How Safe is Ladakh for Tourists?

♫♫ There ain't no mountain high enough,

Ain't no valley low enough,

Ain't no river wide enough,

To keep me from getting to you… Oh Ladakh! ♫♫

Well, it seems high mountains, low valleys and wide rivers are not quite the deterrents for travel anymore, but if anything is, it’s man-made - politics, boundaries, wars and a whole lot of other hindrances that you must have faced. There has been a lot of buzz in the media lately about the Chinese incursion in Ladakh and has affected travel plans of a lot of travellers planning a trip here. If you too are one of them, don’t be scared my friend and set out for the magical experience called Ladakh! No, I am not suggesting you to acquire Ninja skills before setting foot on this surreal destination. A pair of good shoes, sunglasses, a warm jacket and of course, a camera is all you need to prepare for, when going to Ladakh.

Book Your Leh Ladakh Tourism Packages Now

Contrary to the media hype, Ladakh is pretty safe and secure. Even during the Chinese incursion, the touristy areas of Leh and Ladakh were far away from where a Chinese platoon had set up camp. The areas under invasion have seen several hundred similar events each year in the past during which the other parts of Ladakh have not faced any disturbance. Having said that, if you were planning to travel to Chushul, Marsimik La or Chummur, you will likely have to revaluate your plans, since it is highly unlikely that you would be issued permits in the first place and even if you get them somehow, security forces at various check posts en route can still stop you and order you to turn back.

The last strand of anxiety regarding Ladakh’s safety has been resolved peacefully with the two sides agreeing to restore status quo along the Line of Actual Control in the western sector of the boundary, as it existed prior to April 15, 2013. Diplomacy between India and China ended the three-week long face-off with both sides withdrawing its troops to previously agreed position on May 5^th.

Tourism in Ladakh hasn’t suffered much and most hoteliers are well-prepared for influx of tourists in the summer vacation. Travel portals are booking Ladakh deals and packages on a regular basis and hopefully, numbers are going to get just better by the end of the season. Being one of the safest parts in India, feel free to travel to Ladakh and fall head-over-heels in love with it.

In a blessed place as Ladakh, with its colourful Tibetan flags flying amidst powder-white snow and the collective sound of rolling prayer wheels, everything around is divine, spiritual and safe!

Want to plan a trip to Ladakh? Check out MakeMyTrip’s exclusive packages and book before the prices go up!