Lake Attractions of Ladakh
¤ The Magnificent Lakes
Nestling In The Ladakh Region
What would you expect to see when you get to the highest lake in
Ladakh that is situated at a height of 4,250m and stretches into Tibet
for way over 120km? Well, the Pangong Tso is all that and more.
Pangong Tso literally means ‘hollow lake’. The sometimes
emerald-green and sometimes midnight-blue pool of water, with shores
covered in foliage that one could spend hours exploring, is girdled by
soaring peaks as high as 6,500m. You have to cross the Chang La (Pass)
at a height of 5,599m to get to the lake. Be prepared for a ‘not
exactly smooth’ tours as some stretches are rather backbreaking.
You will cross the villages of Durbuk, and Tangste that has a small
temple.
You could stay at the campsite in Mugleb. Situated at a distance of
about 150km from Leh, Spangmic is the last village you are allowed to
touch according to the guidelines of the permit. You could try your
hand at riding a yak at one of the villages and pretend to be a
highland bloke.
¤ Salty Tso Kar -- White Lake
Past the Thanglang La (Pass) and a soak in the hot springs of
Chhumathang, you arrive at the salty Tso Kar or the ‘White Lake’,
so named perhaps because of the parched salt that cakes the shores of
the lake.
Tso Kar is at a distance of 155km from Leh. You can camp at the
nearby Thukje village and also tour the monastery of Thukje. Further
along the road are the hot springs at Puga.
The road finally cuts through the Rupsu Valley to meet the 27km long
and 8km wide Tso Moriri, or Mountain Lake that touches a hamlet with
the same name. The lake looks up to an endless sea of mountains.
The region is home to the nomadic tribe called Khampas who can be
seen in the summer months with their large herds. The area also boasts
of an impressive range of wildlife and is one of the better places
where you could try and spot marmots, foxes and the Tibetan wild ass.
The region is also known to be the only nesting place along the
length of the Indus, of the bar-headed geese, black-necked cranes and
Brahminy ducks. Don’t miss Tso Moriri if you are a wild life
enthusiast. |
