Road trip to Leh - Beautiful Pangong Tso, mighty Khardung La, remote Tso Moriri while visiting monasteries along the route covered in four days.
Day 05 : Leh
Wed, 05 Aug 2015
The plan for tomorrow was to drive up Khardung La, but news from local sources stated that Nubra Valley and Khardung La were closed due to road fixing/repair. This changed our plans and we decided to do Pangong Tso first and if the Khardunga La route opened by then we go ahead with it after. Meanwhile, we spent the day checking out the close by Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace and other monasteries. Later in the evening, a casual stroll to the local main market/shopping area.
Day 06 : Leh to Pangong Tso
Thu, 06 August 2015
The roads towards KhardungLa was still closed for repair and so we headed to Pangong Tso. Filled up 3 cans of diesel and 2 cans of petrol in our vehicles and started out. We neared Thiksey monastery, there was a road block due to water flooding over the road up ahead. So we stopped to a side and some of us decided to climb up to the Monastery. Was worth the effort. The others informed us of another route to be used and so did. As we neared Pangong Tso, we got sighting of the yak* and marmots**. Finally, reached the famous Pangong Tso and spent time by the lake side admiring it’s beauty. Night came and the sky was lit up with a gazillion stars and many constellations. A spectacular sight.
*Yak is a long-haired bovid found throughout the Himalaya region of south Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau and as far north as Mongolia and Russia. Most yaks are domesticated for their dense fur, milk and yak cheese.
**Marmots are large squirrels typically live in burrows and hibernate there through the winter. Marmots mainly eat greens and many types of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots, and flowers.
Note: These animals know how to fend for themselves, so please do NOT feed them. Let them be.
Day 07 : Pangong Tso to Shey and back
Fri, 07 August 2015
Was a return journey from Pangong Tso. We visited another monastery at Shey and later back to where we had camped.
Day 08 : Shey - KhardungLa - Leh
Sat, 08 August 2015
We got good news that the route up to Khardung La is opened, so decided to do Khardung La and return, ditching the camping at Nubra valley. We packed up our luggage, bid goodbye to the camp owner and his team. Started by 9:30 am and by about noon, we reached to top. Some of us climbed up the hill by the side of the road for some pictures. It was not so easy, for we had to stop ever so often and breathe in. Having spend some 15-20 mins here, we drove back down into Leh town, stopped at this multi-cuisine open-air restaurant for a hearty lunch. Spent the rest of the evening just walking through the busy market streets in town.
Day 09 : Leh to Tso Moriri
Sun, 09 August 2015
Today it was a drive to Tso Moriri. Smooth tarred roads on the highway till we past a few kilometers from Debring and a left lead towards Tso Moriri it was simply rugged off-roading all the way. We passed Tso Kar, Puga Lake where we could see the hot springs. A little further from here at Sumdo, one needs to take a right (which can be easily missed) that leads to Kyagar Tso. Past this and about 6km from Tso Moriri, you get to a Y junction. The left is tarred roads and is tempting to take but don’t. Take the right and the muddy road ahead leads to a small village of Karzok. With permission from the army camp there, we drive further to reach Tso Moriri. A lovely sight of the lake.
