Ladakh, all is well

The people of Ladakh depend on revenue from tourism. So if you plan a holiday here, you will be doing a big service to the people here, writes Tashi Motup Kau.

The devastating cloudburst in Ladakh on August 6 was over in a few hours. Yes, it’s true that it destroyed large parts of this spectacular region but the magical town of Leh and most parts of Ladakh have recovered and are safe again for tourists. The cloudburst mainly damaged areas south of Leh. The main market and other adjacent areas, including the hotels and guesthouses, remain unaffected.

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The roads to popular destinations were temporarily affected. They are now open and safe for travelling. Tourists have started coming again and they can visit the must-visits in Ladakh: Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri and the old monasteries.

The Leh-Srinagar and Leh-Manali highways have reopened though the roads remain partly damaged. To travel to Manali, one has to now drive via Tso Kar, Mahe bridge and Chumathang because a part of the Leh-Manali highway is badly damaged. Treks to most of the routes are possible, with the only exception of Lamayuru-Padum and Markha Valley.

The people of Ladakh depend on revenue from tourism. So if you plan a holiday here, you will be doing a big service to the people here. The flights have started and Ladakh offers many safe and wonderful holidays till the third week of October. Come and have fun in this beautiful region and in the process help the people.

Tashi Motup Kau is a Leh-based hotelier. The views expressed by the author are personal.