7th issue

GPLUS AUG 10 - AUG 16, 2013 21
Travel
Ladakh, the land of jagged peaks and
barren landscape is alluring and aweinspiring.
Bounded by two of the
world’s largest mountain ranges, Karakoram
and the Himalayas, Ladakh redefines the
concept of natural beauty. The roads leading
to the Himalayan region of Ladakh are open
for only four months in a year and remain
snowbound for the remaining eight.
If you can take thin oxygen levels and
some hardships on a holiday, brace yourself
for a roller coaster ride to Leh -Ladakh.
MUST SEE PLACES in LEH – LAdAKH
nubra valley Known for its orchards,
scenic vistas, Bactrian camels and monasteries;
Nubra Valley is the northernmost part
of Jammu and Kashmir. Situated about 150
km from Leh, Nubra Valley is known as the
Orchard of Ladakh and was originally called
Ldumra which meant the valley of flowers.
Surrounded by snowcapped Himalayan
ranges, Nubra valley lies sandwiched between
Tibet and Kashmir. The view of the
valley is picturesque and breathtaking. During
winter, the whole valley looks like landscape
of the moon (reason for calling Moonland)
and in summer full of greenery.
Pangong lake Situated in the upper
reaches of Himalayan Mountain range
in Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir, the
most notable feature of the lake is the ever
changing hues of the lake. The Pangong lake
is about five hours drive from Leh. The route
passes through beautiful Ladakh country
side, over Chang La, the third highest
motorable mountain pass (5289 m) in the
world. The first glimpse of the serene, bright
blue waters and rocky lakeshore are stimulating.
The scenic beauty of the lake was also
PAnGOnG LAKE: A day view of the majestic pangong lake
LAMAYURU MOnASTERY: Seen here is one of the major tourist attractions in the regions
a backdrop for some excellent movies. The
climax portions of the 2009 blockbuster ‘3
Idiots’ was filmed in that location. Also, the
song sequence ‘Tu Hi Tu’ from Dil Se was
also shot there.
zanskar valley Snuggled between
the Great Himalayas to the south and the
Zanskar mountains to the north, the Zans
On Top of the World
a Gplus feature
kar valley is one of the most remote places
of India. The valley is a mecca for adventure
travel enthusiasts. In summer, adventure
lovers come here to raft on the ferocious
Zanskar river. Deep gorges, snow glaciers
and a number of small religious spots dot
the Zanskar valley. Its unique high passes
and the valleys, crystal clear streams and
green meadows are very attractive, especially
to nature lovers. There are many trekking
routes within Zanskar itself.
Lamayuru Monastery It’s difficult
to choose the best amongst so many beautiful
monasteries in Leh-Ladakh. If you want
your touristy dose of seeing monks on orange
robes performing quaint rituals, a visit
to the Lamayuru monastery is a must. It is
one of the oldest and largest monasteries of
Ladakh. One would love seeing the beautiful
caves carved out of the mountains at the
monastery.
TRAVEL TIPS
By air: There are direct flights from Delhi,
Srinagar and Jammu.
• By road: Approximate distance from Chandigarh
to Leh via Manali is 800 km.
Approximate distance from Srinagar to Leh
is 440 km. State transport buses also ply
on the Srinagar-Leh route.
• Best time to go: June to early-October when
roads are open, but dates vary every year.
No vehicular movement is possible the rest
of the year. One can fly in all other times
depending on the capacity to withstand the
cold.
• Altitude Sickness: Altitude sickness can
affect even the fittest. Make sure you allow
yourself plenty of time to acclimatize after
arriving in Leh. Consult a doctor beforehand
about any medication to be carried. Take
proper rest, food and sufficient amounts of
water.
• Connectivity: Most mobile networks work
in Leh and Kargil, with high speed Internet
available. Most other places either have no
connectivity or only state run BSNL works
• Security: There are no security issues in
Ladakh, it is very safe.
• Carry hard cash: Credit cards are mostly
not accepted. .