Pangong Lake Travel Guide
Pangong Lake is situated in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in the Himalayas. It has an average altitude of 4,350 above the sea level. It is also known by Pangong Tso, which means a long narrow lake.
The lake is about 135 km long of which the maximum part falls in Tibet. Only 45 km part falls in India. The color of the water in the lake is peacock blue which changes its color under the bright sun. The base of the lake has beautiful colored stone. Though it is a salty lake still the water in the lake freezes during the winter season.
A huge number of migratory birds are seen here of which sea gulls are mostly seen here. Along with seagulls different other birds are also found here. The journey to the lake from Leh is absolutely amazing. On the way one passes through the Changla pass, Gya and Shey traverses which is just breath taking away.
The perfect time to visit the lake is from May to September. The locals main source of earning here is cattle raising. The beauty of the place here is splendid. Its is necessary to carry identity proof and passport size photographs while visiting this place. Permit can be obtained from Leh to visit the Pangong lake.
How to Reach Pangong Lake
Taking a car from Leh is the only option to reach Pangong. It is a 5 Hrs picturesque journey through the barren landscape. Approximate distance from Leh is 225 km.
Distance of Pangong Lake from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Leh |
225 |
|
Srinagar |
437 |
|
Tso Moriri Lake |
366 |
Weather
Pangong Lake Temperature
- Summer (May to Jun) – Temperatures are mild and range between (2°C) to (19°C). This is when the winter snow starts to melt and the mountain roads are opened for traffic. It is advisable to know the current road conditions before you start your journey
- Monsoon – (Jul to Sep) – The whole of Ladakh being a rain shadow area, the rain fall is very low and that too for small intervals. This is actually the best time to visit Ladakh with the sky remains pristine blue and the temperature is moderate (~ 5 to 20 degree C)
- Winter – (Oct to Apr) – Temperatures are low and remain in sub zero range with few places falling as below as -20 degree C. From late October, fresh sow fall starts and roads get closed for traffic.
- Best Time to Visit – July to September is the best season for tourism
What to See Pangong Lake
The breathtaking beauty of the place is something that draws tourists from all over the world. Though it lies in the disputed area of the India- China border, the line of control passing through the lake, it has had almost no effect on the tourists of the area. This does not however have any effect on the flock of tourists that come throughout the year. It was once a saltwater lake, but the water has now turned salty over time. In winter the lake freezes and the surface almost turns same as solid.
Other Details
What to Do
Take a walk beside the lake, you will see many breath taking views. Also, you can see a few variety of ducks swimming in the lake waters.
Where to Eat
Your only option for food is from the tent or hotel where you are staying. There are not much of outside eateries available
What to Buy
Nothing much is available to buy in this remote place
Get Around
You need to have your own vehicle to move around this place. Local transport is very irregular
Top Destinations - Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh
– Gulmarg
– Jammu
– Kargil
– Leh
– Nubra Valley
– Pangong Lake
– Patnitop
– Pahalgam
– Sonamarg
– Srinagar
– Tso Moriri Lake
– Vaishno Devi
Popular Tour Plans - Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh
4-6 Days
1. Srinagar-Pahalgam (5N/6D)
7-10 Days
1. Jammu-Srinagar-Gulmarg-Pahalgam (8N/9D)
2. Jammu-Srinagar-Gulmarg-Sonamarg-Pahalgam (9N/10D)
> 10 Days
1. Jammu-Vaishno Devi-Patnitop-Srinagar-Gulmarg-Sonamarg-Pahalgam (11N/12D)
2. Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Pangong Lake-Nubra Valley-Tso Moriri Lake-Sarchu-Manali (13N/14D)