leh. This large area of approximately five thousand square kilometers, is situated at an altitude of 13,154 feet. It consists mainly of two valleys named Stod (Doda chu) and Lunak (Tsarab chu). Due to totally inhospitable conditions in the winter months, the Zangskaris undertake a long trek to the Indus river at Nimoo. This is popularly known as the Chadar Trek. The population residing in this area almost totally consists of Buddhists. The only route by which one can reach the Zangskar valley is from Kargil to Padum. Some of the places and spots worth visiting in this valley are Panikhar, Padum, Sanku, Stakrimo Gonpa, Bardan Gonpa, Phugktal Gonpa, Karsha Gonpa, Stongdey Gonpa, Palace of Sani and Zongkhul Gonpa.

Dahanu: This village, located 163km south west of Leh, is most famous for the Drogpa community that lives here. These people are considered to be the last remaining individuals in the valley belonging to the Aryan race. Having managed to maintain their racial purity over time, they have very true Aryan features. Unlike the rest of Ladakh, they follow the practices of the religion known as Bonchos. The language is similar to that spoken by the people of Giligit. Being in this area truly takes you back to what it must have been like all those centuries back in time. The people here seem to have been quite successful at preserving their culture and traditions. Although there are other villages in the valley with similar traditions, these are not open to tourists. This area is also one of the few areas in Ladakh where plantations of crops and fruits like apple can be seen.

Nubra Valley: The Nubra valley is located across the Khardong La (Pass), which is highest motorable road in the world at 18,390 feet. The pass is located at a distance of 39km from Leh. Nubra Valley is known as the valley of flowers. This valley has the Siachen and Shayk rivers running through it. Although one comes down a substantial height from KhardongLa, the altitude here too is approximately 10,000 feet above mean sea level. The valley is dotted with beautiful villages and has a healthy vegetation consisting of willow and poplar trees, besides the flowers and shrubbery growing all around. The entire valley takes on a dramatic look of colourful splendour in the months of October and November, when the leaves of all the tree turn to various shades of yellow and orange. The Nubra valley used to lie on the silk trade route in the bygone era. An added attraction for the luckier traveller can be a spotting of the Bactrian camels (shaggy double hump camels), which are reminders of this busy commercial past. Some of the villages and other spots worth visiting in the Nubra valley are Diskit, Hundar, Sumur, Samstanling Gonpa and Panamik.

Alchi Choskor: Alchi is located 69km from Leh. It is situated just off the main highway from Leh heading in Kargil direction. It is also known as the religious enclave. This small and peaceful area also houses the largest Gonpa built by Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo in the 11th century AD. The artists and sculptors used in it's construction are said to have been called from the neighbouring areas of Kashmir. Alchi is also popular among those travellers, as an accommodation option, who are looking for a more peaceful and totally relaxed holiday.