Chang Chenmo or Changchenmo, which means “great northern” in Tibetan language, lies between Karakoram range and Changchenmo range in Leh district of Union Territory of Ladakh, India. The Chang Chenmo region is strategically very important as it lies close to India-China border near southern edge of the Aksai Chin. Chang Chenmo sector is near the patrolling point of Indian Army. The area is between Chang Chenmo river and 21,444 ft high Chang Chenmo Kangri peak. The Chang Chenmo Kangri is near Tsogstsalu/Tsogstsalo. Chang Chenmo river, a tributary of Shyok river, is extremely beautiful due to its blue waters and small lake like formation. Its source is the extreme north of the Ladakh at China controlled Kashmir (PoK). In order to facilitate trade between the Indian subcontinent and Tarim Basin, the British attempted to promote a caravan route via the Chang Chenmo Valley as an alternative to the difficult and tariffed Karakoram Pass in the late 1800s. On the request of British, Maharaja Ranbir Singh made improvements to the trails and facilities of the campsites in Chang Chenmo Valley. Besides being longer and higher elevation than the traditional route, this route goes through the desolate desert of Aksai Chin. By 1890s, traders mostly given up on this route. At the time, Changchenmo valley was also a popular hunting spot for British officers on leave. The river is in the disputed territory between China and India since 1950s. As such, it hosts numerous border outposts from both sides, such as Kongka Pass, Hot Springs, and Tsogstsalu. The region was also the site of numerous tensions in the past, such as the 1959 Kongka Pass incident. Chang Chenmo valley may open for tourists in near future as Ministry of Defence has decided to open some of the restricted zones of Ladakh for tourists. According to news reports, Chang Chenmo, Tsogstsalu and Marsimik La pass
Chang Chenmo or Changchenmo, which means “great northern” in Tibetan language, lies between Karakoram range and Changchenmo range in Leh district of Union Territory of Ladakh, India. The Chang Chenmo region is strategically very important as it lies close to India-China border near southern edge of the Aksai Chin. Chang Chenmo sector is near the
Marsimik La is a high mountain pass located north of Pangong lake in the Leh district in Ladakh region of India. It is one of the highest motorable passes in the world, with an elevation of approximately 5,582 meters (18,314 feet) above sea level. The pass is situated on the road that connects Leh, the capital of Ladakh, with the Nubra Valley. Marsimik La is also known as Marsemik La or Lankar la or Lankar pass. It is known for its challenging terrain and extreme weather conditions. It is often covered in snow and experiences harsh winds, making it a difficult route to navigate. Due to its high elevation, travellers often experience symptoms of altitude sickness, and it is advised to acclimatise properly before attempting to cross the pass. The pass offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Himalayan mountains and is a popular destination for adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers. The road leading to Marsimik La is scenic but rugged, and it requires a sturdy vehicle and experienced drivers to traverse the challenging terrain. Marsimik la pass was closed for tourists due to its strategic location and dangerous road. Very few tourists, after seeking permission from the Indian Army, used to undertake herculean task of reaching the top of the pass especially to set records of conquering the highest motorable mountain pass. Now, as on May 2023, Ministry of Defence was planning to open the Marsmik la, Chang Chenmo and Tsogtsalu for general tourists. The road condition has been improved and tourist facilities are being developed by the Army. Is Marsimik La open for tourists? Although government has planned to open it for tourists in future, an official notification in this regard is awaited. Tourists will be allowed only after Ladakh administration issues notification. How to reach Marsimik La? Marsimik
Marsimik La is a high mountain pass located north of Pangong lake in the Leh district in Ladakh region of India. It is one of the highest motorable passes in the world, with an elevation of approximately 5,582 meters (18,314 feet) above sea level. The pass is situated on the road that connects Leh, the
Traveling to Ladakh by road is an exciting and adventurous journey that offers breathtaking landscapes and a chance to experience the unique culture of the region. Here's a travel guide to help you plan your road trip to Ladakh: Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Ladakh by road is from May to September when the weather is pleasant and the roads are open. However, note that the region experiences extreme temperatures, so pack accordingly. The road, however, sometimes remain open in October as well. Route Options: There are two primary routes to reach Ladakh by road: a. Manali-Leh Highway: This route starts from Manali in Himachal Pradesh and goes through the Atal tunnel, Keylong, and the Baralacha Pass. It is around 428 kilometers long and offers stunning views of the Himalayas. b. Srinagar-Leh Highway: This route begins in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, and passes through Sonamarg, Drass, and the Zoji La Pass. It is approximately 434 kilometers long and showcases the scenic beauty of both Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. Permits: To travel to Ladakh, both Indian and foreign nationals do not require permits. However, permits are required to visit the sightseeing places of Ladakh including Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Khardungla pass, Nubra Valley, Dah Hanu Batalik region and Turtuk etc. You can obtain the Inner Line Permit (ILP) from the District Magistrate's Office or through online portals. Foreign nationals need to obtain the Protected Area Permit (PAP) or Restricted Area Permit (RAP) from the Leh District Magistrate's Office. Acclimatization: Ladakh is located at high altitudes, so it's essential to acclimatize to avoid altitude sickness. Take a day or two to rest in Leh before exploring further. Stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activities initially, and consider taking medication for altitude sickness after consulting with a doctor. Accommodation: There are
Traveling to Ladakh by road is an exciting and adventurous journey that offers breathtaking landscapes and a chance to experience the unique culture of the region. Here’s a travel guide to help you plan your road trip to Ladakh: Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Ladakh by road is from May to
The cancellation of GoAir (Go First) flights has had a significant impact on tourism in Ladakh as thousands of hotel bookings have been cancelled or postponed. With GoAir (Go First) being one of the major airlines connecting Ladakh to other parts of India, the sudden cancellation of their flights has disrupted travel plans for many tourists. Ladakh, known for its breathtaking landscapes and unique cultural heritage, attracts a large number of tourists each year. However, the limited accessibility to the region makes air travel crucial for most visitors. GoAir's flight cancellations have resulted in fewer flight options, increased ticket prices, and difficulties in securing alternate arrangements. While some tourists managed to book other flights at higher airfare, many other cancelled their tour plans. The increased flight ticket cost due to the monopoly of the other airlines, middle-class tourists are not able to afford their tours to Ladakh. A ticket is costing Rs 15,000 to 30,000 from Delhi to Leh (one way). The tourists were searching for alternate ways to reach Ladakh i.e. road journey. But, the Manali-Leh highway is taking too much time in opening for tourists. On the other side, Srinagar-Leh road is blocking again and again. The road is not fully functional and is open for one-way traffic with strict timing system. The tourists are clueless about what they should do now. Tourists who had booked their trips well in advance have been left disappointed and frustrated. Many have had to cancel or postpone their plans altogether due to the lack of reliable flight options. This not only affects the tourists but also has a ripple effect on the local economy, as businesses that rely on tourism suffer from reduced footfall and revenue. Moreover, the cancellation of GoAir (Go First) flights has also impacted the reputation of Ladakh
The cancellation of GoAir (Go First) flights has had a significant impact on tourism in Ladakh as thousands of hotel bookings have been cancelled or postponed. With GoAir (Go First) being one of the major airlines connecting Ladakh to other parts of India, the sudden cancellation of their flights has disrupted travel plans for many
If you are visiting Leh and you are looking for a best hotel near the main market of Leh, here we shall discuss about a few good hotels that are at walking distance from the main market. We shall make a list of a few deluxe, super deluxe and luxury hotels near Leh main market. 1. Hotel Tsokar Retreat: This hotel is situated near the main bazaar in Leh, and offers spacious rooms with modern amenities. It has a multi-cuisine restaurant and a garden where guests can relax. The rooms offer mountain view. The newly built hotel Tsokar Retreat is at a walking distance from the main market of Leh. 2. Hotel Samaya: Samaya hotel is at a 3 minute walking distance from the Leh main bazaar. Established in 2021, Samaya Hotel is one of the newest yet one of the most luxurious hotels in Ladakh. The hotel has luxurious rooms with mountain views and balconies. Samaya means an unbreakable bond between two parties, that's based on the principle of: respect, trust, love, care, concern, positivity, progressive relationship, prosperity for both parties and mutual understanding. 3. Hotel Rafica: Hotel Rafica, which remains open even during winter time, is a centrally heated property with 24 deluxe rooms. This is also a hotel inear the Leh main market. 4. Kesaar Palace: This super deluxe hotel is located in the heart of the ancient town of Leh and is near the main market. The Hotel is designed traditionally, eco friendly and constructed on the lines of a Ladakhi Palace architectural built-up. Designed by famous ladakhi Interior designers. it has unique & excellent Ladakhi architectural structures known as Shingtsag and all the rooms have been provided with Raphsal ( Balcony) as you find in the Palaces around Leh Ladakh. 5. Hotel City Palace: Hotel
If you are visiting Leh and you are looking for a best hotel near the main market of Leh, here we shall discuss about a few good hotels that are at walking distance from the main market. We shall make a list of a few deluxe, super deluxe and luxury hotels near Leh main market.
Can you really see Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) in Ladakh as many photos being shared on social media have made a buzz ever since IIA Bengaluru shared a timelapse video captured by Hanle Observatory of Ladakh where red clouds can be seen in the skies of Ladakh. While most photos are old, mostly from Norway and Iceland, the IIA Bengaluru stated: “This is a time-lapse of the sky taken by a 360 deg camera from #Hanle on 22/23 April night. You can see the aurora lights due to an intense geomagnetic storm that hit the Earth. It is extremely rare to see aurora at such a low latitude! At 11:42 PM on 21 Apr the Sun launched a coronal mass ejection towards the Earth. This CME (speed of 500-600 km/s) was associated with an M1 class solar flare. The CME arrived at Earth late on April 23 at 10 PM. It further stated that This geoeffective CME led to an excellent night for auroral activity. The aurora came to lower-than-usual latitudes overnight leading to rare sightings from Europe, China & Ladakh in India. Such a severe geomagnetic storm last occurred in 2015. “For predictions of this storm as well as space weather forecasts for other solar events, check out @cessi_iiserkol Centre for Excellence in Space Sciences India at @iiserkolhttp://cessi.in According to news portal The Quint, while the first three images show the Northern Lights in Norway, the fourth one is from Iceland. While aurora-like lights were seen in Ladakh in the night between 22 and 23 April, all these photos predate the event. It further stated that none of the photos being circulated on social media belong to northern lights in Ladakh. Outlook India has written an article on northern lights in ladakh: If you're an avid stargazer, add Ladakh
Can you really see Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) in Ladakh as many photos being shared on social media have made a buzz ever since IIA Bengaluru shared a timelapse video captured by Hanle Observatory of Ladakh where red clouds can be seen in the skies of Ladakh. While most photos are old, mostly from Norway
Turtuk is the northernmost village and gram panchayat of India in Nubra valley of Leh district of Ladakh, about 205km from Leh town and is on the bank of Shyok River. Turtuk opened for tourists in 2009 and it was under control of Pakistan since Independence till 1971. India took control over Turtuk during Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. India and Pakistan had again a war around Turtuk during Kargil War of 1999. Now Turtuk is one of the major tourist destinations (sightseeing places) in Ladakh. Besides Turtuk, Thang (last village near LOC) and Tyakshi have also become tourist attractions. A few memorials built in the memory of soldiers can be seen on the road leading to zero point of India-Pakistan Line of Control (LOC). Many tourists visit Turtuk village between May and October. Turtuk is a Muslim village having population of about 3,500 residents and its residents speak Baltistani, Ladakhi and Urdu languages. Siachen Glacier is also accessible from Turtuk side. Turtuk village offers beautiful views of Shyok valley. Turtuk is said to be the only place in India where one can witness Balti culture. Tourist movement is allowed till Tyakshi, another Balti village beyond Turtuk. However, Thang is the last and northernmost village of India, about 4km from Turtuk just before LOC, but tourists are not allowed to visit the village. Thang is clearly visible from Tyakshi on the other side of Shyok river. Turtuk is basically divided in three sections -- main market (small market of the village) area on the Hunder-Tyakshi road and upper main village area is divided into two by a small nullah, a tributary of Shyok river. A beautiful bridge on the nullah, joining both parts o the village, is a famous tourist point where everyone wants to get clicked. A large number of
Turtuk is the northernmost village and gram panchayat of India in Nubra valley of Leh district of Ladakh, about 205km from Leh town and is on the bank of Shyok River. Turtuk opened for tourists in 2009 and it was under control of Pakistan since Independence till 1971. India took control over Turtuk during Indo-Pakistan
What is the best time to visit Leh Ladakh? This is the question that every traveller wants to ask before planning his visit to Ladakh. Ladakh can be visited in all four seasons, 12 months a year, but depending upon the choice and fitness of traveller, one can plan tour based on the seasons. Seasons in Ladakh June to September: Summer season (Peak tourist season/Best time to visit Ladakh with family, children and elderly) (Day temperature: 20 to 25 degrees C, Night temperature: 5 to 10 degrees C) October to November: Light cold (Lean tourist season) (Day temperature: 5 to 20 degrees C, Night Temperature: 5 degrees C to -5 degrees C) December to March: Extreme cold (Leanest season/tourists visit only to experience cold/photography/adventure) (Day temperature: -5 degrees C to 5 degrees C, Night Temperature: -10 degrees C to -30 degrees C (Temperature at some places dip even below minus 30 degrees Celsius. Drass region of Ladakh is the coldest inhabited place in India and second coldest in world after Siberia) April to May: Light cold and sometime warm days but cold nights (Tourists start visiting Ladakh. Temperature starts rising to pleasant after mid-April) (Day temperature: 5 to 15 degrees C, Night temperature: -5 to 10 degrees C) The best time to visit Ladakh depends on your preferences and the activities you plan to engage in. Ladakh is known for its rugged landscapes, high-altitude passes, and unique cultural experiences. However, due to its high altitude and extreme weather conditions, the accessibility and climate vary throughout the year. Here's an overview of the different seasons in Ladakh: Summer (June to September): This is the peak tourist season in Ladakh when the weather is most favorable. The temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F) during the day, and the region
What is the best time to visit Leh Ladakh? This is the question that every traveller wants to ask before planning his visit to Ladakh. Ladakh can be visited in all four seasons, 12 months a year, but depending upon the choice and fitness of traveller, one can plan tour based on the seasons. Seasons
On this page, we shall keep you updated about current temperature, snowfall status and weather in Leh, Kargil, Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri lake, Zanskar valley and all the places of Ladakh. January 22, 2023: Heavy snowfall is predicted from January 24 to 27 in most parts of Ladakh including Leh, Kargil and Padum. The Pangong Lake is frozen completely. The Zanskar river's surface has also turned ice at most places, forming a shape of white chadar (sheet) which means chadar treks have begun. Here are the minimum temperatures of major places in Ladakh which were above the normal due to overcast (all figures start with minus): Leh -15.2, Nyoma -17.7, Chuchot Yokma -16.0, Padum (Zanskar) -15.6, Drass -15.3, Upshi -14.3, Kargil -13.8, Tangtse -13.3, Hunder (Nubra) -8.4, Khaltse -7.1, Garkone. -6.9, April 25, 2021: The weather will remain generally dry in the next few days. Good sunshine will result in little rise in the day temperature, bringing some relief from the cold. Some cloudy weather is likely after April 30. Tourists can see snow at Khardungla pass. Leh-Srinagar road will open only for four-wheel drive light vehicles on Monday. Trucks and other heavy vehicles may have to wait for few more days as road is very slippery. The Leh-Manali road is blocked and may take up to one week to open for vehicular traffic. Updated on April 21, 2021 More snowfall in Leh, Kargil (Ladakh) Most parts of Ladakh are witnessing fresh snowfall since last 24 hours. The meteorological department, Leh, has predicted more snowfall in the next 48 hours. Overcast is predicted till april 24 and it will be a mix of sun and clouds from April 25 onwards. While peaks, including Khardungla pass and Changla pass are receiving moderate snow, Zojila pass and parts of Kargil
On this page, we shall keep you updated about current temperature, snowfall status and weather in Leh, Kargil, Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri lake, Zanskar valley and all the places of Ladakh. January 22, 2023: Heavy snowfall is predicted from January 24 to 27 in most parts of Ladakh including Leh, Kargil and Padum.
Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal (JTN) raised the demands in Parliament for the construction of roads of Paddar-Padum, Udaipur-Padum, and Korzok-Kiato for strengthening the Indian border in the Northern region. Raising his demands under business rule 377 of the Lok Sabha, Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal emphasized that India has war experiences of 1948, 1962, 1965, 1971, 1999 and the Galwan conflict of 2020. Unprecedented border tussles usher the nation to develop some alternative routes to connect the border with mainstream land. Despite the commendable works on Nimo-Padum- Darcha Road including the tunnel at Shinku La and Zojila pass there is a need to focus on better, shorter, and economically more feasible roads and tunnels on priority to keep our border well secured. During the ongoing Parliament session, MP Jamyang raised demands for the construction of three major roads to connect Ladakh with the mainstream countryside in Himachal's Lahaul-Spiti district and J&K's Kishtwar for greater interest. He said there are three possibilities for building a shorter road from Kishtwar district of Jammu division to the Zanskar valley of Ladakh which are the construction of 45 km Paddar-Padum Road, Kishtwar-Atholi-Maichil- Soomchan-Zongkhul or 80 km Kishtwar-Atholi-Maichil-Dangail-Potla-Bardan’. This will be the shortest route between Northern Command and Pathankot Airforce/Military station to Ladakh as it will reduce the distance by about 150 km. This route being the shortest was also followed by the legendary Dogra General Zorawar Singh during his conquests of Ladakh and eastern Tibet in the 1830s. Construction of Udaipur-Padum Road from Miyar Valley of Himachal's Lahaul via Khanjar- Zardong-Kesar-Kang La-Padum or Khanjar-Shangkha-Thangso-Kargyak near Shinkunla Zanskar will also reduce the distance. Construction of a 100 km Road from Korzok village at Tso Moriri lake of Ladakh to Kiato in Himachal's Spiti valley will also provide easy access to eastern
Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal (JTN) raised the demands in Parliament for the construction of roads of Paddar-Padum, Udaipur-Padum, and Korzok-Kiato for strengthening the Indian border in the Northern region. Raising his demands under business rule 377 of the Lok Sabha, Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal emphasized that India has war experiences
