Category Archives: Travel

Our Experience with Zoomcar – Siliguri to Sikkim

August 25, 2018 allgudthings 14 Comments

For us, Traveling and Road Trips are synonyms. We love exploring each place by driving through it and think that’s what makes up the real Travel Experience. If roads are a fantasy land then road trip are an injection of adrenaline. Honestly, they make us go high. It is like one moment you are passing through the lush green forests; other time you will be holding your car’s steering tight to cross a waterfall or snailing through the continuous ascent/ descent among the barren landscapes. They let us make pit stops to enjoy the drizzle, click various landscapes and take the off roads. The dream was to drive through Sikkim and this came true because of the cool Self Drive concept by Zoomcar.

Experience With Zoomcar - Siliguri to Sikkim

After exploring Spiti Valley, Leh Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan from Delhi by road trips, we have become habitual of the real thrill. But Sikkim was really far and we had limited days. So, we broke the journey into two i.e.– By Air and Road. The first leg; i.e. Delhi to Siliguri (By air) was covered early morning to have the real fun later.

So, before we take you on to the journey of Sikkim, in this post we will describe our Experience with Zoomcar from booking to drop up.

Booking Zoomcar

The Booking process for Zoomcar is quite simple and just 4 step away

Download the app and sign up
Choose the start and end time
Select Pick up and drop location
Choose a vehicle and the kilometer plan

Zoomcar app, will calculate the fare depending upon the number of days, chosen car and kilometers. Further, there are additional filters like with or without fuel. For example, we choose Scorpio Zoomcar with fuel for 9 days and paid around 20,000 for first 965 Kilometers, and 5,000 Rs. refundable security. Above this the additional Kilometers will be charged at Rs. 15 per kilometer.

After all the selection process and chosen package, proceed to pay and also upload a picture of your driving license. Within next 5 minutes, you will receive a confirmation mail and message, stating that your car has been booked. If in any case, your driving license is rejected, try clicking and uploading again, focusing on your picture.

Important Points

We booked the Zoomcar same day we had our flight and got our favorite Scorpio. But luck always doesn’t favor. So, if you have any preference for car do book yours in advance. Otherwise you will get whichever is available that time in the fleet.
Also, look for the discount coupons or offers. We realized after booking that there were certain offers on Couponzguru and Coupondunia.

Pick up & Drop up of Zoomcar

Pickup

Till day, Zoomcar service is not available in Gangtok. So, we were asked to pick up our car directly from Siliguri Zoomcar Parking lot, which lies 15 kilometers from the Bagdogra airport.

As we reached the Parking lot, our Red Scorpio and the customer care executive was waiting for us. He checked our license on arrival and handed us the documents bag, which had car RC, insurance and other important documents in it. Further he asked us to make a quick inspection of the car and make a note of the scratches, dents or issues car had. To be on the safer side, we made a quick short video and took pictures of the car .

Further the customer representative logged into the app, showed us the checklist explaining all the modules, made us sign, handed us the keys and we were all set to go.

Zoomcar, gave us one tank full diesel. Rest we had to add on our own which could be claimed back on producing the bills while drop off.

Drop up

We were explained while pickup to bring back the vehicle at designated time and spot. Rest the app and messages kept on alerting us about the time left to deposit the vehicle.

Zoomcar among the Tea Estates of Darjeeling, West Bengal

Drop up was quite quick. We reached exactly 10 minutes before the time. Their customer representative made a quick inspection of the vehicle to check the car condition. He noted the kilometers driven, and took the car papers and fuel bills from us. Upon finding everything in the good condition he signed off in the app. As soon as he signed off, the car got locked automatically and the process was over.

Our Experience with Zoomcar

Zoomcar proved to be the perfect companion during our Sikkim road trip. We were extremely comfortable, without our own Black Scorpio. The car was absolutely clean and had everything (stereo, charger etc) in functional state. There was full privacy as well as freedom. The company’s policies and procedures were clear and their pickup and drop facility too was quite prompt.

We got our security and fuel charges refunded within 5 days, after all adjustments. The best thing is there was no cribbing or hustle from pickup to drop. So, if you are like us who like doing things at your own pace, then Zoomcar is a great option for you too.

Additional Information

They have late fee charges, so try to reach back at the designated time
Make a proper note of dents or other issues in the car. If there are any additional damages or dents, the charges can go high till Rs. 10,000
Zoomcar app is quite helpful and have all comprehensive checklists. It provides you all the minute detail from registration to insurance papers, spares and tools.
Their all cars are GPS enabled. So, there is no need to worry as they can track down your vehicle in case of emergency or breakdown. They too keep a check on the vehicle speed. In case of over speeding i.e. more than 125 kmph, you get a quick alert. Zoomcar may add fine for the same in your bill
Zoomcar also give you a quick update on the interstate road tax by message. Pay it to be on the safer side and remember these charges are not reimbursable. We got one message while entering Sikkim state from West Bengal and we paid around 700 Rs for 9 days.
Make a note that you cannot drive in Zoomcar to North/East Sikkim because the permits for same are given to the Travel agents only

Note: We paid complete amount for this trip and the views are our own. You too can experience the same by booking here.

India, Tourism, Travel, Uttar Pradesh

Nidhivan in Vrindavan – Mystery or Miracle

July 27, 2018 allgudthings 20 Comments

Vrindavan, once a thick forest area, is today considered as the most spiritual land and a abode of God. The place was once a playground of Lord Krishna and has it’s mention in epics like Mahabharata. Thousands of Pilgrims visit the place every day and some even stay back here forever. There is a temple in every lane and indeed in every house of Vrindavan. Some of these are architectural marvels (like Iskcon temple) whereas others have mysterious stories linked to them just like the Nidhivan in Vrindavan. So, one weekend we planned to visit Vrindavan with our parents.

The first impression of Vrindavan told us there were narrow lanes all over and further by lanes. So, instead of roaming by car, we hired an auto-rickshaw and there began our journey.

Driver– Which temple you want to go. There are 5500 temples

Me– With a jaw dropped, you said 5500, Really!

Driver – Yes, it is a God’s house. Tell soon which side should I take you first, as it is already 5:00 pm and some of them closes by 7:00pm.

Me – Take us to the Temple which is different and has some interesting story.

Driver – Okay! I will first take you to the Temple which gets locked at 7:00 pm. Lord Krishna visit this place and perform Ras Leela (Type of Dance) with Gopis every night.

Me– What are you talking. Stop telling me this fake story. Let’s go and see the place!

After this conversation, with in next 20 minutes, we were at our destination. A small narrow cobbled street, decked up with sweets and local handicraft shops; and hundreds of Sadhus sitting on each sides took us straight to the yellow stone temple; known as Nidhivan in Vrindavan. The street scene here exactly resembled the scenes at Badrinath Temple except the beautiful Himalayas at backdrop there in Uttarakhand.

Nidhivan in Vrindavan

The word Nidhivan is formed from two words; where Nidhi meaning “Sleep” and Van means “Forest”. So, the forest is immured with the night talks and love stories of Lord Krishna and Radha. And we will say a green forest with hundreds of entangled twisted trees.

From the time we stepped inside, the guides were continuously behind us. They were convincing us to show the temple as well warning us to keep our phones, cameras, spectacles protected from Monkeys. Honestly, to us Nidhivan seemed to be a land of Monkey’s.

Entry Gate of Nidhivan

The two huge yellow stone gates, with carvings of peacocks, monkeys and flowers, mark the entry and exit to the forest. Monkeys were sitting on the top and in between the doors, scaring every passer. Our guide assured to take care and made us cross the passage.

Inside Nidhivan in Vrindavan

As we entered the gate, we were still standing on the continuing plinth. From there the stairs were going down, leading to the forest and nothing much was visible from there, except the short heightened dense trees. There the guide started:

This is a Tulsi (VanaTulsi)/ Holy Basil forest. These trees are completely hollow from inside and have roots 5 mm above the ground. No water is given to them ever, but their leaves remain green throughout the year. The ones you see brown also turn green at Night.

At night the whole forest lits up. The trees turn to Gopis at night, when Lord Krishna comes here for Ras Leela and as soon as dawn breaks, the Gopis turn back to Basil trees. The trees shift their positions every day. Several People have tied threads to check this fact but they could never find the tied thread, If you see on the ground, there are more than 1600 holes, which are the clear indicator that trees have shifted their position. The leaves of these Basil trees are never broken and the ones which fell themselves are also collected in these holes. And these Basil trees are always found in pairs.

There are no nests or insects on these trees. The part of these Tulsi trees cannot be taken home and those have attempted to do so, have faced severe consequences. All this sounds interesting but it was equally mysterious too. Listening all this, our mind had started wobbling! We were in total confusion that whether we are in a land of mystery or it is a miracle.

Saint Haridas Temple

From there we continued our walk in between the fenced forest of Nidhivan in Vrindavan to Saint Haridas Temple. The interesting Legend behind this temple is that a divine Saint Haridas; during 15^th century made Nidhivan his base. To impress Lord Krishna (also known as Banke Bihari) he used to play flute. One day the Lord blessed him in his dreams by appearing at the same place in Nidhivan in Vrindavan. So, this place is also known as Prakatya Sathal, which itself means the appearance of Lord Krishna.

The Samadhi or grave of Sanit Haridas is also located on the extreme right end of Nidhivan in Vrindavan.

Lalita Kund/ Well in Nidhivan

Cross the Temple and you will see a small well inside the premises. The story for this is– Once while performing Ras Leela, Lalita the close friend of Shree Radha became thirsty and to quench her thirst, Lord Krishna built a well there with his flute. So, this well is known as Lalita Kund. To us, it looked like a harvesting well to us and was not maintained.

Are you guys also in some different world? But this is not the end, still the other mysteries or miracles have to open up their veil.

Rang Mahal

From there we continued our walk to Rang Mahal or the Shingar (dressing) room of Radha. It is a single room with a bed, silver lining dressing table loaded with ornaments and beauty products. The ritual here is that every day after 7:00 pm i.e. after Aarti, priests puts toothbrushes, sarees, bangles, paan (Betel) leaves, holy water in jug, sweets and a ready bed. Next morning, everything is found scattered as if someone has used it.

So, it is believed that Lord Krishna comes here every night. Gopis and Radha dresses up in Rang Mahal and plays Ras Leela. Till day, no one has seen this happening and the one who has attempted so has either lost his eyesight, voice, mental balance or have died. So, to avoid entries, the gates of temple are closed after Aarti and no one is allowed to stay inside the premises. The locals say that even monkeys leave the premises after Aarti.

Shree Radha Temple

The geometric design floor where Lord plays Ras Leela with Radha comes before the Radha Rani Temple at Nidhivan in Vrindavan. In the temple, there is a diety of Shree Radha playing a flute. It is built in the memory, when Radha stole the flute of Krishna along with her sakhis (girlfriends) Lalita and Vishakha and started playing it. The tree outside this temple had differently entangled branches which resembled the shape of Lord Krishna. People around claimed they could see it, but I think our senses were corrupted by now. We were completely lost in the dilemma of mystery or miracle or is it a money making game.

And there we were almost at the exit gate and the circuit has completed. The entire forest or the land of mystery was visible from here.

Around the Nidhivan Temple there are hundreds of houses, which have their windows opening up to the views of forest. But the people living in it, don’t dare to look or open up their windows after 7:00 pm, because of the fear or belief. Indeed, some of the locals have closed their house windows permanently with bricks. Some also claim to have heard the Ghungroos/ anklets voice at night.

Our Experience at Nidhivan in Vrindavan

Nidhivan in Vrindavan is truly a mysterious land or the miracle of God. Everything seems possible here. The place attracts not only devotes but also the scientists, tourist or travelers. Devotees from all over the world comes here to worship and priest or guide tries to show them God in their own way.

How to Reach Vrindavan

Vrindavan can be reached from Delhi by rail or road.

Rail – The Nearest Railway station is at Mathura i.e. 14 kilometers from Vrindavan and from there hire a cab/ bus or auto to reach Vrindavan. Every 15 minutes an auto or bus runs to Vrindavan.

Road – Vrindavan lies 193 kilometers from Delhi and can be reached in 2.5 hrs via Yamuna Expressway

Best time to go Vrindavan

The best time to go Vrindavan is in winters i.e. from October to March or monsoons. In Summers (April – June), the temperatures are soaring.

Note: Photography inside the Temple was not allowed and we respected that

If you like it, please share it with your friends and family. And do share your experience of Nidhivan with us, we will be happy to know your views on the same.

Himachal, India, Tourism, Travel

Chanshal Pass: Road less travelled in Himachal Pradesh, India

June 29, 2018 allgudthings 27 Comments

Undisturbed green meadows bedded with flowers and medicinal plants, where clouds play hide and seek, where cool breeze makes you hide between the rocks, where crow finds tough to take its flight, where you feel on the top of the world is what describes the not so famous Chanshal Pass.

The temperatures had been continuously soaring in Delhi and we wanted to escape the heat for few days. So, we made a plan to take another road trip to the offbeat place in Himachal i.e. Rohru and Chanshal Pass.

About Rohru and Chanshal Pass or Chanshal Valley

Town Rohru lies 115 Kilometers from Shimla, on the banks of River Pabbar at 5,003 feet. The place is considered as a business hub and is well known for apple farming and trout fishing. Indeed, the Rohru – Hatkoti- Jubbal – Kotkhai belt is known as “Apple Valley” or “Golden belt” of Himachal.

The Chanshal Pass lies 49 kilometers ahead from Rohru at 12,320 feet and is a main connect between town Rohru and twin villages Dodra Kwar in the Shimla district. Whereas the highest Chanshal Peak stands erect at 14,830 feet.

Route from Delhi we took: Delhi – Panipat – Karnal – Zirakpur – Shimla – Theog – Kotkhai –Jubbal – Hatkoti- Rohru

Other Route ahead Shimla: Shimla – Theog – Narkanda- Tikkar – Rohru

So, in total, the scenic Chanshal valley lies 489 kilometers from Delhi, 159 kilometers from Shimla, 49 kilometers from Rohru and 169 kilometers from Chakrata in Uttarakhand.

We (AllGudThings), started from Delhi around 12 pm and retired our first day at Chandigarh. Next day we started our journey from Chandigarh around 11 am, reached Rohru at 7 pm and made our base at Hotel Chanshal, Rohru.

Near Theog on the way to Rohru and Chanshal Pass

Google Maps were showing the further distance from Rohru to Chanshal Pass 49 kilometers and time 2 hours 30 minutes whereas locals confirmed it will take around 4 hours. Listening this all, we were highly confused but being tired we retired for the day early thinking to explore it tomorrow.

Journey to Chanshal Pass

So, next day after having breakfast at Hotel Chanshal, we started our journey to Chanshal Pass.

Route: Rohru – Samoli – Seema- Magwani – Chirgaon- Sandasu- Tikkri- Larot – Chanshal Paass

From Rohru till Village Chirgaon i.e. for 15 kilometers one drives up and down along the river bed crossing colorful villages. The real journey starts only after Chirgaon.

Cross the Chirgaon bridge and the views change drastically. The uphill drive starts with a narrow single lane. Roads are metaled till one point and the maximum speed you can drive is up to 30 kilometers/hour.

Although the drive through the narrow roads is tough but is equally scenic too. If on one side, there are apple orchards then the another side offers breathtaking views of wide valleys with river flowing in between.

Just a few Kilometers ahead stands Village Sandansu. Here, men were soaking in the sun, whereas women looked busy in their households and cattle work. Children were playing cricket on the flattened surface in this beautiful heaven. Everything looked so pure and we were completely lost in their dwellings.

From here ride for some more distance, cross a bridge and the real challenging roads starts for Village Tikkri. The metaled roads become graveled roads and there is a continuous accent with sharp turns. The sky touching deodar trees occupy road on both sides, giving a pleasant woody smell and the variety of flora changes too.

The other last scenic Village on the way is Larot. Its first look made us say- it surely is one of the prettiest Himachal village. The village too has a Himachal Pradesh PWD Guest house which can be booked in advance for accommodation. Till Larot, we covered 18 more kilometers in 2 hours; totaling it to 33 kilometers.

After this starts the last leg of the toughest and most adventurous road trip. The last 16 kilometers here means drive of almost 2 hours. Yes! We are serious not joking. It is a continuous accent and we literally saw Sedan trying to climb but failed. Deodar trees number starts decreasing while climbing and almost became zero at one point. You will be driving continuously along the green mountain reaching almost to its top. If its cloudy on the way, then you will be above the clouds and the views leave you speechless.

From far, we saw the piled up Mani stones and thought we have reached the pass. But it was a recently setup Hotel White Valley, Chanshal (Almost 2 kilometers before the pass). The hotel had 5-6 tents and a shack in front of it. We felt it is a beautiful place to camp but wonder how they will be tackling the supersonic winds there.

We continued our journey further and finally could see some vehicles standing there. This for sure looked like pass and it was – Chanshal Pass.

At Chanshal Pass

As we stepped out from our cars, the winds were blowing at their maximum speeds. Woolens came out in no time and we were dressed to explore it.

Locals had come for picnic; people were doing Natti (Himachal Local Dance). So overall, it looked like a famous spot among locals. Anyways, we started walking towards the pass. People far away were climbing the hilltop. Seeing this even we were curious to reach faster on the top but the landscapes around us were completely irresistible.

We were almost clicking every minute. The place was no less than a paradise. The mountain slopes were carpeted in green with a topping of pink, blue and yellow flowers. And at some places the figurine rocks appeared most charming.

This whole dramatic route tapered to the velvety meadows on the top. From one edge of these open meadows we could see the Pabbar valley and on another side was Dodra Kwar region. What an incredible place it is? We had honestly never seen something as beautiful as this valley.

Further a bit more hike and you are almost at the top point. Here, some folks were testing their photography skills whereas others were sitting in a peace admiring the colors of nature. But yes, everybody was happy in their own way including us and our parents.

We were there for an hour and in the meantime clouds started roaring and rain drops started pouring. We rushed and headed to the single shack for some maggi and tea. After gulping it, we planned to turn back as it was already 3:00 pm.

But some people are crazy like me who can climb and open arms anywhere to breathe. While returning back the views were equally thrilling as they were while going up. The only difference was a thick cover of clouds had captured the whole sky.

We reached down bit faster and were at Chirgaon by 6:00 pm. For sure, it was the most adventurous journey and a journey to remember forever.

History of Chanshal Pass

The Chanshal Pass and connecting villages Dodra Kwar have real interesting history. Imagine, in the era of road revolution, this area was devoid of a motor able road till 2009. The reason for the same was – Locals’ tribes were against constructing road; as their local Deity didn’t permit them for road building. The Deity finally agreed to the proposal in 2006 and the 92-kilometer-long road was laid down between Rohru – Chanshal Pass – Dodra-Kwar region in 2009. The road construction took 3 years because of the inhospitable terrain, high amount of rain and snow.

Best Time to Visit Chanshal Pass

Chanshal Valley and Pass is accessible from May to October. For rest months the roads and pass is completely snow covered.

How to Reach Rohru and Chanshal Pass

Rohru and Chanshal Pass can be reached from Himachal or Uttarakhand.

From Himachal – The nearest airport is at Shimla or Kullu whereas the nearest railway station is at Shimla. From there one can hire a cab, travel by bus or drive own vehicle.

Uttarakhand- The nearest airport and railway station is at Dehradun. From there one can there one can hire a cab, travel by bus or drive by his own vehicle. The other considerable option is to do Chakrata– Tuini- Rohru Circuit.

Remember: if you are travelling by bus; there is a fixed schedule for bus service while going up and down. We spotted one from Himachal around 3 pm.

Important Tips for Road Trip to Chanshal Pass

It is one of the steepest and adventurous trail. So, be really slow and patient while driving
Start your day early to spend enough time at the top. Also plan to return timely in the evening
Remember you will be ascending from 5,000 feet to 12,000 feet and vice versa. So, there are high chances of AMS (Altitude Sickness) hitting you. Be really cautious. Advice is keep sipping small amount of water and if you feel any of the symptoms worsening, make a decision to descend down
Slopes of Chanshal Pass has some medicinal plants. Be cautious, if you are allergic. Especially take care of children who are extremely sensitive
Do carry woolens along as the weather changes here abruptly
Be sure about your vehicle before ascending and descending. The last motor workshop is at Chirgaon
Last Petrol station is at Rohru
Airtel, Vodafone, BSNL almost all networks work perfectly till Chirgaon, whereas after that there is continuous up and down or no network
Last ATM’s services are available at Rohru
The nearest medical facilities are available at Rohru only
If you are planning to stay at Larot PWD guest house, make your bookings in advance
There is only one shack at the top which serves you maggi, tea, coffee, Rice – Dal etc
Also plan to visit Dodra—Kwar village

Overall Experience at Chanshal Pass

Chanshal Pass looks like a paradise where man is actually a part of nature, where there is a perfect blend of facts and myths, where there are stories of legends and realities, where there is a mix of mountains, orchards and meadows. The roads connecting the hidden villages here is beyond imagination. So, what are you waiting for! Go and explore the Pabbar Valley and Chanshal Pass yourself, before it too becomes touristy.

You can check more picture of Rohru and Chanshal Pass on our Instagram account. And, If you have questions, feel free to type in the comment section. We will be happy to answer them.

India, Jammu & Kashmir, Tourism, Travel

Leh Palace- Once the Residence of Royals in Ladakh

June 17, 2018 allgudthings 20 Comments

When we talk about Leh Ladakh, we all talk about the colorful monasteries, vast landscapes, cobalt blue sky, high passes, high altitude lakes and the Tibetan culture there. Nobody talks or indeed tells about the grandeur unique Leh Ladakh Palaces there. During our 13-day road trip to Leh Ladakh, we made it a point to explore some Leh Ladakh Palaces and one of them was the majestic Leh Palace.

About Leh Palace

Overlooking the Himalayan Leh town, on the top of Tsemo Hill lies the former palace or residence of Royals known as Leh Palace. Locally, the Palace is also known as Lhachen Palkar. It is a 9 storied structure one of its own kind erected in the 17^th century. Indeed it was the tallest of all structures during its heydays.

The Leh Palace looks quite distinct from the other Palaces of India – quite simple, yet elegant and its greyish black dun color merges well with the surroundings. Palace has almost no signage board except the history board at the entrance and various board markings on the floor levels. So, scratch your head, make guesses and talk to the guards to find out facts about the Leh Palace, exactly as we did.

Ticket for Leh Palace

For Indians Rs. 15/- per person & Foreign Nationals – Rs.100/- per person. Camera charges are Rs. 25/-

Timings to visit

From sunrise to sunset

History of Leh Palace

The construction of Leh Palace was initiated by Tsewang Namgyal, the founder of the Namgyal Dynasty in the 16^th century and was completed by King Sengge Namgyal, the 5^th king of Ladakh in the 17^th century. It is said to be the replica of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, except being smaller in size.

The Palace was the residence of the Royals till it was attacked by the Dogra forces. During the attack, Leh Palace suffered quite losses and family was shifted to the Stok Palace. Today, the palace stands still but is in battered shape. The restoration work here is carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The architecture of Leh Palace

Leh Palace is a perfect example of Tibetan architecture. It has 9 stories in total, out of which Level 1 and 2 lays separate from the rest Levels. The lower two floors 1 and 2 were used as storerooms and stables whereas the upper floors were used as their residence by Royals.

The Palace has no such plush flamboyant décor, to attract tourists or travelers. It is simply made of wood, mud, sand, and stone. The uniqueness is the way 9 floors are laid down on the slanting hill and its buttressed walls. The materials used in the construction are used with a purpose. The mud keeps the rooms warm in winters and cool in summers. Wood acts as an insulator and prevents loss of heat. Sand is used as a gluing material in between the stones.

Level Third – Entrance

After parking our car, a long cobbled road took us to the main Palace entrance. We thought it to be the first floor but it was actually third. So, the main entrance to the Palace is at the third level. The entrance has wooden pillars and some ferocious Lion carvings on it, decorated with Tibetan clothes.

From there started the long dark corridors with the maze of several small rooms with low entrances. The whole place from inside looked gloomy and some of the rooms had now been turned into the exhibition halls.

The only attraction we saw in these rooms were the huge glass windows which gave the panoramic view of Leh town and Polo ground. And the irony is now the Polo ground is just a taxi stand. We also heard the guide describing that King used to sit here and watch the Polo match. Isn’t that the example of a luxurious life?

Level Four – Khatok Chenmo

The end of the corridor on the third floor had a steep staircase that took us straight to level four. The open courtyard in the front here, offered the magnificent view of Leh town whereas the sides had beautiful, geometrically designed windows and overhanging balconies. The windows were decorated with yellow prayer flags, making it highly contrasting and appealing. On the other end, I could see the staircase leading to the top floors and the curiosity was juggling in me was to reach the top soon.

Before we could climb to the next level; we saw the signage reading Duk – Kar- Lhakhang, also known as the temple of the Royals. Being hesitant is removing our shoes, we skipped going inside the temple. But the multiple pair of shoes outside completely depicted that Temple is still active and used for offerings. On inquiring we got to know, the Temple houses a statue of Lord Buddha and several ancient religious literatures. And from there, we further climbed the stairs to reach the next level.

Level Five – Hall of Public Audience

Again the zigzag, low lying corridors behaved no less than a maze to us. Indeed, I and Tashi were lost in our own direction and simultaneously were searching for each other. Here we saw a huge naturally lit room i.e. Hall of Public Audience, now used as an exhibition hall by ASI. There were several murals and paintings in the room. Some of them appeared to be more than 500- 600 years old and were now in dwindling state.

Level Six – The Royal Apartment

Level 6 appeared to be a more open and spacious courtyard. Also. the view of Leh city was widening with an increase in every level. In the center of Level 6, stood the top surface of the Hall of Public Audience, giving ample light to the room. On one end of the courtyard, there is a The Royal Apartment, secluded from everything whereas the other end leads to the trailing stairs to the next levels.

Level Seven- The Last Courtyard

The steep stairs from Level 6 took us to another higher level of the courtyard, offering the most thrilling panoramas of Leh city. The views were so contrasting that probably one can get confused looking at his own pictures. If one side of the Leh city is painted in green, the other side is probably painted in the dun shades and the front had a tint of both.

From here, you also get a perfect view of Tsemo Namgyal Castle, built by King Tashi Namgyal in the 16^th century.

Level 8 and Level 9 of Leh Palace

The last two levels 8 and 9 looked more broken down as compared to the rest levels and were closed for the public. The Guard sitting at the 7^th level told us that probably these levels also had been the royal rooms used for their own living.

Level 1 and 2

Now the only left part was Level 1 and 2. We wanted to go down and explore it but it was already time for sunset and Palace to shut down. So, we just clicked some shots of the same from level 3 while exiting. And these levels were used as stables and storehouses of the Royals.

How to reach Leh Palace

Leh Palace lies almost 2 kilometers away from the main Leh Market on the hilltop. There are two options to reach here. One is by driving till the palace and second is climbing the steep slopes from the Leh market. The first one is easier but the second one is more adventurous. The climb makes you pass through the Ladakhi houses and shops and it can be covered in 20-25 minutes.

Some Important Tips

Leh Palace is dark from the inside, so Nyctophobic people be prepared for the journey
The doors are really small. So, mind your head. Indeed, you will also find the boards quoting “Mind your head” with in the palace
Carry a water bottle to stay hydrated as it really gets tiring while climbing up and down
Wear flat shoes and comfortable clothing
Remove shoes before entering the Temple
Listen to the guards and don’t enter the prohibited areas as they have a valid reason to stop you from entering them. Palace is almost in broke downstate, so be safe
Don’t lean against the overhanging balconies and windows

Our Opinion

The visit to Leh palace is a journey to the primitive world. Its starking grand building is quite unique as compared to the other palaces of India. It clearly depicts the royalty and the power Royals had enjoyed. And the best is views- if on one side you see bustling Leh town, then on the other is Stok Kangri and Zanskar Himalayan range. We still can’t get over the views we had enjoyed and lived there.

That was all about our experience. Have you visited the Leh Palace or you want to visit it? Do share your thoughts on the same in the comment section. You can also pin it or share it with friends and family.

Other articles you can Check from Leh Ladakh series are:

Leh Ladakh Road trip from Delhi

A walk with Indian soldier at Kargil War Memorial

Nubra Valley: The Valley of Flowers in Ladakh

A day at White Lake Tso Kar in Ladakh

Attractions on the Srinagar Leh Highway

Ladakh-The land of High Passes

All you need to know about Leh Ladakh Inner Line Permit

Story of Gata Loops

Dos and Donts for Ladakh Road Trip

Hemis Monastery: Biggest & Wealthiest Gompa in Ladakh

Sonamarg, Kashmir – The Golden Meadows of India