places to visit
For such a historic site and popular tourist destination, Leh has
surprisingly few tourist sights:
* The former Palace of the King of Ladakh (admission 100rps). The
most noticeable building in Leh, the palace was built in the 17th
century, and now undergoing restoration. There's not much to see on the
inside, but there are good views outside.
* Buddhist temples:
o Namgyal Tsemo Gompa - above the Palace, built 1430, is only
open from 7AM-9AM during the morning puja.
o Soma Gompa - just around the corner from Main Bazar, it's a
large modern gompa. It's also the location of the Ladakhi Buddhist
Association, a conservitive political orginisation, with ties to
Hindutva groups.
o Karma Dupgyud Choeling - monastery in the Karma Kagyu
tradition
* The small mosque
* Shanti Stupa : built by a Japanese Buddhist group. This modern
stupa is somewhat kitschy, but still worth a visit.
* Pangong Tso A beautiful lake with deep blue waters, surrounded by
tall mountain peaks. This lake lies on the Indo - China boundary, with
only one fourth of the lake being in India. The road to this lake passes
through Chang-la, the world's third highest motorable road. It's a 4 &
Half hour drive (149 Kms) from Leh to this place. If one is staying in
Leh please leave around 4 in the morning. The problem in reaching
Pangong Lake is that around 5 kms before the Lake, water from the snow
melting blocks the passage by 1 O’clock in the afternoon & it doesn’t
clear up until 8 in the evening. So, unless you want to get stuck there
till late, leave early. The passage is also very tough to cross by car.
So a four-wheel drive car is recommended. Experienced biker’s should not
have any problem.
* Monistaries in Ladakh : Most travellers use Leh as a base to
visit the numerous Gompas Buddhist monistaries of Ladakh
