The availability of mobile network with high-speed internet connectivity at 14,000 ft high Sarchu on Manali-Leh highway is leaving tourists surprised these days. Reliance Jio has launched its service at Sarchu a few days back. In an effort to strengthen the mobile and internet connectivity in border areas and along important border roads, the 14,000ft high Sarchu on Manali-Leh highway has received 4G mobile connectivity. Strategically important 428km long Manali-Leh highway had no mobile connectivity in more than 260km long stretch of the road between Himachal’s Darcha and Ladakh’s Upshi. Sarchu, 176km from Manali, is a non-inhabited remote plateau at the boundary of Himachal and Ladakh. Sarchu is a popular mid-way halt point on Manali-Leh highway. People from Himachal and Ladakh operate seasonal shops, dhabas and tented accommodations here for tourists and military convoys. The area also serves the Indian Army as its transit point. Now, Sarchu, the most important place on Manali-Leh highway, which has no residential houses or electricity supply, has mobile connectivity with high-speed internet. The travellers, who are listening to ringtone on their mobile phones at Sarchu, are being left surprised these days as nobody had expected mobile network in such a remote area. IT and tribal development minister Ram Lal Markanda was quoted by media as saying, "Reliance Jio is installing a large number of telecom towers across the tribal areas. The company has connected major places of Lahaul-Spiti with 4G connectivity. Most areas along Manali-Sarchu highway is now covered with mobile network. More such towers are proposed to be established." People in trouble used to be left at the mercy of God on this highway as they had no option to call for help. Usually, Indian Army and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) used to help people in distress but the non-availability of the network
The availability of mobile network with high-speed internet connectivity at 14,000 ft high Sarchu on Manali-Leh highway is leaving tourists surprised these days. Reliance Jio has launched its service at Sarchu a few days back. In an effort to strengthen the mobile and internet connectivity in border areas and along important border roads, the 14,000ft
While the Darcha-Shinkula-Padum road is set to strengthen Indian Army at Ladakh by cutting short travel time between Manali and Kargil by one day, the Ladakh government is promoting this road to welcome tourists to the hidden valleys of the district. The word “Kargil” has been sending shivers down the spine ever since India-Pakistan war was fought in 1999. As India won the war and entire district is free from war threat due to presence of Indian Army, tourism in the area is also picking up the pace. Kargil district shares a huge border with Himachal. But the district was too far to reach by road. Now that Darcha-Shinkula-Padum road has been built, Zanskar valley of Kargil is reachable in one day from Manali and Kargil town in just two days. Now the Ladakh government is asking visitors to travel through this new road to explore the new places which were earlier unreachable. The tourism department of union territory of Ladakh is organising cultural and road shows in Himachal to promote cultural tourism in Zanskar valley and other parts of Kargil with major focus on this new road. The officials said the new road will lead visitors to hidden valleys. The officials, who organised one such cultural programme involving Ladakhi folk dance and music in Manali, said this road is going to become the foundation to new ties between Kargil and Himachal. Punchok Tashi, who looks after tourism, rural development and all affairs of Zanskar valley as an elected member of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, said, “Many people can think that why a government and officials are promoting just a road. The reality is that this is not just a road. This is path to freedom from remoteness. Many people of Zanskar had never gone out of the valley
While the Darcha-Shinkula-Padum road is set to strengthen Indian Army at Ladakh by cutting short travel time between Manali and Kargil by one day, the Ladakh government is promoting this road to welcome tourists to the hidden valleys of the district. The word “Kargil” has been sending shivers down the spine ever since India-Pakistan war
Kela pass is a high mountain pass in the Changthang region of Leh district in Union Territory of Ladakh which has become the highest motorable pass of the country connecting Leh with Pangong Lake. The altitude of Kela pass is 18,600 ft from mean sea level. Kela pass is the gateway to Kela tso (Kela lake) or Lchagri Gyamtso Lake and further to Tharuk, Sarkunchar and Tangste village, and Pangong Lake. Kela pass was used by shepherds and trekkers until recently when Indian Army connected the pass by a motorable road. The Kela pass or Keyla pass is approachable from both Tangste and Zingral (below Changla pass). Surpassing 18,380 ft high Khardungla pass, the Kela pass has become the highest motorable road of the country that will be open for general traffic movement. However, 19,300 ft high Umling-la pass of Ladakh is the highest motorable pass/road in the country but the pass is not open for the general public. The Leh-Kela pass-Pangong lake road will be open to general traffic movement in a few days. The road via Kela pass will reduce the distance between Leh and Pangong lake by 41 KM after bypassing 17,586ft high Chang-la pass. This new road will not only reduce distance and travel time from Leh to Pangong lake but will also become a new tourist destination with its all-new landscapes. Tourists will get to see Kela lake (Kela tso), unexplored villages, nomads, snow and glaciers. This road will also be strategically important for the Indian Army as it will allow fast and safe movement of the military convoys to Pangong Lake. The new road that connects Zingral (Leh side) to Tharuk (Pangong side) has provided an alternative road to Durbuk sub-division. The local residents of the area were also demanding an alternative and shorter
Kela pass is a high mountain pass in the Changthang region of Leh district in Union Territory of Ladakh which has become the highest motorable pass of the country connecting Leh with Pangong Lake. The altitude of Kela pass is 18,600 ft from mean sea level. Kela pass is the gateway to Kela tso (Kela
Discover Leh Ladakh is offering special tour packages for doctors, health practitioners, and all the health warriors who have been working hard to save humanity in this time of Covid-19 crisis. To help doctors and other health workers unwind the stressful times, we are offering special discounted packages to Ladakh this season. In honour of the frontline workers, we are taking special care of them. The idea of launching dedicated tour packages for doctors and other healthcare workers was suggested by Dr Neelesh Shah from Mumbai who gave us the opportunity to serve him and he told us that how doctors, nurses and other staff members in hospitals are spending stressful time and that they need a break to restart work afresh. Why special tour packages for doctors? The doctors in most of the hospitals in the country are working day and night, without taking a break for a long time. The corona warriors are living a stressful life with inadequate rest or sleep. As the required rest and peace of mind is not possible at the hospital or home close to the hospital, they are in a dire need of a short break. What can be better than visiting a hill station with clean air, snow-laden mountain peaks, sparse population and an almost negligible number of Covid-19 patients? What is special in the package? The doctors and other healthcare workers are given a special traditional Ladakhi welcome on arrival as a gesture of thanks. We know their need as they would be planning the trip to refresh the body and mind. Depending on the availability of the time (number of days for tour), the trip begins with a slow start, majorly focussing on scenic and quiet places. Camping in beautiful Nubra valley and quality time by the shores of
Discover Leh Ladakh is offering special tour packages for doctors, health practitioners, and all the health warriors who have been working hard to save humanity in this time of Covid-19 crisis. To help doctors and other health workers unwind the stressful times, we are offering special discounted packages to Ladakh this season. In honour of
With the Defence Ministry speeding up the exercise to connect Ladakh with a new shorter, better and safer highway, the Darcha-Shinku la-Zanskar valley road, which will become the main road to connect Ladakh with mainland, reopened one month ahead of schedule on Thursday. This road was lying closed following snowfall since October. After completing winter snow clearance operations on Manali-Sarchu-Leh and Srinagar-Zojila-Leh highways, the third road connecting Ladakh with the mainland via 16,600ft high Shinku-la also reopened on Thursday. Ministry of Defence (MoD) is spending thousands of crores on this road to make it the main road to reach Ladakh. As snow clearance on this road has completed, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will engage in road alignment, widening, and blacktopping of the road between Darcha in Himachal and Padum in Zanskar valley of Ladakh. “Snow has been cleared from Shinku-la. We would have cleared snow much earlier but snowfall remained hampering our works in April and May. We shall now concentrate on widening and blacktopping of the highway along with building retaining and breast walls and culverts. Some bridges are also proposed to be built on the road. The work on traffic tunnel below Shinku-la is also expected to start this year,” a BRO official said. In strategic point of view, the 297-km-long Darcha-Shinku la-Padum-Nimmu road will have many advantages over other two highways which have many mountain passes and take a much longer travel time. This road passes away from both Chinese and Pakistan borders and will allow safe movement to the military convoys. The highway will become the main road for military supply in near future and will be India’s reply to China which is developing its border infrastructure. Darcha, 100km from Manali on Manali-Sarchu-Leh highway, will connect the Leh-Kargil highway at Nimmu, 35km from Leh. Over 50km
With the Defence Ministry speeding up the exercise to connect Ladakh with a new shorter, better and safer highway, the Darcha-Shinku la-Zanskar valley road, which will become the main road to connect Ladakh with mainland, reopened one month ahead of schedule on Thursday. This road was lying closed following snowfall since October. After completing winter
Having spent his all earnings and time in building 38km-long road across Shinkula pass to connect Ladakh’s Zanskar valley with Himachal’s Lahaul, the 79-year-old Tsultim Chinjor, who has been conferred with Padma Shri award, wants better road connectivity between Himachal and Zanskar. A resident of Stongdey village of remote Zanskar valley, lama Chinjor is among 102 recipients of Padma Shri this year. He has been conferred with this prestigious award for social work after his name was recommended by Kargil district administration. Lama has spent many years in Stongdey monastery and also served as a government employee. As a large number of villages in Zanskar were not connected with road and the lone road connecting Zanskar with Kargil used to get blocked after snowfall at Pensi-la pass, lama was searching for better road connectivity. Although Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had planned to connect Zanskar with Himachal via Shinkula pass, lama Chinjor was unhappy with the work progress. Finally, he took up the task to connect nearly 30 villages of the valley with Darcha village of Himachal’s Lahaul. He discussed his plan with the local residents and started raising funds. He finally started building road, for which he even sold his land, and built 38km road from Shinkula to Kargiakh. Lama started building the road on Shinkula pass on June 28, 2014 with help of a hired earthmover, jeep, labourers and ponies. BRO had built 27km of road beyond Darcha and lama started building road beyond this point. In first season, before onset of winter, Lama completed 13km of the jeepable road from Himachal and entered Zanskar. He had a lot more road to build to connect Kargiakh, the first village of Zanskar and then towards Padum. “I spent all my savings in building this road. People of Zanskar and some
Having spent his all earnings and time in building 38km-long road across Shinkula pass to connect Ladakh’s Zanskar valley with Himachal’s Lahaul, the 79-year-old Tsultim Chinjor, who has been conferred with Padma Shri award, wants better road connectivity between Himachal and Zanskar. A resident of Stongdey village of remote Zanskar valley, lama Chinjor is among
Pangong Lake (Pangong Tso), the main tourist attraction of Ladakh, has reopened for tourists after remaining closed for months following the ongoing India-China standoff. According to Leh administration, the lake is open for tourists from January 10 and tourists can obtain an inner-line permit to visit Pangong Lake from the DC office or also online from their official website. The happy news has come when famous Chadar trek of Ladakh has started. A large number of tourists are expected to visit Ladakh in winter months to experience the winter season and frozen Pangong Tso. Pangong lake in the Eastern Ladakh, close to the LAC (disputed Aksai Chin), about 150km from Leh, is the main tourist attraction in Ladakh. The lake known for its bluish water which changes its colours many times in a day is visited by lakhs of tourists every year. However, the lake remained out of reach of tourists this year. With Pangong lake remaining closed for tourists due to unrest at India-China border, it has badly impacted tourism in Ladakh. The hoteliers, travel agents, taxi drivers and other stakeholders were praying for peace at the border so that Pangong Lake opens for tourists once again and bring back tourism business to the cold deserts -- popularly known as mini Tibet. The Ladakh Tourism department has also announced that “Pangong Lake Opens for tourists from January 10” through its twitter post. Although Pangong lake was closed for tourists even before the Galwan valley clashes between India and Chinese troops, the clashes made the lake out of bounds for longer time as tension between both the nations kept mountain ever since. The lake, for the safety of the civilians, was kept closed. As Indian soldiers are in a better position in eastern Ladakh, Pangong Lake has been opened for
Pangong Lake (Pangong Tso), the main tourist attraction of Ladakh, has reopened for tourists after remaining closed for months following the ongoing India-China standoff. According to Leh administration, the lake is open for tourists from January 10 and tourists can obtain an inner-line permit to visit Pangong Lake from the DC office or also online
Rancho’s School (Druk Padma Karpo School or Druk White Lotus School), which is also known as 3 Idiots School, is a Buddhist cultural school located in Shey village, close to Shey palace and monastery, on Leh-Manali highway, in Ladakh, India. The school rose to prominence after the climax scenes of 3 Idiots Bollywood movie were shot in the school. Now a famous tourist spot, the school came in limelight after shooting of Bollywood super hit film 3 Idiots was held here in September 2008. The movie was released in December 2009, showcasing the Druk White Lotus School and Pangong lake in the second half of the movie. Superhit on the box office, the movie proved out to be a blessing for Ladakh tourism as thousands of people thronged Ladakh to see the high altitude cold deserts and lake as were seen in the movie. Tourists started reaching the school searching for “Rancho School” or “3 Idiots School”. The building wall where "Chatur" was given an electric shock by young students is now famous as Rancho Wall. Interestingly, the school administration now calls it Rancho School as a nickname. School premises has a “Rancho’s Cafe” as well. Aamir Khan had come back to the school in 2010 after a cloudburst had wreaked havoc in Leh. Locally the school is known as Druk Padma Karpo School as Padma means Lotus and Karpo means White in local dialect and is named after Mipham Pema Karpo (1527-1592), who is revered as a great scholar. The school is said to be opened on the request of local people who wanted a school in Ladakh that can maintain rich cultural traditions based on Tibetan Buddhism in their children while giving them rich education to match the 21st century as well. The Rancho’s School is honoured with several
Rancho’s School (Druk Padma Karpo School or Druk White Lotus School), which is also known as 3 Idiots School, is a Buddhist cultural school located in Shey village, close to Shey palace and monastery, on Leh-Manali highway, in Ladakh, India. The school rose to prominence after the climax scenes of 3 Idiots Bollywood movie were
Settled amid high mountain peaks, close to Siachen glacier, the highest and coldest battlefield of the world, Panamik village is famous for its natural hot water springs -- Panamik Hot Water Springs. The small but beautiful village is about 140km from Leh, little beyond Sumur village towards Siachen glacier base camp. Panamik is beyond Sumur village and Samstanling monastery. Hot water springs of Panamik are rich in sulphur which is good for health. People from surrounding villages come to Panamik to take dip in hot springs as sulphur is considered good for people suffering from obesity and joint pains. Hot water is oozing out of the earth at many places in the village. Villagers have made special baths (public bathrooms) where tourists can also take dip. Local mahila mandal of the village also has formed a society and is running a bath with clean rooms. The water is too hot to take dip, so cold water is mixed with the water. One can take bath by paying a nominal fee to the women who also serve tea and coffee. They use this money in maintenance of the area. The bath has enough parking space. Panamik is also base for trek to Ensa monastery which houses ancient Buddhist murals and manuscripts. How to reach Panamik Panamik is in Nubra valley of Ladakh and is reachable from Leh after crossing Khardungla pass. Leh to Panamik is 6 to 7 hours' drive. Panamik is beyond Sumur village on Leh-Siachen glacier base camp road. Panamik is easily reachable from Hunder and Diskit in 2.5 hours. Best time to visit Panamik May to October is the best time to visit Panamik hot water springs Is Inner line permit required to visit Panamik? Yes, inner line permit is required to visit entire Nubra valley. But no
Settled amid high mountain peaks, close to Siachen glacier, the highest and coldest battlefield of the world, Panamik village is famous for its natural hot water springs — Panamik Hot Water Springs. The small but beautiful village is about 140km from Leh, little beyond Sumur village towards Siachen glacier base camp. Panamik is beyond Sumur
Dah Hanu or Dha and Hanu, popularly known as Aryan villages of Ladakh, are located in Dhahanu valley in North-East of Ladakh, about 160km from Leh town. The visitors are required to obtain an inner line permit to visit these Brokpa villages. The villages have both Buddhist and Muslim population and also have their own animist pantheon of Gods. Residents of Dah Hanu are best known as Indo-Aryan breed. Dard people of Dah and Hanu have an Indo-European appearance with high cheek bones and sharp features. They look quite different from other Ladakhi people. Dha and Hanu are two separate villages in Dhahanu valley of Ladakh, about 160km from Leh. The valley is accessible by two routes -- one by taking a link road from Khalsi (Khaltse) from Leh-Kargil highway and the other from Kargil by using road passing through Batalik. Hanu is in fact divided in three sections. The main Hanoo village is about 20km above the main road but the population has spread across the region in the past years. The first village, from Khalsi side, greets you is Hanu Thang that lies on the Khalsi-Dah road. One has to take a sharp right turn at an isolated area, about 2km beyond Hanu Thang and a military check post stops visitors to check the identities, special permits and they may also check the whole vehicle prior to allowing vehicle cross the barrier. At a distance of about 8km comes Hanu Yogma village, on the other bank of a small tributary of Indus River. Lower part of the ancient small village having about 80 households looks like ruins but most houses are new and construction is ongoing. A high school is also in Hanu Yogma and children from nearby villages come here for education under military surveillance. About 6km
Dah Hanu or Dha and Hanu, popularly known as Aryan villages of Ladakh, are located in Dhahanu valley in North-East of Ladakh, about 160km from Leh town. The visitors are required to obtain an inner line permit to visit these Brokpa villages. The villages have both Buddhist and Muslim population and also have their own
