Tanglang La

Upshi in Ladakh lies along the Indus River Valley at an altitude of 40000 feet and it is the highest civilized settlements in India. Cycling from Upshi to Mahe Bridge and then from there to Tso Kar is a favorite activity for a lot of people. It lies 47 kms to the southeast of Leh and Tangalag La along the Leh-Manali highway and Gya is lying to the south of Upshi. Once it was a part of an important trade route. According to the latest census, Upshi has 26 households in it and a population of 128.The residents of Upshi are the main feature of this town or village. They welcome the guests with a warm smile always and take care of the days the guests spend their; they provide food, stay and they are ready to help them whenever necessary. Goat farming is the major profession the local people do. Also, the literacy rate of the people here is quite attractive and they are really happy to indulge in conversations with the passersby. There is a helipad as well in the village, if you wish to enjoy the bird’s eye view of the village, then think of this opportunity.Height: Upshi is situated at a height of under 40000 feet.Location: Upshi is located less than 47 kms away from Leh and lies along the Leh-Manali Highway.Best time to visit: Any time during the year is suitable to visit Upshi but winter will have rough climatic conditions.

A place nobody will miss during the journey to Leh from Manali is Karu, a town, a junction where the natives are found in huge numbers and it is the starting point of Chang La. Throughout the route, one can find many chortens and the splash of multiple hues make Karu a different setting altogether. From Karu the road to Hemis Monstery also starts. Once you ride past the junction, you will be welcomed to the land of bliss where the nature is flanked by the lofty mountains around, the whispering streams and the flabbergasting valleys. The towering rugged mountain peaks are creating big walls around the town to protect it from the external humdrum. Karu is famous for the Army Goodwill Public School started with the support of Tangtse Brigade in 1998. The school was started with the aim of increasing the literacy rate of the village and the management provides education in a subsidized fee structure as well.  Also there are plenty of guesthouses in Karu making the travel to Leh more easy and free of tiredness. The friendly people in this village would be happy to welcome their guests anytime.Height: Karu is located at an altitude of 3500 meters above the sea level.Location: On the Leh-Manali Highway, you can ride to Leh touching Karu. The distance between Karu and Leh is about 38 kms.Best time to visit: The route to Leh would be motorable only in the months from June to October as in all other months, the roads will be blocked by huge snow-flakes.