Pangong Lake

Pangong Lake – The only thing India and China have in common: its blue, brackish waters extend across the Indo-Chinese border. It was only few years ago that the government decided to allow tourists to visit this natural beauty. The Lake is 134 km long and only 40% of it lies in India, while the rest extends into China.

Its mesmerizing, serene beauty captivates everyone as it stays in your minds long after you’re returned home – those white sands crunching under you feet, marmots peeking over rocks and dancing on small patches of green, the bar headed geese forming patterns in the heaving waters, the birds returning home as the golden orb (bigger than you’ve ever seen) dips into the water, your feet taking strange shapes as the transparent ripples coalesce at the surface – these images and sensations stay on long after memories of the rest of your trip have faded away.

Orientation

Pangong Lake is situated about 160 km East of Leh at an altitude of 4,250 meters. Spangmik is the village nearest to the Lake, the only village on the banks of the lake, and it also provides good accommodation for tourists.

Weather

The weather at Pangong is cold through the year, particularly so in winter when temperatures can drop as low as -30 degrees and the lake freezes completely despite its salty water. It can’t even be reached in winter.
The best time to visit is between June and August before the onset of winter when temperatures are still bearably cold. The average temperature in these months is about 12 degrees.

Getting There/Route Information

Distances:

Leh – 160 km
Manali – 576 km approx.

By Road

From Leh road is the only way to get to Pangong Lake. An approximate 5 hour drive from Leh, the road is bumpy, winding and treacherous and one has to face quite a few trials on the way there. One for instance is a stream that flows across the road and is known to carry even the heaviest of vehicles in its surge. But it never seems too dangerous with a good driver. The road passes through some of the most beautiful places in Ladakh – the Changla Pass (The worlds 3^rd highest motorable road) and the Thiksey Village (a pretty Tibetan Village) among others.

By Air

The nearest airport is at Leh.

 

Pictures of Pangong Lake

 

Things to See and Accommodation

The Spangmik village is a quaint little nomadic village where the residents breed goats and sheep for a living. These people have only recently given up their nomadic ways and settled down. Enjoy watching herds of Pashmina goats running on the slopes of the village, or being milked; watch the graceful black necked cranes on the banks of the lake and enjoy rolling those cold lake pebbles around in your palm. If you’re lucky you might even find a fossil shell or a crystal among the pebbles.

Although there is a J/K tourist department resort – the Pangong Tso Resort in Spangmik, those who like to rough it up should opt for the tent accommodation which is always easily available.

Vital tourist information

Since Pangong Lake is as close as you can get to China, it is always under heavy security and tourists require permits from the state government to visit. These permits are available at Leh. An advice to you is to take abundant photocopies of the permit as officials at every check-post keep one.

Driving to Pangong is a challenge; don’t attempt to do it yourself. Hire a licensed vehicle with a registered driver.

Get acclimatized to the high altitude first. Spend a few days at Leh and then venture into the journey to Pangong. Drink lots of water continuously to keep away those searing headaches that the altitude can cause. Visit your family doctor before taking the trip for an emergency dose of altitude sickness medicine.

In Ladakh, always carry heavy woolens, thermals et al. you don’t want to be caught unequipped by an abrupt change in weather. Don’t forget good trekking shoes, and several pairs of warm socks.