Ladakh in Winter – Time Frozen in a Perfect White Out – Introduction

What is the best time to visit Ladakh, the answer even 3 years back was July to September. But it kept changing with time, 2 years back it was May to October, a year back even between April to December. So we thought why shouldn’t we extend it little further, how the Pangong Tso ‘s perfect blue would be, how the remote Changthang would be, how the passes like Chang La would be, how mighty Indus would look like in winter. Only one thing could answer, a trip in winter but how is it possible to make a trip in winter that too in Ladakh? Day’s maximum and minimum temperature both would be in minus, very few hotels would be operational, the place is completely landlocked and depends on aerial connection for long 5/6 months. But then to get all the answers, we have to go there.

We thought of doing Chadar this year and booked air tickets for Jan end to Leh sometimes last year August. Then in December as usual we understood our other commitments won’t allow us to take off during that time and finally we cancelled the trek. But hoping on hope, that some miracles might happen, we didn’t cancel the flights. First time in my life miracle happened and 3 of us took a decision to go for a Ladakh trip in winter in almost 24 hours notice.

What happened next would be best described by snaps, let’s roll it on:

Aerial View:

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Semi Frozen Indus:

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Indus and Zanskar meets at Nimmu:

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Chadar formed on Zanskar River:

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Golden Sunrise:

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On the way to Chang La:

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Near Chang La Top:

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Frozen Water body towards Tangtse:

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Completely Frozen Pangong Tso – A Dream Comes True:

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See the strength of frozen ice, you can easily drive your Scorpio on the Lake:

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Shakti in evening:

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Painting on a white Canvas – A Cloudy day in Leh:

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Nimmu during snowfall:

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Scorpio on Kargil – Leh Road : Almost zero visibility but whatever you see is White except the Car:

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Magical Indus managing its flow even in harshest winter:

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The breath taking views:

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Near Khaltse:

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Snow scape:

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Entering Dha:

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Locals of Dha:

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Next: Ladakh In Winter – Few More Magic Moments