Khardung La pass is a gateway to some of the most enchanting and unexplored landscapes. This famed mountain pass is very popular amongst adventure seekers and regular tourists alike. Located in the Leh district of the Indian Union Territory, Khardung La is situated at an elevation of 5,359 meters. It is hailed to be the highest motorable pass all across the globe. Historically speaking, Khardung La is quite significant as it lies on the major caravan route that links Leh to Kashgar in Central Asia.
During the second world war, an attempt to transfer war well to China was made through this route. Khardung La was constructed in the year 1976 and was made accessible to public motor vehicles in the year 1988. The pass is maintained by the Border Roads Organisation and is of great strategic importance as it is used to carry goods to the Siachen Glacier.
Khardung La is located 39.7 Kms from Leh by road. It does not have an airport so you’ll have to take a flight to leh and from there you can board a taxi to reach Khardung La Pass. Here are few other options to reach Khardung La Pass From Leh.
Mainly the months between March-May and September -October are the best to visit the Mountain Pass. Here is the breakdown of a few other seasons when you can visit Khardung La Pass.
– March-May(summer)
The region witnesses an abundance of sunshine, with the temperature lingering around 21°C during summer. Nights are relatively colder than the day time as the temperature experiences a significant drop down to 7°C or below
– June-August(Spring)
Khardung La is inaccessible during the months of June and August because of the incessant rainfall.
– January-February
Wintertime is equally challenging as the region witnesses heavy snowfall, making it impossible for tourists to access the road. The temperature drops to -30 degrees Celsius during winters.
– The distance between Leh and Khardung La is 39 kilometres.
– The first 25 kilometres until the South Pullu Checkpoints are very smooth. There might be some bad patches here and there, but the road is in good condition overall.
-The road starts to deteriorate past the South Pullu Checkpoint until the very top. It consists of melted snow, broken rocks, landslides, etc.
-Moving towards the Nubra Valley, the road is again in a very bad condition until the North Pullu Post. After crossing the post, it starts to get better.
Gurudwara Pathar Sahib is a highly revered gem located 25 miles away from Leh town on Kargil Leh Highway. Devoted to Guru Nanak Devi Ji, the founder of Sikh Religion, the sacred place beautifully commemorate his visit to Ladakh. Dating back to 1517, the Gurudwara houses a boulder with imprints of the head, shoulders and backside of Shree Guru Nanak Dev.
Not only the Sikh and Hindu devotees but Tibetans also bow down with full devotion at the Pathar Sahib Gurudwara. The latter worship the presiding deity here as Lama Nanak or Guru Gompa Maharaj. A legend is associated with the place and makes it a famous pilgrimage spot for the people visiting Leh- Ladakh.
On flipping the pages of History, it can be found that Guru Nanak Dev marked his presence here in 1517-18. Upon his onward journey to Punjab via Srinagar, after visiting Sikkim, Nepal and Tibet, the holy soul decided to take rest at this place.
However, as per the folklore, the stay of Guru Nanak Dev Ji was not so easy. A cruel demon existed on the opposite hill and used to frighten the people. He was infamous for eating people after killing them. Thus, the natives pleaded to the almighty for help. Upon hearing their plights, the revered saint decided to help them. Eventually, he settled down on the bank of the river below the hill where the unkind creature dwelled. The first Sikh Guru started delivering sermons to people and hence became popular. This increased the rage of the demon and he decided to kill Guru Nanak Dev.
In order to fulfill his plans, he threw a huge rock on the respected Guru who was meditating at the foothills. But as they say, ‘Jako Rakhe Saiyan, Maar Sake Na Koi’, and when the person in question is God himself, miracles are obvious! Baba Nanak was not harmed even an inch as the rock transformed like molten wax and took his shape. This rendered the demon in an utter state of shock. Instigated with anger, the devil again tried to implement his plan. This time he made an attempt to kick the rock with all his strength. Again, a miracle took place. The foot of the ‘rakshasa’ got imprinted on the molten stone. Acknowledging the powers and the immortality of the Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the demon stopped troubling him and the natives. Later, Lord Nanak returned and this event was forgotten for over a long haul.
It was in the late 1970s that the holy boulder came into the picture again during the construction of the Leh-Nimu Road. Because of this, the construction work was paused and painstaking efforts were made to move the rock. Even bulldozers were incorporated to pave the way by removing the huge stone. However, everything went in vain. That night people including the driver of the bulldozer had envisioned of a supreme power ordering them not to move the boulder. The entire incident was brought into the attention of the army officers who didn’t pay any heed to it. They apparently decided to blow the rock.
To the surprise of the army officer, he also had the same dream of not to move the rock. Ignoring the dream he started working for the same the next morning. But, this time, he along with other workers were confronted with several Ladakhis and Lamas. They narrated the entire incident of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and unveiled the mystery behind the sacred rock. Later, a Gurudwara was built over there with the help of locals, army officials and Lamas. The holy site came to be known as Pathar Sahib Gurudwara, one of the best Sikh places of worship. Since then, the pilgrimage site that shelters the boulder is worshipped by both the Sikh Sangat and local Lamas. The Indian Army is continuously making efforts to maintain the shrine from the day it was constructed.
The Pathar Sahib Gurudwara outstands amongst rest of the Sikh gurudwaras. The sacred shrine remains open from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, all the days of the week.
Upon reaching Leh, one can take the taxi to cover a distance of 25 km from the road which is in good condition.
Besides basking in the bliss at the Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, one can also plan to explore some of the attractions nearby.
Consult your doctor before embarking on a pilgrimage to the holy site.
Since the place is a holy place, dress appropriately and cover your head before entering in the Gurudwara.
It gets unbearably cold during the winter season. Thus, make sure that you get acclimatized well in advance. Carry all the necessary essentials with you.
Return to Leh by the evening.
Who isn’t fascinated by the miracles of nature? If you too love the idea of them and wish to experience some of nature’s best wonders, Magnetic Hill in India would be the right choice for your next adventure. This place is especially recommended for those who are planning a trip to Leh Ladakh.
So, what’s so special about this place? Well, the Magnetic Hill in Leh is famous for its gravity-defying occurrence. As a natural phenomenon, gravity attracts things towards the earth, which means they fall downwards when let free. However, at this majestic destination, objects appear to be moving uphill when let free. So, what is the explanation for this? Let’s start with geography.
Magnetic Hill lies somewhere along the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar National Highway in the Trans-Himalayan region at an altitude of 14,000 feet. Sindhu river flows to the east of the hill, making it a scenic location to capture photographs. All Leh Ladakh travellers would agree that Magnetic Hill is one of the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh.
The distance from Leh to Magnetic Hill is around 30 km and it is marked by a yellow signboard that reads “The Phenomenon That Defies Gravity”. There is a white marked box on the road to park your vehicle inside it. When parked in neutral at the indicated spot, vehicles begin moving forward at a speed of almost 20 km/h. The road along which the vehicles move is known as Magnetic Road.
Magnetic Hill in Ladakh, India is a sibling to Mount Aragat in Armenia. Mount Aragat, just like the Magnetic Hill, seems to be going upwards when it is actually going downhill. This mysterious phenomenon has created a lot of buzz and attracts tourists every month who come to find explanations for the occurrence. The locals too have interesting stories to tell about Magnetic Hill in India that make this phenomenon all the more riveting.
There are a number of theories surrounding the Magnetic Hill in India. Some of them hold logic and some are stories told by those who live there. However, all these are theories and we don’t know for sure if they are true.
Residents believe this road to be a literal stairway to heaven. It’s their belief that the road was once used to send the doers of good deeds or ‘karma’ to heaven. As for those who failed their karma, they never found their way to the land above. Other than this theory, here are two compelling theories that can resolve the mystery of the Magnetic Hill in India and its upward movement:
The most popular one, yet not proven, is the theory which says that the hill has a strong magnetic force emanating from within, as a result of which it pulls vehicles in the vicinity towards it. It is also said that the magnetic force in the area is so strong that fighter planes of the Indian Air Force exclude the route around Magnetic Hill in Leh from their flight plans so that they don’t face magnetic interference on their devices. This has been experienced and testified by many travellers from across the world.
As awe-inspiring as it sounds, the Magnetic Force Theory has never been verified by scientists, and according to a few researchers, a more widely accepted theory (and the most likely one) is the Optical Illusion Theory. This theory says that the Magnetic Hill in Leh is a “Cyclops Hill” that has no magnetic force emanating from within; rather, it is just an optical illusion. According to this theory, the Magnetic Hill looks like an upwards slope, but in reality, it goes downhill and it is an optical illusion that makes it look like an upslope. So, when you see the vehicle going uphill, it is actually going downhill.
There are various ways through which one can travel to the Magnetic Hill in Leh Ladakh. Here are details about the air, train, and road routes, so that you can choose your travel as per your convenience:
Air travel is one of the easiest methods to travel to Magnetic Hill in Leh Ladakh India. The nearest airport, Leh International Airport, is located at a distance of 32 km from the place. People from all locations across the country can easily reach the airport as it is well-connected with major airports in India. From the airport, travellers can take a taxi to reach the destination.
Train travel is not the best mode of transport for those who wish to see the Magnetic Mountain in India, as the nearest railway station to Leh Ladakh is Jammutawi, which is around 700 km away from Leh Ladakh. However, if this distance doesn’t bother you, you can easily reach the place from Delhi. Jammu Tawi is well-connected to Delhi by railways. After reaching Jammu Tawi, you can cover the remaining distance to Magnetic Hill in Leh Ladakh by booking a taxi. Alternatively, you can rent a car or a bike, which is the most preferred mode of transport by travellers just for the experience of it.
If you are travelling from the National Capital Region of India, the Manali-Leh highway makes for the easiest and the most convenient option to reach Magnetic Hill in Leh. From Himachal Pradesh, many public and private buses frequently run to Leh Ladakh. Travellers also prefer to travel from Manali to Leh in their own vehicle, which is at a distance of about 490 km. So you’ve picked your choice of transport and have reached the territory. Now what? Once in Ladakh, hit the Leh-Kargil-Baltic National Highway. After crossing 30 km or after 40 minutes’ drive, you will be able to spot a yellow board saying ‘Magnetic Hill’. This is your destination. On the way towards the Magnetic Hills on the Leh-Kargil National Highway, you will find the Hall of Fame and Gurudwara Pather Sahib, which are other tourist destinations apart from the Magnetic Mountain in Leh.
The area surrounding the infamous Magnetic Hill in India is majorly a barren region, located about 30 km away from Leh. Therefore, apart from tourists, it is more or less an isolated place. While you may find a few homestays in the area, it is advisable to check in to a hotel at Leh City and drive to the hill from there. Also, there aren’t many dining or takeaways options in the area, so make sure you carry enough food before you set out on your journey to this mystery hill. While it is recommended to take packaged food, protein bars, etc. while travelling to the Magnetic Mountain in India, do keep in mind not to pollute this amazing phenomenon of nature by littering the area with empty packets and other garbage.
The best time to visit Magnetic Hill in Leh is in the summer months from May to September, as the city may experience snowfall during the rest of the year. Some travellers prefer to take their bikes, cars, or any other vehicle to Leh and make it into a road trip and enjoy the scenes along the way. For others, we have Leh Ladakh tour packages that they can take and enjoy their trip without a worry.
The largest of the 10 provinces of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh is bordered by the Karakoram chain of mountains in the north and the Himalayas in the south. With the great Indus flowing right through Ladakh, the province is divided into Leh, the capital, Nubra, Zanskar, lower Ladakh and Rupshu. The many distinctive features of Ladakh are its uplands, craggy, barren cliffs and plateaus. Governed by a climate that provides about 50mm of rainfall each year, Ladakh is cold and dry. One, therefore, will be faced with a long and bitter winter of frozen landscape but yet very beautiful, and a short, hot summer when the precious glaciers melt.
Location
First Approach- Srinagar to Leh
The first route is reaching Ladakh from Kashmir Valley through Kargil, around 434 km away. This route remains open from the starting of June till November. Zoji-La pass, at an altitude of 11,500 feet, is a gateway to Ladakh. Regular ordinary as well as deluxe buses are run by Jammu & Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (J&K SRTC) between Srinagar and Leh. Hire a car, a jeep or a taxi from Srinagar. If you are traveling in groups, renting a bus for Kargil, Leh, and Padum (Zanskar) from Jammu & Kashmir SRTC at Srinagar is another option.
Second Approach-Manali to Leh
Since 1989, Manali-Leh road stretching to 473 km, open from mid-June to early October, has been the second road route to Ladakh. This road takes you via the desert plateau of Rupsho, ranging between altitudes of 3,660 m to 4,570 m. A number of high passes fall on this route, including Taklang-La, the world’s second highest motorable road, 17,469 feet (5,235m) above the sea level. Ordinary and deluxe buses run between Manali and Leh every day and are managed by Himachal Pradesh Tourism (HRTC) and J & K SRTC. This journey is of around 2 days with night camping in Serchu and Pang. Another option is to hire a jeep or a Gypsy.
Intra-region Travel
Travelling through public buses that have a fixed schedule and route is the best option. This option is pocket-friendly and comfortable too. Another option is of hiring a taxi by fixing its price. It is necessary to take the services of registered travel agency in making your transportation arrangement is you are travelling to Tsomoriri Lake, Nubra, Pangong Lake, Tsokar Lake and Dah-Hanu.
Distances by Road
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