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Nubra Valley Tours |
Click Here for Nubra Tour Packages
The
Forbidden Valley
Between China and Pakistan
lies the Nubra Valley, a little patch of Indian
land. The Indian government has constructed
a road up to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, thus
opening up the few villages of the Nubra Valley
and making it possible for the adventurous to
take a plunge into this fragment of greenery,
nestling between the Karakorams and the Himalayas.
At the foot of the Karakoram range, this northern
part of Ladakh is very close to the Siachen
glacier, the largest and most closely guarded
glacier in the world. Here, between the crevasses
of this snowy giant, men have traced international
lines that have become borders of tension, prohibiting
visits to this place. The Siachen meets the
Shayok in Ladakh and gives rise to a valley
that is astoundingly green for this region where
the landscape is generally of and mountains
of the colour of the desert.
Reaching the Nubra Valley after a slow climb
north of Leh, is a grandiose event. The Beacon
Highway continues along the side of the mountain,
tracing fine curves in an immensity of rock
where, at around 4,600-4,800 metres of height,
one comes upon specimens of alpine flora: carpets
of moss dotted with pink and blue,edelweiss,
gentians and wild mint . And higher up, ever
higher up, is just the mountain alone, of ice
and granite. This is Khardong La, the highest
mountain pass in the world at 5,603 metres.
Some mortals, sheltered and freezing, members
of the Indian armed forces, look after the upkeep
of the road while we view the gigantic doorway,
this border between the domain of the Indus
and the Nubra Valley.
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GENERAL INFORMATIONS
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HOW TO GET THERE:
Two government buses run per week between Leh-Diskit
and Leh Panamik. However, it is distinctly preferable
to be independent (hence to have a jeep) as in
the valley itself there is practically no means
of transport.
ACCOMODATION:
There are PWD guest houses in all the villages.
They are managed by the government. At Panamik,
Sumur, Hundar and Diskit, some hotels will open
in the summer of 1996. It is already possible
to find lodgings with the inhabitants.
WHEN TO GO THERE:
The road is open all the year round; summer is
however the best period. The fields are then green
and yellow and the weather is perfect.
In September, in the entire valley, the Nubra
festival takes place, with folk dances and traditional
music. The Diskit gompa festival takes place in
January.
WHAT TO CARRY:
Nubra is very warm in summer; light clothing is
good enough. However, for the mountain pass, carry
along a pullover. Carry a sun protection cream
and a powerful antimosquito balm; the mosquitos
are particularly voracious at sunset.
PERMIT:
Foreigners require permits. Its duration is for
one week for a minimum of 4 persons. It is easily
obtained from travel agents or from the office
of the Deputy Commissioner near the Polo Ground
at Leh. There are no charges for the permit. |
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