Ladakh Travel Guide

LADAKH WEATHER

 Here are 100 breathtaking tourist spots in the high-altitude desert Union Territory of Ladakh, organized by its two respective districts (zillas) as of 2025. This list captures the "Land of High Passes'" stunning monasteries, pristine lakes, dramatic landscapes, and unique cultural heritage.

(Note: Visiting many areas in Ladakh, especially those close to the international borders like Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, and the Dha-Hanu region, requires an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for domestic tourists and a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for foreign nationals. These are easily obtainable in Leh.)

Leh Zilla

This district is the larger of the two and contains the main capital city, Leh, along with the popular tourist circuits of Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake.

Leh Town & Surrounding Areas

1. Leh Palace: A former royal palace perched on a hilltop, offering stunning panoramic views of Leh town and the Stok Kangri range.

2. Shanti Stupa: A magnificent white-domed Buddhist stupa, offering peace and spectacular sunrise and sunset views.

3. Tsemo Fort and Monastery: A historic fort and gompa on a ridge above Leh Palace, providing the highest viewpoint of the city.

4. Leh Main Bazaar: A bustling market perfect for shopping for souvenirs, handicrafts, pashmina shawls, and apricot products.

5. Hall of Fame: A museum constructed and maintained by the Indian Army, dedicated to the soldiers who served in Ladakh.

6. Sankar Gompa: A serene monastery located amidst the city, known for its beautiful murals.

7. Spituk Monastery: An 11th-century monastery on a hilltop overlooking the Indus River, with a giant statue of Goddess Kali.

8. Gurudwara Pathar Sahib: A beautiful Gurudwara maintained by the Indian Army, built around a rock believed to bear the imprint of Guru Nanak.

9. Magnetic Hill: An optical illusion on the Leh-Kargil highway where vehicles appear to roll uphill against gravity.

10. Confluence of Indus and Zanskar Rivers (Sangam): A spectacular viewpoint where the muddy Zanskar River merges with the clear blue Indus River.

11. Thiksey Monastery: A majestic 12-storey monastery, often called "Mini Potala Palace," with a stunning 49-foot statue of Maitreya Buddha.

12. Hemis Monastery: The wealthiest and one of the most important monasteries in Ladakh, famous for its annual Hemis Festival.

13. Shey Palace and Monastery: The former summer capital of Ladakh, with a large copper-gilt statue of a seated Shakyamuni Buddha.

14. Stok Palace and Museum: The current residence of the Ladakhi royal family, with a museum showcasing royal artifacts, thangkas, and crowns.

15. Stakna Monastery: Dramatically perched on a tiger-shaped hill on the banks of the Indus River.

16. Matho Monastery: Known for its annual festival of oracles and its collection of 400-year-old thangkas.

17. Phyang Monastery: A beautiful monastery with a 900-year-old museum.

18. Likir Monastery: Features a massive 75-foot outdoor statue of Maitreya Buddha.

19. Alchi Monastery Complex: A unique monastery on flat ground, famous for its ancient and magnificent Kashmiri-influenced murals and wood carvings.

20. Basgo Palace and Monastery: The ruins of a historic royal palace and gompa perched on a steep hill.

21. Chemrey Monastery: A stunning monastery resembling a fortress, located on a rocky outcrop.

22. Takthok Monastery: The only monastery of the Nyingma school in Ladakh, famous for its meditation caves.

23. Sindhu Ghat: A peaceful riverbank on the Indus River, the venue for the annual Sindhu Darshan Festival.

24. Ladakh Arts and Media Organisation (LAMO) Centre: A cultural center in Old Town Leh.

25. Donkey Sanctuary: A charitable home for stray and abandoned donkeys.

Nubra Valley & Changthang Region

26. Khardung La Pass: One of the world's highest motorable passes, the gateway to the Nubra and Shyok valleys.

27. Nubra Valley: A high-altitude cold desert, famous for its dramatic landscapes and Bactrian (double-humped) camels.

28. Hunder Sand Dunes: The white sand dunes of Hunder where you can enjoy a safari on the Bactrian camels.

29. Diskit Monastery: The oldest and largest monastery in Nubra Valley, with a massive 106-foot statue of Maitreya Buddha on a hilltop.

30. Sumur: A serene village in Nubra, known for the Samstanling Monastery.

31. Samstanling Monastery, Sumur: A beautiful and colorful monastery complex.

32. Panamik Hot Springs: Natural hot sulphur springs with medicinal properties.

33. Turtuk Village: A unique Balti village near the Line of Control, which was part of Pakistan until 1971, offering a distinct cultural experience.

34. Yarab Tso Lake: A sacred and hidden holy lake near Sumur, requiring a short hike to reach.

35. Pangong Tso Lake: A breathtakingly beautiful high-altitude saltwater lake that changes colours, stretching from India to China.

36. Spangmik Village: A small settlement on the banks of Pangong Tso, offering campsites and guesthouses.

37. Chang La Pass: The high mountain pass on the way to Pangong Tso from Leh.

38. Tso Moriri Lake: A stunningly beautiful and serene high-altitude lake in the Changthang region, a designated Ramsar site.

39. Korzok Village and Monastery: A small village and monastery on the banks of Tso Moriri.

40. Tso Kar Lake: A fluctuating saltwater lake known for its vast salt deposits and as a haven for birdwatchers.

41. Hanle: A remote village home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, one of the world's highest observatories.

42. Hanle Monastery: A 17th-century monastery in the beautiful Hanle valley.

43. Chushul: A village in a sensitive border area, known for its war memorial.

44. Upshi: A trading town on the Manali-Leh highway.

45. Tanglang La Pass: A high mountain pass on the Manali-Leh Highway.

46. Dha and Hanu Villages (Aryan Valley): Home to the Brokpa tribe, believed to be descendants of Alexander the Great's army, known for their unique culture and attire.

47. Chumathang Hot Springs: Hot springs on the banks of the Indus River on the way to Tso Moriri.

48. Siachen Base Camp: The base camp for the world's highest battlefield (requires special permission, not for regular tourists).

49. Wari La Pass: A lesser-known high-altitude pass connecting Nubra to the Pangong region.

50. Demchok: A remote border village (highly restricted).

51. Nyoma: A small town in the Changthang region.

Kargil Zilla

This district is known for its rugged beauty, challenging treks, important historical sites related to the Kargil War, and the stunning Zanskar Valley.

Kargil Town & Suru Valley

52. Kargil War Memorial, Drass: A poignant memorial dedicated to the soldiers who died in the 1999 Kargil War.

53. Drass: Often cited as the second-coldest inhabited place in the world, the gateway to Ladakh from Kashmir.

54. Tiger Hill: A famous mountain peak that was a key strategic point during the Kargil War.

55. Tololing: Another strategic peak with immense historical importance from the 1999 war.

56. Suru Valley: One of the most beautiful and fertile valleys in Ladakh, with stunning views of the Nun and Kun peaks.

57. Nun and Kun Peaks: The highest twin peaks in the Zanskar range, a major attraction for mountaineers.

58. Rangdum: A remote village in the Suru Valley with a beautiful 18th-century monastery.

59. Rangdum Monastery: Perched on a small hill in the middle of a vast, desolate plain.

60. Pensi La Pass: The gateway to the Zanskar Valley, offering spectacular views of the Drang-Drung Glacier.

61. Drang-Drung Glacier: One of the largest and most accessible glaciers in Ladakh, a breathtaking river of ice.

62. Sankoo: A picturesque town in the Suru Valley, known for its vibrant flower-filled meadows.

63. Kartse Khar: A village featuring a 7-foot tall rock-carved statue of the Maitreya Buddha.

64. Mulbekh Monastery: Famous for its impressive 9-meter tall rock-carved statue of the future Buddha, overlooking the highway.

65. Lamayuru Monastery: One of the oldest and largest monasteries in Ladakh, famous for its unique "lunar" landscape.

66. Moonland, Lamayuru: The otherworldly, eroded landscape surrounding the Lamayuru monastery.

67. Hunderman Village: A border village near Kargil that was part of Pakistan until 1971, now an open-air museum.

68. Kargil Main Street: The bustling market of the town.

69. Trespone Imambara: A significant religious site for Shia Muslims in the Suru Valley.

Zanskar Valley

70. Padum: The administrative headquarters of the Zanskar region and a base for treks.

71. Karsha Monastery: The largest and most important monastery in Zanskar, with a stunning cliffside setting.

72. Stongdey Monastery: The second-largest monastery in Zanskar, perched on a clifftop with incredible views.

73. Sani Monastery: Believed to be one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Ladakh and Zanskar, associated with the Kushan emperor Kanishka.

74. Zongkhul Monastery: A spectacular cave monastery built into a rock face, associated with the sage Naropa.

75. Phugtal Monastery: One of the most remote and spectacularly located monasteries in the world, built into a cliffside cave.

76. Chadar Trek: The famous and challenging winter trek over the frozen Zanskar River.

77. Shingo La Pass: The pass that connects Zanskar to Lahaul, a popular trekking route.

78. Bardan Monastery: A 17th-century monastery known for its beautiful location.

79. Sheela Waterfall: A beautiful waterfall near Padum.

80. Zangla Palace: The ruins of a historic palace, once home to the king of Zangla.

(The following are additional points of interest, including specific passes, smaller monasteries, and cultural spots, distributed across the districts to complete the list of 100)

81. Leh Old Town: The labyrinthine streets and traditional mud-brick houses below Leh Palace.

82. Gotsang Gompa, Leh: A cave monastery near Hemis.

83. Tiger's Nose (Stakna) Bridge, Leh: A suspension bridge over the Indus.

84. Changspa, Leh: The quieter, backpacker-friendly area of Leh.

85. Hemis National Park: The largest national park in South Asia, a habitat for the elusive snow leopard.

86. Polo Ground, Leh: One of the highest polo grounds in the world.

87. Zanskar Sumdo: A campsite and confluence on the way to Padum.

88. Fotu La Pass: The highest point on the Srinagar-Leh highway.

89. Namika La Pass: Another mountain pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway.

90. Hunder Gompa, Nubra Valley: A small, peaceful monastery above Hunder village.

91. Lachung Temple, Nubra Valley: A lesser-known but significant local temple.

92. Ensa Monastery, Nubra Valley: An ancient monastery on the banks of the Nubra River.

93. Merak Village, Pangong: A remote village on the far side of Pangong Tso.

94. Man Village, Pangong: Another village near Spangmik, offering homestays.

95. Chilling: A village famous for its metal craftsmen and the starting point for the Chadar Trek.

96. Tara Monastery, Kargil: A monastery dedicated to the female Bodhisattva Tara.

97. Shargole Monastery, Kargil: A cliffside monastery with impressive murals.

98. Pipiting Guru Lhakhang, Zanskar: A small temple in Padum.

99. Dzonka, Zanskar: A historic village and fort.

100. Central Asian Museum, Leh: A museum showcasing Ladakh's historical ties with Central Asia.