Leh, the capital of the Union Territory of Ladakh, is a beautiful city nestled at the foothills of the mountains. It is situated on the banks of the Indus River. Located between the Karakoram Range and the Himalayas, Leh has always been a major tourist attraction. We reached Leh from Srinagar via the excellent roads of National Highway 1 (NH-1). The other popular route to Leh starts from the city of Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Leh also has an airport, making it accessible directly by air.
Leh is a predominantly Buddhist city that served as a major center for trade from ancient times, connecting regions of Tibet and Central Asia. There are many places to visit in and around Leh. We stayed in Leh for two days and thoroughly enjoyed exploring all the tourist attractions here. Here is some information about a few such places in Leh –
➥Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery is a beautiful Buddhist monastery in the Tibetan style. Located 19 kilometers from Leh, the atmosphere at Thiksey Monastery is very peaceful. On the 12th floor of this monastery stands a magnificent and majestic 50-foot-tall statue of Maitreya Buddha, which is extremely attractive. There are also many ancient artifacts such as Thangka paintings, swords, and numerous small Buddhist statues displayed here. The prayer hall had a very spiritual atmosphere.
Surrounding the area were huge statues of deities and gurus related to Tibetan and Buddhist traditions, their faces covered with clothes. It was revealed that on a special occasion each year, the clothes covering these statues are removed. The monastery’s wooden roof kept the interior temperature very comfortable.
The main entrance of Thiksey Monastery was also very impressive. In the monastery premises, there is a large bell-shaped spinning prayer wheel called a “Mani” in the local language. It is believed that by spinning this wheel, all sins are absolved. Everyone at Thiksey Monastery was seen spinning the Mani to lessen their sins.
➥Druk White Lotus School
This school gained immense popularity due to its appearance in the Bollywood movie “3 Idiots.” Because of this, many people who visit Leh make sure to visit the Druk White Lotus School. The premises of this school are very large. The main building of Druk White Lotus School resembles a Buddhist monastery.
We wandered around the premises of this school and discussed scenes from the movie “3 Idiots.” There is also a wall here that became very famous in the film. We took many photos here to capture the memories.
➥Hall of Fame
Located near the Leh airport, the Hall of Fame is dedicated to the bravery of the Indian Army and the culture of Ladakh. Outside the premises of the Hall of Fame, there are models of army tanks, helicopters, and fighter planes. Inside the Hall of Fame premises, there is a large gallery. One part of this gallery extensively showcases Ladakh’s culture, attire, festivals, traditions, and cuisine through pictures. This provided us with valuable insights into Ladakh’s history and other interesting information.
The second part of the Hall of Fame exhibits the military achievements of the Indian Army in Siachen, Kargil, and other parts of Ladakh. Reading the stories of the army heroes through pictures and writings in the gallery was a truly proud experience. The gallery displays army weapons, military equipment, special clothing worn in Siachen, pictures of military campaigns, captured items from Pakistani soldiers during the war, and models of the rugged mountains of Ladakh.
Behind the premises of the Hall of Fame, there is a War Memorial built in a very large field where the names of the martyred soldiers are inscribed. Don’t forget to visit the Hall of Fame when you visit Leh.
➥Spituk Monastery
Spituk Monastery is situated on a hill right in front of Leh city. Built in the 11th century, it is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. From this monastery, one side offers a view of the flowing Indus River, while the other side presents the enchanting sight of Leh city. The silhouette of Leh Airport’s runway is also visible from here.
Spituk Monastery has small stupas lined up in rows outside. A very large and attractive spinning prayer wheel, known as Mani, is installed outside the monastery for visitors. Inside the monastery, along with statues of Lord Buddha, there is also an idol of Hindu goddess Kali.
Inside the monastery, along with statues of Lord Buddha, there is also an idol of Hindu goddess Kali. The faces of these idols are also covered and unveiled only during the annual festival. We spent a long time sitting in front of the statue of Buddha in the prayer hall of Spituk Monastery, meditating. Some Buddhist mantras were being recited over the speaker, which was very soothing to the mind.
➥Sangam of Indus River & Zanskar River
Located 35 kilometers from Leh, the confluence of Ladakh’s two major rivers, the Indus River and the Zanskar River, occurs at the Sangam. Witnessing the merging of these two rivers in the valley of towering mountains was a delightful experience. River rafting also takes place at this confluence point, making it the highest river rafting point in the world.
The breeze here was very pleasant. There is also a restaurant here where you can have refreshments. We spent a long time sitting on the benches near this confluence, watching the waves of the Indus River and the Zanskar River merge.
➥Magnetic Hill
Approximately 27 kilometers from Leh on National Highway – 1 (NH-1) lies Magnetic Hill, a famous and intriguing destination that attracts travelers. Here, the roads appear to be sloping upward as if ascending, but in reality, they are sloping downward.
Therefore, it gives the impression that vehicles are moving uphill on their own momentum. People attribute this phenomenon to a magnetic effect, which is why this place is known as Magnetic Hills.
➥Gurudwara Pathar Sahib
Gurudwara Pathar Sahib is located near Leh on National Highway – 1 (NH-1). The maintenance of this Gurudwara is done by the Indian Army. The story of Gurudwara Pathar Sahib is very interesting. It is said that when Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited Leh in the year 1517 AD, the locals told him about a demon living on the nearby mountain. This demon used to torment the people terribly. Seeing Guru Ji meditating beneath the mountains, the demon, enraged, threw a large stone at him.
However, as soon as the stone touched Guru Nanak Dev Ji, it softened like wax and embedded into his body. Not seeing any effect of the stone on Guru Ji, the demon kicked the stone in anger, but his foot got stuck in it. Realizing that he had attempted to harm a great devotee of God, the demon bowed at Guru Ji’s feet. Guru Nanak Dev Ji advised the demon to spend the rest of his life serving people, after which the demon left for Kargil from Leh, traveling towards Kashmir.
I enjoyed visiting Gurudwara Pathar Sahib. After paying obeisance to the Guru Granth Sahib, we went near the stone described in the story above. The taste of the delicious prasad of the Gurudwara lingered in our mouths as we also visited the mountain where the demon threw the stone from NH-1. You should definitely visit here.
➥Shanti Stupa
The Shanti Stupa of Leh is a very beautiful stupa. It can be reached by car, and for those coming on foot, stairs are built from the main road to the top of the stupa. The Shanti Stupa was built to commemorate 2500 years of the Buddhist religion. It is a white-domed structure with spiral staircases leading to the top.
The outer walls of the stupa are adorned with attractive paintings depicting the life of Lord Buddha. In front, there is a golden-colored statue of Lord Buddha. The Shanti Stupa appears very majestic.
There is plenty of open space around the stupa where you can sit and admire the stupa as well as the beautiful views of Leh city in the valley below. We all felt delighted to see the Shanti Stupa. We spent a long time wandering around the stupa.
➥Leh Local Market
On the last evening of our Leh trip, we went to explore the Leh Market. I really enjoyed wandering around the Leh Market. The Tibetan market here offers locally made jewelry, home decor items, warm clothes, Buddhist flags and idols, and souvenirs for mementos. We also purchased some items to remember our Leh Ladakh trip.
The Leh Market is situated in a very open area. The colorful rows of Tibetan flags adorning the market added to its charm. We enjoyed delicious momos at a restaurant here. The hustle and bustle of Leh Market accompanied by music created a lively atmosphere. If you visit Leh, be sure to explore the Leh Market in the evening.
Every moment spent in Leh was precious. We got to see a lot in Leh city. Each of the tourist attractions here is unique in its own way. Spending time in the culture here was a delightful experience. We felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to come to Ladakh and see its culture and places. Leh city is a vibrant and picturesque city where visiting is a matter of great fortune.
****************
➜ Things to do in Leh: Visit Hall of Fame, explore various monasteries, shop in Leh’s local market, visit Shanti Stupa, indulge in photography.
➜ How to reach Leh: The nearest airport to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, is the Leh Airport. There are two road routes to reach Leh. You can reach Leh from Srinagar via National Highway 1 (NH-1). The other route is from Manali to Leh. Both routes are very scenic and full of adventure. Leh is not yet connected by railway.
➜ Best time to visit Leh: The best time to visit Leh is from April to July during the summer months.
➜ Ideal duration for Leh trip: 2 days / 1 night
Information Source: Authentic information sources available on internet, Various Articles and books on the subject & Interaction with local public.
For more information & feedback write email at : ikanchan2024@gmail.com
