Leh- ladakh is far from the busy city life and the constant rush that most of us have become acquainted with. And if you are tired of it all and want an escape, a trip to Leh-ladakh is your answer! This enchanting and mysterious land holds deep ancient culture down to its roots. Leh-ladakh has absorbed all the greatness in abundance from its culture rich neighbors Tibet, China,Pakistan, Kashmir and valleys of Himachal Pradesh along with bits of Central Asia.

All these major influences have uniquely shaped what has become of ladakh today. And the best part? With all its glory, it’s still a great choice for budget travelers.

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When to visit?

Ladakh’s climate changes every two months. So before you decide to pack your bags and leave, make sure you research about the weather and then plan everything accordingly. To make it easier for you to decide, here is a brief on the distinct climates of leh-ladakh.

May-June-July:

If you want to enjoy ladakh to the fullest, this is probably the best time to visit! The Manali-Leh highway also opens up in June. During this time, not only the traffic is minimal but also the weather is quite clear.

August:

The monsoon season do not justify the beauty of Leh ladakh in its true sense. The roads become quite dangerous and most tourist attraction places turn to landslide prone areas. It’s best to avoid this month.

September and October:

The climate is amazing during this time. You can also catch the infamous ladakh festival as photographers from around the world visit to cover it.

November-April:

If you love trekking then, this is the time to visit.The famous chadar trek is organized during winters. The weather is extremely cold during this time and the only way you can travel to ladakh is by flight.

Places To Visit

The depth of culture that is imbibed in every nook and corner of Leh-Ladakh is undeniable. And these amazing places in and around Leh- Ladakh stand true to it all.

Monasteries

HEMIS MONASTERY

STAKNA MONASTERY

LAMAYURU MONASTERY

PHUGTAL MONASTERY

ALCHI MONASTERY

DISKIT MONASTERY

SPITUK GOMPA, SHEY MONASTRY

THIKSEY GOMPA

LIKIR GOMPA

PHYANG GOMPA

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Lakes

Pangong TSO Lake

Tsomoriri Lake

Tsokar Lake

Yarab Tso Lake

Other attractions:

LEH PALACE

STOK PALACE

HALL OF FAME

SHANTI STUPA

JAMA MASJID

TSEMO FORT

OLD TOWN

DRANG-DRUNG GLACIER

DRASS WAR MEMORIAL

kargil memorial

ZOJILA PASS

KHARDUNG LA PASS

Taste of ladakh – The Ladakh cuisine

The influences from ladakh’s neighboring countries are not just limited to its culture, it can be greatly seen in the ladakhi cuisine. The unique taste of ladakhi cuisine is a celestial experience of its own.

Momo, Chhupri, Thukpa, Tingmo, Thenthuk, Mokthuk, Skyu, Butter tea and khambir, Chang, qahwa are the most famous dishes that you can easily find in Leh-ladakh.

Where to stay?

There are many small hotels in Leh ladakh. But if you have tight pockets and still want the best place to stay then, Zostel is your dream come true.

Source: https://www.zostel.com

How to get there?

Now that you are probably in awe and mesmerized by the beauty of Leh-ladakh, you definitely want to experience it and this is how you get there!

So, primarily there are two main routes to Leh- ladakh:

Manali-Leh via Kellong or Jispa

Jammu-Shrinagar-Kargil-Leh

You can get to the starting destinations by flight or public transport! And if you are truly adventurous then, a bike or a car ride will let you experience Leh- ladakh completely unfiltered.

Important Essentials to carry

If you are travelling by car or bike then make sure you carry a basic repairing tool kit along with necessary spare parts with you. If your vehicle breaks down in the middle of nowhere, these can be of great help

Consult your doctor before the trip and carry essential medicines

Carry sunscreen and moisturizer, sunglasses too

The roads can be quite dangerous at night, so carry a torch along with you.

Carry enough warm clothes, gloves, boots and sneakers too

You will get food out there, but just to be on a safer side, carry a few food items and enough water with you.

Carry all the official documents and permits with you

Even though there are ATM’s available out there, carry as much cash as you can.

You do not want to regret not capturing the beauty of Leh- ladakh. So ensure you get your camera!

About Author

This is a Guest Post by Ruchika Guha who loves writing about travel and everything that comes with it! Currently working with Couponwaale as a travel writer, she loves exploring places with her gang of girls and at times alone as well!