Leh Ladakh In April
Overview
Leh ladakh gains life in April with clear blue skies and bright days. Spring has arrived and winter has almost ended. It is one of the best and most preferred months for a vacation in ladakh. The month shows stunning sights and the adventurous journey to the place makes you come back with an adrenaline pumped body. There are valleys, monasteries, lakes which you can explore to get an insight into ladakh’s heritage. With tourism restarting again in April, the place is not much congested, helping you in getting good deals in your choice of accommodations. Undoubtedly, you can plan a trip to leh ladakh in the month of april. You just need to keep a few things in mind before doing so like the unpredictable weather conditions, transportation available etc. in this page, we have provided everything needed to know before you plan your maiden trip to ladakh.
Weather And Temperature In Ladakh In April
With snow starting to melt in the initial days of April, Leh Ladakh enters into spring season after being stagnant the whole winter. You won’t experience heavy snowfall but if you are lucky enough, it may happen in the high altitudes. But you will still see snow around you. If you visit Ladakh in the April end then the snow has almost melted clearing the trails. The Ladakh weather in April, overall, is pleasing with temperature beginning to rise. Ladakh temperature in April goes maximum up to 10-15°C and lowers down to -10°C minimum depending on the part of Ladakh you are exploring. Days are mostly warm but nights can get quite chilly and it would not hurt to layer yourself well as April is still cold. Carry some thermals, a warm jacket. Few pairs of socks, gloves etc to be comfortable. Chilly winds can still be experienced on some days of the month. Before planning a trip to Leh Ladakh in April, you need to take a look at the weather and temperature conditions as they are unpredictable. Having kept them in mind, you can pack accordingly.
Places To Visit In Ladakh In April
Leh Palace
Influenced by Tibetan and Indian architecture, Leh palace in Ladakh is a part of Ladakh’s heritage. It has a huge history and was built by king Sengge Nemgyal in the 17th century. It is one of the top attractions of Ladakh. The palace has numerous paintings that were there from about 400 years ago. The 9-storey palace, also known as ‘Lachen palace’, is situated at the top of Tsemo Hill in Ladakh.
There is a monastery there where a statue of Buddha can be seen. It remains open throughout the week including Sundays from 8 am to 6 pm depending on sunrise and sunset. It portrays a lot about the history of ladakh.
Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey monastery is located 19 kilometres away from Leh on a top of a hill in Thiksey. The Buddhist monastery is one of the largest moanstry of central Ladakh and is open between 7 am to 7 pm the whole week including Sundays and also on national holidays.
Its main attraction is the statue of Maitreya Buddha which covers two out of the 12 storeys of the complex. The place is famous for the Gustor festival which is held annually. It is celebrated in the month of October- November making it the perfect time to visit it. You can watch the traditional Cham dance that is performed by the lamas during the festival. A trade fair is held too where the barter system can be seen.
Hemis Monastery
This buddhist monastery is situated on a hill in Hemis on the banks of indus river, 45 kilometres away from the capital of Ladakh, Leh. The architecture of the place is in Tibetan style. It is believed that it existed before the 11th century. Hemis monastery has a museum. Hemis festival is celebrated every year in june. It is held to honour Lord Padmasambhava who dedicated his whole life for the well being of others.
Mystic mask dance also known as cham dance is performed during the ceremony too. The monastery opens everyday at around 8 am till 6 pm with one hour break from 1-2pm. It is accessible to visit 7 days a week.
Pangong Lake
This high altitude salt water lake gained immense popularity when it got featured in the movie ‘3 idiots’. The climax scene was shot here. The lake spans in eastern Ladakh to west tibet with one- third of its part residing in indian continent. This 134 kms long and 5 kms wide lake freezes completely during winters. Summer is the best time to visit Pangong lake. it has melted completely and you can just soak in its breathtaking beauty. Brahminy ducks can be seen here.
One thing to keep in mind is that you do need Inner Line Permit (ILP) before you make a visit. This is because the lake falls under Line of Actual Control(LOC). So make sure to have it. The timing to visit the lake is 8am- 5pm. Boating is not permitted here due to safety reasons and only groups are allowed with a certified guide.
Tso Moriri Lake
Tso Moriri lake is the largest high altitude lake that is entirely in the Indian subcontinent. Changthang region of Rupshu valley is the location of this stunning salt water lake. Here too, you need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit the lake. It is located 245 kilometres away from Leh.
The lake is 29 kilometres in length and is 8 kilometres wide. Since the lake is a high altitude one so proper acclimatisation is required to avoid high altitude sickness and comfortable journey. The lake freezes in winter hence make your plans in summer season to enjoy the best of it. Migratory birds make visits here too.
Zanskar Valley
Zanskar valley is present in the foothills of northern Himalayas in Ladakh at an altitude of 12154 ft. It has numerous treks, ancient monasteries, and spots for other adventurous activities. The valley is a semi-arid region, 105 kilometres away from Leh. Chadar trek is one of the top treks of Zanskar valley which is visited in winters as the river is frozen this time.
The temperature goes down to -30°C and it snows heavily. But generally, summer is considered as the best time to make your visit to the valley. The place offers adventures like water rafting, trekking as mentioned before, paragliding, motorbiking etc. It has numerous monasteries such as Sani monastery, Phuktal monastery and Stongdey monasteries.
Dikshit Monastery
Located in Dikshit, Nubra valley, 115 kilometres away from Leh, dikshit monastery is one of main attractions of Ladakh. Slightly above the monastery, Lachung temple is present which is one of the oldest temples to be known so far. Hunder monastery is a nearby place. The hall of the monastery has a large statue of Buddha and below the monastery, Maitreya Buddha’s statue is built.
The interior of this monastery is artistic, beautiful and full of paintings and it takes about 1-2 hours to explore it. At an altitude of 10,308 ft. the building is famous for a festival called ‘Dosmoche’ or ‘festival of scapegoat’ in the month of february. Cham dance is performed by lamas. The monastery faces the Shylock river and forms a stunning view of Dikshit village.
Nubra Valley
Nubra valley, originally called Ldumbna (valley of flowers) is the northernmost part of jammu & kashmir. It is about 105 kilometres from Leh. The valley is popularly known as Orchards of Ladakh. To reach Nubra valley, tourists need to cross Khardungla which is the highest motorable pass of the world.
When in Nubra valley, you can visit nearby monasteries like Ensa, Samsteling, Dikshit, Hunder monastery etc. June to August is the most preferred time for Nubra valley as temperature ranges between 8 to 20°C. You can see sand dunes in the cold deserts of the valley. Bactrian camels are double-humped camels found only in Ladakh and camel rides are popular here too.
Turtuk Village
Turtuk village falls in the Karakoram range of Ladakh. The place holds strategic importance as it is one of the gateways to Siachen Glacier. The village has a long history as it came under India only after 1971. Previously, it was occupied by pakistan.
It forms the inhibition of Balti people. You will only see greenery all around. 205 kilometres away from Leh, Turtuk village is the last outpost of india. Trekking, sightseeing, and visiting waterfalls are some of the activities that you can do here. Talk to locals about their history and to know about life on the other side of the border. It is one of the remotest places of India.
Magnetic Hills
A wonder in itself, magnetic hills are known to defy gravity. It is located on the Leh-kargil highway, somewhere 30 kilometres from Leh city. Sindh river, flowing to the east of the hill forms the perfect backdrop. It was believed that it is a gate to heaven and whoever would be lucky, would be pulled by it. Although, all this remains a mystery. Moreover, it is said that it has the ability to pull resting vehicles towards it. People have seen this phenomenon. There is a yellow spot there where you can park your vehicle in neutral and experience it. The best to visit would be from July to September. Some of the nearby attractions are the Hall of Fame, Pathar Sahib, Alchi Monastery etc.
Hall Of fame
On your way to magnetic hills, hall of fame is built as a tribute to the brave martyrs of Indo-Pak wars. This is a place to remember the soldiers and feel proud. It is just 4 kilometres from Leh and situated on the Leh-kargil road. Everything related to the soldiers was kept in the building. Their images and things are there too. Quotes, letters written by them, arms, etc are there to know the history. The Hall of Fame remains open from 9 am to 1 pm and after an hour break, from 2pm to 7 pm. The parade at 7 pm is something that is unmissable there.
Shanti Stupa
The white stupa is on the top of a hill in Chanspa, Leh. It was built in 1991 by a japanese buddhist, Bhikshu. This two level structure has relics of buddha at its base and main deity of Golden Buddha too.
It is just 3-4 kilometres from Leh city and is one of the major tourist attractions of Ladakh. Built to commemorate 2500 years of Buddha, the place aims to promote peace and prosperity to everyone. It is open from 5 am to 9 pm. Sunsets and sunrises are the perfect time to visit the stupas in Ladakh in april.
Leh Ladakh Bike Trip In April
Leh Ladakh bike trip in April is possible but only in the latter part of the month as kashmir-Leh route is declared open by then. There’s not much snow on the roads and routes are cleared in Ladakh in april. Avoid planning it in the initial days of April as there’s still plenty of snow all around. Leh Ladakh bike trip is every rider’s dream but you do need some extra planning to do it successfully. Bikes like royal enfield have big engines but if you have a regular bike even then you can complete it. Get your bike ready for the hilly regions of Ladakh.
Get every part checked and repaired. Servicing the bike before starting the trip is a must. The terrains of Ladakh are very different from the city roads. You won’t even find a bike repairing shop for a long distance there. It is highly advisable that you know your bike, how to repair the basic problems like changing tires if it went flat. Caring some spare tubes,puncture repair kit, spare fuel, is crucial as petrol pumps are quite rare to see sometimes. Carry all the ID proofs including your driving licence.
Things To Do In Ladakh In April
Go On Trekking
Ladakh is full of adventurous treks from easy ones to some challenging ones too. Treks like Sham Valley trek are suitable for even children as it does not go very high in altitude and is stunning in every way. One of the most popular treks, Chadar Trek, is undertaken in winter.
The Zanskar river freezes during this time. Trekking is the most chosen adventurous activity in Ladakh and it is highly rewarding too in the form of scenic views and much more.
Engage in Photography
Ladakh is the perfect destination for every nature-photographer. Not a single frame would disappoint you and the views are just picture perfect. Although at some places, you have to pay a negligible amount to click pictures but they are so worth it.
The lakes, the mountains look so dreamy in Ladakh in April that you can not resist standing in front of them and getting clicked.
Visit Monastery
The whole union territory of Ladakh has numerous monasteries. Naming a few such as Thiksey Monastery, Hemis Monastery,Dikshit Monastery, Elsa Monastery etc.
There are different types of festivals celebrated at these monasteries like Hemis Festival, Dosmoche, Gustor etc. Cham dance is performed in some of these monasteries during festivals. These monasteries are generally related to Buddhism.
Try Local Cuisine
It is rightly said that you can know a lot about a place by its food. Ladakh’s cuisine tastes delicious and has a lot of varieties. Some of the popular local dishes are Momos, Khambir, Thukpa, Skyu, Chhurpe, Tingmo etc.
The beverages available are Cholak, Tangdur, butter tea and much more. Wild garlic is used for flavours and stinging nettles is used in soups. You can’t miss Apricot jam which is both tasty and nutritious.
Enjoy Bike Ride
Who does not dream of a Leh Ladakh bike trip once in their life? The answer would be everyone because it is that thrilling and fun.
Ladakh offers the best bike rides, moving further and further along the rugged plains, high inclines etc. bike trips from may to october is the preferred time as roads are clear and there is not much snow but road trips of ladakh in april are equally pleasing. It generally takes about 15 days if you are starting from Delhi.
River Rafting
Ladakh has various types of activities to do that are adventurous and safe too. River rafting tops the list. Zanskar and Indus river are the water rafting spots in Ladakh.
They range from I-IV and are accessible to beginners as well as experienced. River rafting gives you sights of remote villages of Ladakh and snowy peaks. June to September is the best time to do river rafting in Ladakh.
Take A Yak Safari
Yak safari is something that is Ladakh-specific. The largest animals of Ladakh, yak, may be scary by looks but they are very friendly.
Yak safari is quite prominent among tourists in Ladakh. The ride moves through lakes, glaciers, valleys, streams etc. always keep in mind that you can not upset the yak as it is fierce in such circumstances and can cause you much harm. Other than that, yak safari is a one-in- a lifetime experience and one should definitely do it.
Attend Hemis Festival
Hemis festival is celebrated every year in June in Hemis monastery. It is held to honour Padmasambhava.
Cham dance is performed during the festival by lamas. People from nearby villages and tourists gather in the monastery to witness it. This festival is the reason why June is the most preferred time to visit Hemis monastery.
Shopping In Leh
Ladakh has hundreds of shops lined up to make a purchase. Shopping in Leh and talking to shopkeepers and locals gives you the genuine knowledge of the beliefs and traditions of the place.
Some of the best shopping places are Moti Market, Women’s alliance of Ladakh shopping hubs( completely run by women only), Zanskar arts, Tibetan handicraft emporium etc. these places have Tibetan articles, the famous apricot jam, winter shawls etc.
Explore Wildlife
Ladakh is a home to many animal species, mostly himalayan. Animals like himalayan brown bear, himalayan wolf, snow leopard reside here. They are protected by some national parks, sanctuaries etc.
Hemis National Park, located in Ladakh, is the largest national park of India where you can see wildlife of Ladakh and know about them. Hence this is something you can do in Ladakh in april.
Essential Information
How to reach Leh Ladakh in April
- By flight: flights are the safest and quickest way to reach Leh Ladakh as there wouldn’t be any fear of cancellation. Book them 2-3 months before the trip. This way you can get assured seats and some money too. The only airport in Ladakh is Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport. Most of the airlines have flights to Leh Ladakh from major cities.
- By road: as mentioned above, there are two highways, namely, Kashmir Leh Highway and Manali Leh Highway. Both of them open in summer only and are closed during winters for almost 7 months. Kashmir Leh Highway is declared open by may end but Manali Leh Highway is closed in April too. Since the major passes receive heavy snowfall and are fully blocked hence, winter is not the time to plan Ladakh trip.
Tips to visit Ladakh in April
- The first tip would be to plan a Ladakh trip at the end of April.
- Before planning the trip, make sure to check if Kashmir-Leh Highway is declared open because that is the only way.
- Inner Line Permit(ILP) is mandatory to visit the restricted areas of Ladakh. Make sure you have it in advance.
- Acclimatisation is very necessary before going on high altitudes.
- Keep ID proofs and driving licence( on a bike trip) to avoid any legal problems.
- Walking and trekking in the rugged terrains of Ladakh is not easy. Maintaining good fitness and cardiovascular health is crucial.
- Follow a simple itinerary to have an enjoyable trip with at least 2 buffer days.
Road conditions of Leh Ladakh in April
There are generally two ways that can be opted to reach leh ladakh in april. The first one would be from srinagar. The Srinagar Leh Highway opens in the mid or end of April. It does get closed temporarily sometimes due to snowfall in Zojila Pass but you can plan a Ladakh trip by the end of April after checking the opening announcement of the highway and pass and its traffic.
The second way to reach Leh Ladakh is via Manali. But the Manali Leh Highway remains closed throughout April, so it is not possible to choose. Talking about the internal roads, they are open throughout the year with temporary closing sometimes but you would not face any problem to visit places in Ladakh from Leh city.
Transportation options
- Private vehicles: private vehicles are one of the perfect ways to explore Ladakh and its places. Cars are safe and totally permitted.
- Motorcycles: bikes are a good option to go to Ladakh and visit places. They are also arranged by a kashmir travel company as well.
- Shared taxis: you can hire a taxi and share it with other tourists to make visits to different attractions of Ladakh.
Payment options & connectivity in Leh Ladakh
Not just for April, it is valid whenever you visit Ladakh. Always keep some cash to buy things that you might like. ATMs are very rare to find sometimes. Cash comes handy. As far as connectivity is concerned, networks are not very strong in most parts of Ladakh except the Leh city.
It is advisable to share your itinerary with someone you trust and carry a satellite phone in case of an emergency especially if you are going trekking.
- Ladakh is cold in April so always carry warm clothes to layer yourself well. A windproof and waterproof jacket is a must.
- Keep everything in a waterproof, spacious backpack.
- If you are going on a trek in Ladakh, then trekking gears, a reusable water bottle, GPS, sturdy and comfortable trekking boots etc.
- Carry some basic medicines for stomachs, headaches.
- Carry some energy bars and snacks if you are going trekking.
Challenges on Ladakh trip in April
- Harsh weather conditions: nights are quite chilly in April and you can still experience snowfall in some parts of Ladakh like Zojila Pass.
- Limited accommodation and services: though, you will get a place to stay but you would not the best hotels.
- Altitude sickness: trip to Ladakh takes you to very high altitudes. Sometimes higher than 13000+ ft. Hence, not acclimating well can cause altitude sickness which leads to nausea, headaches, stomachaches, vomiting etc. this can make your trip less-enjoyable as you wouldn’t be fit and healthy.
- Limited public transportation: Due to snow on roads still being cleared in April, you would not find public transportations more often.
- Road conditions: Manali- Leh highway remains closed in April, this totally eliminates the option to visit Ladakh via manali. Kashmir-Leh highway sometimes faces temporary closure due to rainfall.
- Limited outdoor activities: again due to snowfall in some places in Ladakh, activities like river rafting do not start in April. The rivers are mildly frozen and chilling.
Accommodations Options
You can easily find plenty of hotels in April in Leh. The scenario has changed. You might not have gotten any place opened a few years ago but hotels are open now in April and you can get one as per your liking. Since the Ladakh trip has just resumed after getting shut out the whole winter, there’s not much crowd which can get you good deals in hotels. You just have to negotiate a bit in person.
You can also book in advance through online websites. The same thing applies to other places like Kargil, Kashmir etc. there are lodges available too but the best thing would be to find a nice affordable hotel by negotiating in-person.
