Pangong Lake is a renowned brackish water lake situated on the border of India and Tibet. Pangong is the most established and prominent lake in the Trans Himalayas. The route to reach Pangong Lake from Nubra Valley is very tough and challenging. It takes around 6 or 7 hours to reach Pangong Lake, depending on the road conditions. Tourists consider late summer the best time to visit Pangong Lake because the route to Leh remains clear and free from climatic disturbances. The lake looks spirited after sunrise, and the perfect blue color produced by the reflection of the empyrean strikes a beautiful glow in the surroundings.
How to reach Pangong Lake?
- Travelers can reach Pangong Lake from Nubra Valley via the Shyok Boulevard.
Travelers can reach Pangong Lake from Nubra Valley via Shyok Boulevard, the preferred route for paying tribute to the lake. The road to Pangong Lake is fantastic and gives the feeling of a lifetime adventure. On the way, tourists experience green fields and alpine meadows. - Travelers can also reach Pangong Lake via the Chang La circuit.
Travelers prefer the route via Chang La Pass when they return to Leh. Reaching Pangong Lake from Leh takes about six hours from Chang La Pass. This route is more dangerous due to the narrowness of the convoluted road and requires master driving through the artery to surpass the challenges.
The best time to visit Pangong Lake is from July to September.
The best time to visit Pangong Lake is during July, August, and September because the road is closed due to landslides and bad climatic conditions. Travelers mostly plan their trips after proper research, knowing about the meteorological conditions beforehand. Travelers cannot see the lake during the winter or spring seasons. The temperature around the lake remains low, and the lake completely freezes during the winter.
How is the view from Pangong Lake?
- Small alpine glaciers can be spotted near Pangong and in the region enclosing Chang La Pass, but they have shrunk in shape and size. Surface albedo is the reason for these small glaciers’ melting and their shape and appearance. Snow accumulation also contributed very little to the volume and composition of these glaciers. These glaciers typically appear in clusters, and the glacier mass balance and volume have reduced considerably due to extreme climate change in the region.
- There are mountains encircling the Pangong Lake that have remained unconquered for decades. The color of the mountains is primarily brownish and blackish, but some are chocolate brown and orangish in appearance.
Pangong Lake looks different in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
The color of the lake keeps changing due to the reflection of the empyrean. The lake looks splendid at dusk and momentarily appears, turning green to blackish. This color is, however, temporary and changes throughout the day till twilight. Some people may find it conventional, but he is blessed if an individual understands the hidden wisdom and charm of traversing around Pangong Lake.
PANGONG LAKE FAQ
The weather at Pangong Lake varies and changes, but the temperature remains mostly below 10 degrees.
Tourists wishing to stay near Pangong Lake can spend the night in tents. These tents have all the basic facilities, so tourists should not worry about accommodation.
Tourists can plan a trip to Pangong Lake from Leh. They can rent reserved vehicles from Leh and reach the lake in 6-7 hours.