6 Night Leh,1 Night Nubra Valley

Leh
Cut away from the real world, Ladakh is an unexplored land of mystery and beauty. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, remote valleys and wild expanses, there is something about this high-altitude desert that makes people 'always want to go' but never dare to. Step into Leh, Ladakh's capital city if you long for some adventure and you will understand why one trip here is a life-altering experience.

The journey up to Leh is a test of endurance. However, this little backpacker town isn't too hard to settle in. The biting chill here is infused with the pleasant chatter of tourists, students and monks in long red robes. Souvenir shops and pizzerias open their doors, despite being a breathless 11500 ft above sea level. Settled at the foot of the Namgyal Tsemo peak, fluttering prayer flags add colour to the barren, snowy mountains that rise and fall around it. Thought that life here was slow and dull? You couldn't have been more wrong!

Places to see
Get in touch with its culture by taking a break from the monotonous routine and enjoying some mountainside entertainment. The Hemis Gompa is a riot of colour when the Hemis Festival (Hemis Tsechu) celebrations are underway in July every year. The atmosphere comes alive in fiery tones of red and yellow, oranges and blues as locals dress up in costume, perform mystical Chaam dances, and sway to temple music to the cheering crowd. While the festival is slowly losing its authenticity with growing tourism, you could visit the newer Ladakh Confluence, which celebrates Ladakh-Leh's affinity to music, adventure, culture and the arts. Add that splendid finishing touch with a bowl of Chang, the region's own traditional, country liquor.

Thiksey Monastery and Matho Gompa are other cultural treasures that one can visit. The Matho Gompa is famous for its Winter Oracle Festival. The Stakna Gompa, and the Hemis - Leh's wealthiest monastery are must visits.

Tibetan architecture and Buddhist culture are an integral part of town, and add color to Leh's desolate landscape. The Nine Storey Palace (Leh Palace), built in the 17th century by King Sengge Namgyal, who ruled over the Old Kingdom treasures a fine collection of beautiful murals. The Dhukar Temple on the fourth floor houses the image of Goddess Tara and several religious artefacts that you could look through.

About 140 km from the bustling hub of Leh is the Nubra Valley, well known for its white sand dunes and the double humped camel. The drive to the valley opens exciting vistas and passes through the world's highest motorable road - Khardungla Pass (5602 meters). Fondly called 'K-Top' by the locals, rugged ridges and steep falls test your will and stamina to fly high. Avid bikers must try this! Breathlessness is a common feeling, the weather will play fair and foul when it feels like it, and honking Indian Army trucks may block your way though the pass. But when you sit at that legendary tea stall at K-Top, snack on some instant noodles and drink a nice, steaming cup of tea while you chat with an Army Jawan or two, you will agree that there is no better feeling in this world.

Once in the valley, a ride on a double humped camel is what most travelers try their hands at. Hunder and Diskit monasteries are other interesting places that one can visit.

Another popular and must visit place for a traveler to Leh is the beautiful, serene and soothing Pangong Lake. The very presence of the lake at such a height (approx 18000 feet) in between the stark mountains is a source of great joy. Only half the lake is within the Indian region and it is quite an experience standing at its side, knowing you can never get across.

Things to do
Adventurers get set. The higher you climb, the more you feel like you are in heaven! Trekking trails that start from town are one too many. Drive up to the ancient village of Chilling and cross the great Zanskar River by rope way into Skiu village in the desolate Markha Valley, one of the highest plateaus in the world. The valley's rich wildlife will keep you enthralled for days. Camp at the base of the Kang-Yutze peak and revel in solitude.

Life in Leh unfolds at a leisurely pace. Leave your worries behind and enjoy simplicity. Run with the Chang Paa (Khampa) nomadic horsemen as they charge their steady wild horses through the hillside. Say hello to a naughty Himalayan Marmot or a Kiang (wild ass). Indulge in shopping at the Leh Bazaar. Watch snake charmers enthral crowds as they make Cobras dance.

Leh's lunar landscape dazzles with wild roses, poplars, shimmering glaciers and gurgling streams. Fall asleep on a moonlit night in an outdoor camp, beneath a star-studded sky. Haunting and mysterious, a trip here is sure to change your life.

Places to eat
The Main Bazaar in Leh is a great spot to try local delicacies. Sample some authentic Gur Gur Cha (butter tea) which Ladakhis swear by, or a slice of Khambi (local bread). If that doesn't satisfy you, try a plate of steaming Tibetan Momos. The German Bakery has splendid baked goods with honey and cheese. Indian food is readily available in the Main Bazaar. Thukpa (noodle soup) and Momos are a staple diet in most Tibetan restaurants but others also love Indian snacks like Chana Dal with Puri, and Samosas. A few local dishes that you must try are Pava (loose dough with vegetables), Mok Mok (steamed dumplings), Skyu (wheat flour vegetable dumplings) and Cholak (barley flour dough with Ladhaki tea).

Surprisingly, although Leh is a small hill town, there are plenty of places where beer is served over the counter. Tourism has generally had a healthy response among the locals. But if you want that taste of local living, sip on some Chang, Leh’s own home brewed beer and you will not regret.

Good restaurants where you can enjoy cleanliness, comfort and cuisine are few in Leh. The Mona Lisa Restaurant serves amazing Pizzas, Momos, Chicken and international cuisine. Mostly, it is the ambience here that will bowl you over; a quiet garden with lanterns and a restless breeze. Ah. The Dreamland Hotel has a good restaurant. If you are looking for good Chinese or Tibetan cuisine, this is the place to be.

The Leh View Restaurant serves excellent biryani and sizzling Kashmiri delights and is snug right in the middle of the Main Bazaar. The much-hyped Tibetan Kitchen is good value for money and is definite to set you drooling in no time. Amdo, which is right opposite, has lovely Ginger Tea in the evenings. The restaurant at the Oriental Guest house has a delicious buffet breakfast. Summer Harvest Restaurant is another little gem.

Shopping and popular buys
Handicrafts and embroidery are everywhere you look in Leh. The bazaar is a great place to pick up a small keepsake for home. Prayer wheels, Buddha statues, thangka paintings and masks are popular buys for tourists. The Tibetan Market near the Old Leh Road is a good place to buy clothes. Moti Market near the bus stand too is a lovely place to shop and linger. The Tibetan Handicraft Emporium, Ecology Center in Changspa and the Women's Alliance have wonderful pieces for your display cabinet.

Tibetan silver jewellery and a box of apricots are special gifts to take home.

Traveler Tips
The best time to visit Leh is from May to September. Weather at this time is pleasant and the average day temperature ranges from 20 to 30 Degrees Celsius. It is important to acclimatize for a day at Leh if you are taking a flight to reach there.
Always carry chocolates, energy bars and drinking water wherever you go.
Toiletry like medicines for nausea and headache, moisturizers and sunscreen lotion are a must on any trip to Leh. Another necessary item is a torch in case of power shortages. Warm clothes are mandatory.
A pair of good walking shoes is another compulsory addition to your travel kit.

Nubra Valley
Flung far in the northernmost point of India, across the formidable Khardung La Pass, the journey to Nubra Valley, an unseen Himalayan crown jewel, is a test of time. Trailing the historic silk route between China and Central Asia, the valley is ridden with secrets from the ancient world. From timeless romances between merchants and maidens, to forgotten graves of the Yarkandi merchants in Hunder village, life along the banks of the Nubra River is a living testimony to India's strange past.

Nubra Valley is a standing example of India's self-acclaimed multiculturalism. Dotted with Buddhist villages, the area is primarily Muslim; has traces of the fallen invaders; and keeps alive a forgotten Balti culture where many races live as one.

The main village, Diskit, is home to the 350 year old Diskit Gompa, the largest monastery in Nubra Valley, and is lush with apricot trees. Tourists will love rummaging through small stores in the bazaar, gorging on local delights and enjoying the view of the mountainside. Time grinds to a halt here. Not just with harsh snowfall and landslides, which are common during long winter spells, but also because the area is so remote, there is hardly any communication with the outside world. Yet, the peace is refreshing.

The road to Hunder trails through golden sand dunes. Double humped Bactrian Camels stop now and then, eyeing you curiously. Enjoy a camel ride across the sand, watching the landscape slowly change colours as evening approaches. Sumur, a town further away, has a collection of interesting Buddhist relics. Panamik, the last village on the circuit is sensitive and shy except for a few gurgling hot springs that promise to cure you of disease and worry. In those days, camel caravans stopped here for a break before heading into the Karakoram and Kun-Lumountains. Also stop over at the 250 year old Ensa Gompa that is nearly at the end of the Earth. Look out into the wide expanse. A few miles from here, is the Siachen glacier, the world's highest battlefield.05-0525-08