It was in 2007 when I first visited Puga valley (then Puga hot water springs) with my friend during winter time for wildlife photography. Nobody from Ladakh or tourists had any interest in Puga hot water springs as the entire area was and still is boggy. Puga was not so famous until recently when a girl (tourist) shot and posted a reel of the area with lush green valley and brown mountains in the backdrop. The video went viral. People started asking for this place and many others reached here for photography and reels. Many found the area attractive while others not. Puga is very far away from Leh (nearly 170 KM). Generally tourists pass through Puga when travelling from Tso Moriri to Leh or Manali via Tsokar route. Now it has become a famous destination for tourists. However, Puga being at high altitude cold region, the small waterlogged ground besides the road looks green only in summer time from June to early September. Then it turns brown with drying up of the grass. Puga is known for its natural hot water springs where hot water is oozing out of the earth. The scientists are studying the region for many years and are trying to generate geothermal energy. They have drilled the land at many places from where hot water is coming out with a great force. You can also see deposits of sulphur at many locations here as the water contains a large quantity of sulphur in it. The entire narrow valley is in isolated place with no civilisation in the area. The nearest village Sumdo is about 5 KM from here while Tibetan Children's Village (TCV) School is between Puga and Sumdo. Travelling all the way from Leh only to see Puga is not recommended until you are
It was in 2007 when I first visited Puga valley (then Puga hot water springs) with my friend during winter time for wildlife photography. Nobody from Ladakh or tourists had any interest in Puga hot water springs as the entire area was and still is boggy. Puga was not so famous until recently when a
