Tag: Leh

Ladakh, a newly created Union and territory in India happens to be one of the most favorite holiday destinations for adventure seekers and nature lovers. The beauty of this freezing cold destination can’t be expressed in words as the landscape here changes drastically. Bedecked with the gorgeous mountains, Ladakh is home to numerous high altitude passes like Chang La, Khardung La, and Marsimik La.

Leh Palace

Built by the Buddhist kings of Ladakh, the palace has lost much of its original grandeur, but still offers some magnificent views from the top. Find your way down the winding passages and hidden stairways to emerge at the roof top and enjoy great views of the city.

Namgyal Tsemo Gompa

Built in 1430, this Buddhist temple has a rich collection of Buddhist art, ancient manuscripts, scrolls, wall paintings, and the gilded image of Buddha, almost 3-stories high.

Hemis Monastery

Situated 45kms from Leh, Hemis is the largest monastery in Ladakh. Its walls are adorned with beautiful frescoes and the largest Thangka painting in the world. Built by the Red Hat sect of Buddhists, the monastery houses a statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha made of precious stones. Over a 100 lamas reside here at any given time.

Shanti Stupa

Built by a Japanese Buddhist organization to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism, the Shanti Stupa is a pristine white structure, and a change from the other Stupas of the region.

Stok Palace

The official residence of the royal family, the Stok Palace stands four storeys tall and has 77 rooms. One wing has been made open to the public as a museum and displays collections of Buddhist art, weapons, jewelry, artifacts and thangkas. There are great views from here, overlooking barley terraces on the mountains.

Shey Monastery

Earlier the summer palace of the Ladakhi kings, the Shey Gompa is situated on a hillock. It houses a 12m tall gold-plated copper statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. Shey is a beautiful green area, dotted with ponds.

Magnetic Hill

It defies all the laws of nature, and is something you have to experience for yourself. As your vehicle rolls up the steep hill, turn off the ignition. No, you won’t roll backwards and crash down the mountainside. Instead, the car will continue to move upwards at a decent speed to 20km/hr, even with the ignition off! The magnetic properties of this hill, located around 30km from Leh, ensure that you’re always moving up.

Thiksey Monastery

This monastery is located a little away from the Shey Monastery and has several Buddha statues, a pillar inscribed with Buddhist teachings, a 15m high seated Maitreya Buddha statue and a vast collection of Buddhist art.

Khardung La Pass and Nubra Valley

The Khardung La (Pass), at more than 17,000 feet, is the highest motorable road in the world. The scenery here is worth your time, always crusted in white, and with excellent views of Ladakh and the Karakoram ranges on either side. Beyond the pass is the wide, flat Nubra Valley, criss-crossed by the winding Shyok and Nubra Rivers. Bactrian Camels (double hump camels) are one of the main attractions of the region. The valley is dotted with ancient gompas, ruined palaces and quaint villages, providing many a photo-op. The Diskit Gompa, built in the 17th century, is worth a visit while you’re here.

Pangong Tso

Take a day trip to the pristine Pangong Tso, a lake situated at a height of approximately 14000 ft. Set amidst the vast Himalayas, the stark brown mountains contrast sharply with the clear blue of the lake, providing a most panoramic setting. The Pangong is considered to be the longest lake in Ladakh and is a saltwater lake formed by the remnants of ice from the ice age. The international border between India and Tibet runs through the lake.

Tso Moriri Lake

This is a saltwater lake located at about 14,000 feet above sea level. Bounded by mountains, this lake has Ladakh to the north, Tibet to the east and Zanskar to the west. Migratory birds, marmots and Tibetan wolves are abundant in this region.

Zanskar Valley

If you’re looking for a real getaway, cut off from all civilization, head to Zanskar for complete isolation. The valley is closed for a major part of the year, from November to May, due to snow. Padum is the headquarters of this region, and is located on the side of a hillock with ruins of the palace and fort. Ancient rock carvings can also be seen on the bank of the river Suru. Karsha is the largest monastery here, housing ancient pieces of Buddhist art. Stongdey Monastery is home to the Gon Khang or the temple of guardian deities. Many challenging treks are possible in this region, and rafting on the Zanskar river is a thrilling experience for the adventure loving.

If you are also looking for a vacation in Ladakh then check out some of the most customized travel packages to Ladakh and select the one that suits your travel desire and falls under your budget.

India, as one contemplates about her, is a colorful image of different people, religion, culture, and diversity, in one country. Her beauty is mesmerizing. A holiday in India comprises of various religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism and many more. Over 22 languages are spoken here. India with so many languages and religion also offers fabulous tourist destinations.

From snow-capped mountains, verdant hills, dazzling rivers to magnificent green valleys, India has lots to offer a tourist. Himalayas form the north, northeast and northwest boundaries of the country. It has a long coastline which stretches from north to south and east to west. No wonder, then she has been called the “jewel in the crown” of the British Empire. You might have come across various options for holiday in India but let us check out the ‘theme holidays’- summer holidays, spiritual and honeymoon destinations in India for a tourist.

Summer holidays– summers of India are dreaded in most parts of the world, but a hill station is most welcome. Summer months in India are from March to May.

Ladakh (Leh), the land of Lamas, entices many tourists with its calm tranquil environments with a bewitching white mountainous landscape. The place offers a spiritual experience to be cherished for a lifetime. Colossal mountains protecting the city from chilling winds covered with white sand houses made of mud brick where you can hear ritualistic chants. Here, you can also see lakes, yaks, and monasteries.

Panoramic view of Ladakh (commons.wikimedia.org) — Panoramic view of Ladakh
(commons.wikimedia.org)

Shimla– is an ideal place for a summer holiday with a toy train ride, horse-riding, an evening walk on Mall road. Little cafes to luxurious hotels welcome all tourists here. There is an old world charm retained in grand old monuments and structures of the pre-Independence era of India.

Munnar– offers a breath-taking view of tea plantations and lakes located in Kerala. This picturesque hill station offers rock climbing, trekking to Anaimudi hill for adventure lovers. A wildlife National park has exotic species that inhabit this place, making it a great haunt for nature lovers.

Munnar_hillstation_kerala.jpg(en.wikipedia.org)

Kodaikanal– A hill station located on the borders of Tamil Nadu and Kerala is an enchantment for nature lovers. There are serene slopes, enigmatic pretty flowers, pine trees, and renowned grizzled giant squirrels worth admiring.

Grizzled_Giant_Squirrel_from_Chinnar_Wildlife_Sanctuary,_Kerala_,_India(commons.wikimedia.org). — Grizzled Giant Squirrel from Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India (commons.wikimedia.org)

Spiritual journey– Varanasi or Benares is a holy city of the Hindus with its most important Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Lord Shiva is the deity and guardian of this temple. The city is often known as the city of temples where people from across the world and not only India visit over 2000 temples. Varanasi is also famous for its muslin, silk fabrics, ivory works and perfume industries.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple- Varanasi (image courtesy- templefolks.com)

Do not miss a chance to take a boat ride in holy river Ganges which captures the true essence of Varanasi. Paper boats lit with candle and flowers float on the waters, Holy dip in Ganges, meditation in solitude by many pilgrims who come to offer their prayers. No wonder it is known as the spiritual capital of India. Not far from Varanasi is Mahabodhi Temple, Buddha’s Bodhi Tree where he meditated and attained enlightenment. He conveyed his first sermon and thus gave birth to Buddhism.

Kailash Mansarovar– situated among the Himalayan mountain ranges, Kailash is among the highest peaks of the world and also a source of Brahmaputra, Sutlej, Ganges and Indus rivers. This is among the most significant spiritual spots in the world where people from across the globe revere it. Kailash with its holy lake Mansarovar captures the imagination of one and is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Lord Shiva’s abode is believed to be in Mount Kailash by Hindus.

Kinnaur, Kailash (en.wikipedia.org) — Kinnaur, Kailash
(en.wikipedia.org)

Southern India– Temples of southern India have splendid architecture and interesting mythological tales which offer great spiritual significance to pilgrims who visit from remote locations. They have towering ‘gopurams’, grand pillar structures and embellished entrances. State of Tamil Nadu has over 33,000 temples like Arunachaleshwar temple of Lord Shiva, Jambukeshwar temple at Thiruvanaikaval that has an underground water spring that fills the shrine where the ‘lings’ stands, Ramanathaswamy temple which is second holiest place after Varanasi. The legends of all these temples leave spell-bound.

If you are on a pilgrim tour, then Jodhpur, Mount Abu, and Udaipur should not be missed for its renowned temples.

Honeymoon destinations–For newly married couples, there are many destinations in India.

Goa –you could relax on the beaches of Goa for beautiful views, sunshine and lot of fun and activity.

Darjeeling – enjoy picturesque hill stations of Darjeeling which makes it an ideal honeymoon destination with its tea plantations and chilly weather.
Ooty – situated in Nilgiri hills, it has a lot of attractions from Botanical gardens, Rose Garden, Ooty Lake and Dodabetta peak.
Backwaters of Kerala – often known as God’s Own Country is a favorite hot spot for a honeymoon in India. You can hire a houseboat and explore Kerala.

The above is just a sneak peek into ‘Theme Holidays’ in India. So, go ahead and plan a ‘theme holiday’ in India, today!