Page 149 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

LAD AKH , JA MMU & K ASHMIR  147

7 Nubra Valley Tour

The tour of the Nubra region starts from Leh and
follows the old caravan trade route to Central Asia,
a “feeder” of the famous Silk Route. It takes in the
world’s highest motorable mountain pass – the
Khardung-la, pretty villages with banks of wild
flowers and stands of willow and poplar, valleys
covered with seabuckthorn shrubs, stretches of
sand dunes and double-humped Bactrian camels,
remote monasteries, and medicinal hot springs. The Karakoram Range, visible from the top of
the Khardung-la
6 Panamik
A major halt on the caravan
trade route, Panamik also
has medicinal hot springs. This
Panamik lady is seen in her
local traditional dress.

3 Hundar Lhayul Gompa
The fascinating vista of sand
dunes between Diskit and
Hundar can be explored on
the back of a Bactrian camel. Nubra

Shayok
4 Shayok-
Nubra confluence
Flat sandy plains
surround the
confluence of
these two rivers.

5 Samstangling Shayok
Overlooking the Kargil
green fields of Sumur
village, this 19th-
century monastery 2 Diskit
has impressive images. Leh Diskit, which has the
region’s only bazaar,
also has a 17th-century
Tips for Drivers monastery with
Leh
Length: 195 km (121 miles). exquisite murals.
Getting around: This tour takes
three days. Diskit, Hundar and 1 Khardung-la
Panamik have guesthouses and From the top of this pass (5,578 m/18,301 ft)
camps, for overnight stays. there are superb views, south over the
Travel permits: Visitors must Zanskar Range, and north to the towering
obtain an Inner Line Permit from Saser Spur of the Karakoram Range.
the Deputy Commissioner, Leh,
(01982) 252 010, to travel in
the Nubra region. Permits are 0 kilometres Key
granted only to groups of four 8 Tour route
or more, and should be carried 0 miles 8 Other road
all the time.
River

146-147_EW_India.indd 147 26/04/17 11:43 am