Nubra Valley – The Orchard of Ladakh

Nubra Valley is located in the northern part of Ladakh. The distance from Leh to Nubra Valley is approximately 160 kilometers. In the local language, Nubra means Valley of Flowers. Due to the flow of the Shyok River and the Nubra River in the Nubra Valley, there is much more greenery here compared to other parts of Ladakh. In the morning, we set out for Nubra Valley from Leh. The route passes through rugged mountains.

After some time, we reached Khardung La, the famous pass of Ladakh. Previously, this place was known as the highest motorable road in the world. The surrounding mountains were covered with snow, making the temperature very low. We also felt the oxygen level to be quite low here. The colorful Tibetan flags on the mountain peaks at Khardung La looked very beautiful.

As we moved ahead from Khardung La, we began to see the Shyok River in the valley. The water appeared muddy due to flowing through the sandy valleys. After traveling some distance, we arrived at a place filled with sand dunes. Our driver, Phunchok Angchok, informed us that ATV rides (All Terrain Vehicle rides) are available here, which are very thrilling. We also stopped to take an ATV ride.

An ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) is a special type of four-wheeled vehicle with very thick tires. Riding this vehicle on the uneven sand dunes was an excellent and exhilarating experience. Sometimes it felt like the vehicle would tip over in the sand, but these special vehicles were very powerful. We all greatly enjoyed the ATV ride.

Enjoying this thrilling experience, we started moving ahead. The road ahead was very flat and straight for a long distance, making it look very beautiful. It felt like someone had drawn a black line on white stones. After a while, we reached Diskit, a large village in Nubra Valley.

In Diskit, the Nubra River meets the Shyok River. Diskit has a very grand Buddhist monastery that is approximately 350 years old. Near the Diskit Monastery, there is a very attractive and large statue of Lord Buddha on the mountain.

This place is very popular among tourists. We took many photos here. We also spun the special cylindrical prayer wheel here, which is called “Mani” in the local language. It is believed that spinning the Mani washes away all sins. The view of Nubra Valley from Diskit Monastery was very enchanting. In the hall below the statue of Lord Buddha, some other statues were also installed.

After moving a bit further from Diskit, we reached Hunder, another large village in Nubra Valley. This was a very dry place with sand dunes visible all around. Before 1947, trade with Middle Asia was conducted through Hunder using horses and double-hump camels. People come to Hunder to see and ride these very attractive double-hump camels. We went to ride the double-hump camels on the sand dunes.

The experience of riding these adorable camels in the cold desert of Hunder was very pleasant. The camels moved slowly in a line through the desert, and their baby camels walked alongside them. Everything felt very good. After riding the double-hump camels for quite a while, we sat with our feet in the water of the Shyok River. Evening had fallen, but the atmosphere in Hunder was very nice. We planned to stay overnight in Hunder.

Beyond Nubra Valley lies the Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world. Here, we heard about Turtuk Village, which is currently the last village in India. Beyond this point begins the Pakistan-controlled area of Gilgit-Baltistan. Before 1971, Turtuk Village was under Pakistan’s control. Turtuk Village is very popular among those visiting Ladakh.

The day spent in Nubra Valley was one of the best days of our lives. Nubra Valley in Ladakh is an incredibly amazing place. You will feel very good coming here. Seeing and riding the double-hump camels in Hunder Valley was a pleasant experience. Whenever you visit Ladakh, be sure to visit Nubra Valley.

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