Top Places To Visit During Your Ladakh and Kashmir Trip

Filled with awe-inspiring landscapes and bounded by Great Himalayas on the one side and the Karakoram range on the other with treacherous motorable roads enjoy this amazing Ladakh Trip as it tops the bucket list of adventure fanatics. The Himalayan lands of Ladakh welcome visitors to a different altitude of life. The amazingly picture-perfect destination remains pristine and untapped to its core. Explore and discover the serene Pangong Lake and admire snow-capped peaks as you stroll the banks of the Indus and Zanskar Rivers.

The mystic lands with their steep mountains, pristine lakes and colorful Tibetan monasteries, and rugged terrain wait eagerly for their visitors. Discover the beauty of Kashmir with the Kashmir Tour as you visit enchanting beauties like Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and the most sought-after Dal Lake. The unmatched beauty of Kashmir is complemented by various adventure activities. The capital of the valley and the largest city Srinagar is known for its beautiful places to see including gardens, parks, and architecture, and makes the visit worthwhile. Vibrant green meadows with borders of alpine forests Kupwara epitomizes greenery with its varying shades of green. Do not forget to enjoy the finger-licking and melt-in-the-mouth local dishes like “Dum Olav” (Dum aloo) and Rogan Josh (The spicy Lamb Curry).

Pangong Lake

A delight for the eyes to visit with the Ladakh Trip is the Pangong Lake. This is an endorheic or landlocked lake perched at an altitude of 4350 meters. The lake is around one hundred and thirty-four kilometers long and is further divided into five sub-lakes -Pangong Tso, Tso Nayak, and Rum Tso. Pangong derives its name from the Tibetan word “Pangong Tso” which in the local dialect means “high grassland lake”. It is known to change colors appearing blue, green, and red at different times of the day. With its deep blue meditative waters, it remains lodged in your memories. It is famous among photographers, bikers, and selfie enthusiasts.

Pahalgam

Make the Kashmir Tour more interesting as you plan a trip to Pahalgam. Pahalgam lies ninety kilometers from Srinagar in the Anantnag district and is a mesmerizing hill station and tourist attraction of Jammu and Kashmir. Just twelve kilometers away from Pahalgam lies the Aru Valley as this tranquil hill station lies snuggled in the lush grasslands with scenic views of the magnificent Himalayan ranges. Aru Valley is the base camp for many treks and is known for adventure opportunities like skiing, horse riding, bird and wildlife watching besides camping and fishing. What adds to the natural charm of the place is the cascading waterfalls and gushing crystal-clear water streams.

Betaab Valley is a perfect tourist attraction with breathtaking surroundings encompassed by tall deodar trees and pine forests. The valley gets its name from the famous Bollywood movie Betaab and falls between Pahalgam and Chandanwari. The main attractions of Betaab Valley are its sprawled fertile pastures, meandering streams, and snow-capped mountains. Its source as the Kolahoi Glacier Lidder River stretches around seventy-three kilometers and flows through the bewitching valleys of Pahalgam which creates a tranquil and captivating ambiance.

Shanti Stupa

Reboot and Rejuvenate with the Ladakh Trip as you visit this Buddhist white-domed stupa located on a hilltop in Chanspa. Shanti Stupa was established in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu, Gyomyo Nakamura. The stupa sheaths the relics of Buddha at its base as it was enshrined by the fourteenth Dalai Lama. It was built to promote peace and prosperity and to commemorate two thousand and five hundred years of Buddhism. It is a two-level structure and features a Dharamachakra with deer on each side along with a central golden image of Buddha sitting on a platform. On the second level, there are reliefs showcasing the birth and death of Buddha and his overcoming and defeating the devils while meditating.

Sonamarg

Explore the enigmatic destination of Sonamarg with the Kashmir Tour. Sonamarg located at an elevation of 2,730 meters above sea level is a picturesque hill station. It is known for its snow-covered fields, encompassed by bewitching glaciers and lakes which cast a magical spell on the travellers. Fondly known as “Meadow of Gold” this elegant hill station is enveloped by lofty Himalayan glaciers- Kolhoi and Machoi. It acts as the base camp for trekking routes which lead to mountain lakes like Gangabal, Vishansar, Gadsar, Satsar, and Kishansar.

The valley of Sonmarg is divided into two by the Thajiwas range on one side lies the Thajiwas spur famous for its camping site and on the other side houses stunning waterfalls and the prime attraction of the place Thajiwas Glacier. Zoji La Pass or “mountain pass of the blizzards” located in Dras at an elevation of 3528 meters above sea level connects Kashmir to Dras and Suru Valley. Sonmarg is a delightful trek with challenging mountain ranges, plateaus, and pristine lakes.

Tso Moriri

The bead on the string of Ladakh Trip is Tso Moriri or the “Mountain Lake” in the Changthang Plateau of Ladakh. It is located at an altitude of 4,522 meters above sea level in Rupshu Valley. The lake with its surrounding area is protected by the Tso Moriri Wetland Conservation Reserve. It is the largest high-altitude lake which is entirely in the Indian territory. It is nearly twenty-nine kilometers long and eight kilometers wide. Tso Moriri attracts a great range of wildlife, including migratory birds and Tibetan wolves. Adorned with multi shades of blue along with captivating landscapes gives this place a romantic feel with breathtaking views.

Srinagar

The perfect romantic place to visit with the Kashmir Tour is Srinagar as it has garnered the title of “Heaven on Earth “.It is known for its gondola-type rowboats Shikaras and stationary houseboats. Travelers use the Shikaras to see attractions like the Floating Vegetable Market and the lively community of Mir Bahris who live on the lake itself. Srinagar also houses some of the most beautiful Mughal age gardens of India namely Shalimar Bagh, Nishant Bagh, and Chasm e Shahi garden. And the famous Dal Lake which is the second largest lake and reflects the Pir Panjal mountains.

Thiksey Monastery

Thiksey Monastery is the Tibetan-styled monastery best experienced with the Ladakh Trip. It is located nearly twenty kilometers south of Leh. The prime point of attraction of the monastery is the Maitreya temple which showcases the fifteen-meter-high Maitreya Buddha. The sanctuary is known for its resemblance to the Potala Palace of Tibet. And it is known for its annual festival of Gustor which is held in the months of October or November. The festival is a trade fair held at the base of the monastery where villagers come to barter trade items and socialize.

Gulmarg

A feather in the cap of the Kashmir Tour is a well-planned trip to Gulmarg. One of the main attractions of Gulmarg is the highest cable car ride of Gulmarg Gondola. Where the first phase of the Gondola takes the visitors to a height of 8530 feet at Kong Dori Station and as you continue the ride you reach up to the height of 12293 feet. In winter it gets fully covered in a white blanket of snow which is the perfect setting for a skier’s paradise. Gulmarg lies around sixty kilometers away from Srinagar and is a mere half-hour journey by car. The “Meadow of Flowers” was earlier known as Gauri Marg which was later changed by Yusuf Shah Chak.

Alchi Monastery

A must-visit with the Ladakh Trip is the Alchi Monastery. The monastery located in the Alchi Village of Ladakh is a complex of Buddhist temples making it one of the oldest and the most famous monastery. Alchi Monastery has traditional architecture and has three separate temples known as Dukhang, Sumstek, and the temple of Manjushri. It is also ideal for adventure lovers who visit to enjoy rafting as it lies close to the Zanskar River. The foundation was laid down by Rinchen Zangpo in the tenth century who was a prominent Tibetan scholar.

Sinthan Top

Located between south Kashmir’s Breng Valley in the Kishtwar district of Chenab Valley is this popular tourist destination. Sinthan Top is a mountain pass that serves as the base camp for many alpine lakes in the region. It is an offbeat and much less explored tourist attraction of the valley and lies eighty kilometers from Kishtwar and seventy-three kilometers from Anantnag. The bewitching views of the snow-covered valleys from here are simply to die for.

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