Ladakh: The Cold Desert

                            India is blessed with variety of Amazing Places to Visit. The places with a perfect blend of  beautiful vacation spots draw a large number of visitors from India and also from across the world. Each place has its own charm that attracts the tourists.
In my opening blog, I am hereby sharing my wonderful experience  during my visit to the beautiful place called Ladakh located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. The beauty of the place cannot be explained in words. The place has got sparkling water bodies and rivers, has a romantic mix of hills with snow clad peaks. This blog is all about my experience with this heavenly place.

1. How to reach:
Ladakh is the third region of Jammu and Kashmir along with two others 1. Jammu and 2. Kashmir.
Leh is the biggest and most populated town of the region having a good connectivity through air and land except for the months from November to April when the roads remain closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall.

a. Road:
Leh is connected through road from two sides and one can visit the place either through Jammu-Srinagar-Kargil route to Leh or one can choose to travel via Manali-Rohtang-Keylong - Jispa route.
the best time to travel through roads from both sides is from May to September and it also the best time to visit the place. At this time of the year, the nature open up its arms for the visitors and welcomes them with lush green pastures, wildlife and awe inspiring mountains and it seems that all of  these have just came out of the winter sleep. The sunshine gives you energy and you feel cozy out there. But at the outset of the month of June, it starts getting hot in the day.

b. Air:
 Moving above the mountains in an aircraft gives you a feel of being out of the world. The shining peaks look like a vast white colored blanket which is spread all across the area you can see. There is good connectivity between Leh and Jammu, Delhi, Chandigarh and Amritsar.

2. Places to Visit
Major places of attraction nearby Leh:
a. Khardungla
b. Nubra Valley
c. Tsomoriri Lake
d. Thiksay Monastry
e. Shanti Stupa
f. Magnetic Hill and Many More

On the Banks of Pangong Lake

There is one remarkable fact about Ladakh that no other place gives you so much of calm and serene environment. The place also fills you with patriotism when you see the personnel of Armed Forces camping in this inhospitable climate. This fills your heart with pride and respect for all those who are guarding the frontiers of the motherland following the true spirit of Indian Armed Forces. During my stay in the region, I found so many memorials of Indian soldiers who laid down their lives either due to the harsh climate or due to conflict.(Indo-China,1962). One such memorial is in Chushul which depicts the sacrifice of Indian soldiers in defence of their motherland. A Mere visit to such place showcases the cost we have paid to remain free and protected.

                                                                Chushul War Memorial

                                                                         

                                                                             Nubra Valley

I will visit this place again when the time permits to have the taste of this mesmerizing place..!!!!