9 Best Places to Visit in Leh

Leh is a place of beauty, wonder and adventure. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India and home to some amazing natural sites. The best places to visit in Leh are Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, Khardung La pass, Spituk Monastery and Chamba among others.

The 9 Best Places to Visit in Leh

Pangong Lake

Pangong Lake is a high altitude lake in the Himalayas, located in Leh district, Ladakh. The lake is at an altitude of 4,300 metres (14,107 ft) above sea level and is 140 kilometres long and 10 kilometres wide. It is part of the Indus river system which originates from Tibet and feeds into Pangong’s eastern end via 3 mountain streams: Shingo Nala to its north, Chang Chenmo or Tsang Chhu River to its south, and Jongsar Lake to its west.

The water here has been described as “a blue jewel” by many travelers who have visited this area over the years.

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Nubra Valley

Nubra Valley is a valley located in Leh district of Ladakh region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Nubra or Nyoma valley is at an altitude of 3,300 meters above sea level and is home to several Buddhist monasteries that date back to as early as 6th century CE. Nubra is also famous for its sand dunes which are a major tourist attraction for tourists who visit Ladakh each year.

Nubra Valley can be accessed from Leh via Kargil-Zangla road that connects it with Zangla (a village on the banks of Shyok river). A new road has been constructed that connects Sankoo village on NH 1D with Panamik village near Phey village which further goes into Nubru Valley.

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Khardung la pass

At 5,359 meters (17,582 feet), Khardung La is the highest motorable pass in the world. It’s also one of the most thrilling places to visit in Leh—and there are plenty more adventures on offer. The best time to go is between May and October when the weather is warm, but not too hot. If you’re feeling brave (and have a head for heights) it’s worth considering exploring further into Ladakh via this route instead of taking the bus straight back down towards Manali or Srinagar.

The road itself isn’t particularly challenging in terms of difficulty—it’s mostly flat and smooth—but it does get narrow at points so watch out for oncoming traffic. There are several stops where you can park your vehicle if you feel too intimidated by these conditions; but if you’ve come all this way then why not keep going? Just remember that this isn’t just any old road! It has been built especially high up because otherwise no one could use it.

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Spituk Monastery

Located at the base of the Spituk La, this monastery is one of the oldest in Ladakh. It was founded in 1430 by Rinchen Zangpo, who was a disciple of Lama Sonam Gyaltsen, one of the most renowned scholars of his day.

The monastery has been restored since it was destroyed during an earthquake in 1934 and now contains a number of interesting murals. To get there from Leh, you’ll need to take a bus or taxi to Spituk village (you can arrange this from your hotel). From there walk towards the Spituk Monastery on your right hand side until you reach its entrance gate (approximately 10 minutes). The opening hours vary depending on what season it is so check online before going! There are many other things to see here such as Tsuglagkhang (also known as “Temple”), which holds relics such as statues made out of clay and wood depicting Lord Buddha’s life story; Dukhang (“Hall”) where monks come together for prayer time twice each day at 6am & 5pm; Namgyal Lhakang (“Shrine”).

Chamba

Chamba is a town and a municipal council in Chamba district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is the only hill station in the state of Himachal Pradesh, and is situated on National Highway 503 at an elevation of 1,829 metres (5,973 ft) above sea level.

The name “Chamba” has its roots from Chamapur which means beautiful hamlet or village. The region was known as Shonitpur during Vedic period where sage Vyasa wrote Mahabharat and was also known as “Dev Bhumi” or land of Gods due to its serenity and beauty even then.

Namgyal Tsemo Gompa

Namgyal Tsemo Gompa is a Buddhist monastery in Leh, Ladakh.

The monastery was founded by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. It was constructed as part of his effort to spread Buddhism throughout his kingdom and it has been functioning ever since then.

Namgyal Tsemo Gompa is located centrally within the town of Leh and directly west from Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda). The main building of this monastery consists of two sections: a golden section built during King Songtsen Gampo’s time and white painted section built during 16th century by Rinpochey or Rimpoche as he was called back then.

Magnetic Hill

Magnetic Hill is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Leh. It is a gravity hill and is located beside the Indus river. Magnetic Hill is easily accessible by car or foot, but be aware that the road leading to it isn’t as smooth as you might expect.

Shanti Stupa

The Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist shrine built in Leh, India. It is located at the top of a hill and has become a popular tourist destination because of its peaceful atmosphere. The stupa was built in 1992 and stands 75 meters tall (246 feet). The white marble structure symbolizes peace and harmony for those who look upon it.

To visit the stupa you have to climb up a series of stairs that leads through multiple courtyards. There are many shrines along the way as well as statues depicting Buddhist teachings such as compassion, love, acceptance and emptiness. The final courtyard has an incredible view of Leh Valley below which makes it worth all that climbing effort!

Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park is located in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is one of the finest national parks in India and also one of the largest national parks in Asia. The park comprises an area of approximately 1350 square kilometers which includes several villages, settlements and campsites as well as several monasteries and temples.

The park is home to a variety of wildlife species including snow leopards, blue sheep, Tibetan wolves, black bears, red foxes etc., as well as birds such as Himalayan monal pheasants, serins (siskins), chukars (chukar partridges), bar-headed geese etc. In addition to these there are also plants like primroses

There are some places one should go to in Leh

• Pangong Lake
• Nubra Valley
• Khardung La Pass
• Spituk Monastery
• Chamba and Lamayuru Monasteries
• Namgyal Tsemo Gompa (known as the ‘white monastery’), has one of the most beautiful settings in Ladakh – a white-washed chapel, surrounded by an apple orchard and snow-capped peaks.
• Magnetic Hill is one place that attracts tourists from all over because of its mysterious gravitational force. It is believed that when vehicles stop on this hill, they start to roll uphill despite having no power applied to them. The phenomenon has become popular among people around the world as a result of being featured in many movies such as Harry Potter series and James Bond series etc., but there are other natural wonders that you should visit while touring Leh:
• Shanti Stupa – A stunning nine storey high stupa built above ground level atop a hillock overlooking Leh town at an altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level; it offers spectacular views from its top platform which can be accessed via wooden staircases leading inside (no lift). It was built by His Holiness Dalai Lama himself over an eight year period starting 1980s; he visited it on completion ceremony where he also delivered his speech along with monks chanting mantras around it during dusk hours when sun sets behind Himalayan ranges behind them making its silhouette look even more spectacular than before!

Conclusion

Leh is a city in the north of India. It is surrounded by high mountain ranges that make it an ideal destination for hikers and nature lovers. The city also has many culinary options, including Tibetan dishes such as momos (steamed dumplings) and thukpa (noodle soup).