Pangong Lake-Ladakh
Location: Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Pangong Tso, Tibetan for "high grassland lake",
also referred to as Pangong Lake, is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas
situated at a height of about 4,350 m (14,270 ft). It is 134 km (83 mi) long
and extends from India to China. Approximately 60% of the length of the lake
lies in China. The lake is 5 km (3.1 mi) wide at its broadest point. All
together it covers 604 km2. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite
being saline water. It is not a part of Indus river basin area and
geographically a separate land locked river basin. The lake is in the process
of being identified under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international
importance. This will be the first trans-boundary wetland in South Asia under
the convention.
Access to Pangong Lake
Pangong Tso can be reached in a five-hour drive from Leh,
most of it on a rough and dramatic mountain road. The road crosses the villages
of Shey and Gya and traverses the Chang La, where army sentries and a small
teahouse greet visitors. The road down from Chang La leads through Tangste and
other smaller villages, crossing river called Pagal Naala or "The Crazy
Stream". The spectacular lakeside is open during the tourist season, from
May to September.
An Inner Line Permit is required to visit the lake as it
lies on the Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control. While Indian nationals can
obtain individual permits, others must have group permits (with a minimum of
three persons) accompanied by an accredited guide; the tourist office in Leh
issues the permits for a small fee. For security reasons, India does not permit
boating.
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