HUNDER–A MAGICAL TOURIST DESTINATION IN LADAKH

While on a Leh Ladakh tour, visitors will get to witness numerous miraculous mountains, fascinating snow-clad peaks, magical valleys, enchanting villages, and such other mesmerising natural marvels; and Hunder Village is one of them! More than being a natural wonder, this stunning village in the Nubra Valley showcases a stark difference about what most of us think about Ladakh!

Unlike most of the tourist places to visit in Ladakh that are adorned with snow-capped mountains, Hunder Village takes the pride of being one of the highest deserts in the world. Seated at an average altitude of 10,000ft, this part of the pictorial Nubra Valley entices visitors from across the globe to witness, explore, discover, and enjoy its cold desert areas.

A magic wand for those who desires for a quintessential journey across Ladakh, and unforgettable memories from their Leh Ladakh tour packages, a visit to Hunder Village is a must. Jotted with a plethora of striking sand dunes, this part of the country is also famous for its dune safaris on the double-humped Bactrian camels.

Whether a leisure seeker, romantic couple, group of family or friends, a visit to Hunder will satiate everyone’s yearnings for sure. With so much to offer to the visitors, this picturesque hamlet truly deserves a visit, and is included in almost all the Leh Ladakh tour packages.

Location

Situated within the periphery of the scenic Nubra Valley, Hunder Village is around 7km from Diskit. It is located around 160km from Leh and can be reached through the Khardung La Pass, the highest motorable pass in the world. Other popular tourist destinations like Srinagar and Kargil are located around 540km and 337km from Hunder Village.

Best Time to Visit Hunder

Though the charm and allurement of Hunder Village is more captivating that most of the tourist places in Ladakh, it’s climatic conditions are almost same with the rest. Owing to heavy snowfall and drop in the mercury level, winter cannot be called ideal for a visit to Hunder.

Come summer, Hunder showcases its flamboyance once again as the thick blanket of snow starts melting. Starting from the mid-summer in June to late-summer in August, visitors can expect pleasant climatic conditions in Hunder. The weather remains quiet and clam, visibility across the hamlet gets enhanced, and the surroundings flaunts their beauty at the best. Considering all these, summer is revered as the best time to visit Hunder Village or book Leh Ladakh tour packages and visit this gorgeous village in the Nubra Valley.

Tourist Attractions in Hunder

Sand Dunes:

Visit them during the day, visit them in the evening, or visit them by night; you might run out of words to express their beauty and charm! An ode to the magical beauty of this scenic desert, these sand dunes are in fact the most enchanting attractions in Hunder! Visitors can enjoy a double-humped Bactrian camel safari around them, enjoy camping around them, or bring out the real shutterbug in them while clicking some of the most amazing snaps of their lives. Yes, the charm and allurement of Hunder sand dunes can be merely expressed in words; they are to be explored and enjoyed!

Panamik:

The last village in the gorgeous Nubra Valley, Panamik is also among the major tourist attraction to visit while your Leh Ladakh tour takes you to Hunder! Untouched by the outer world, this village is fringed with rolling hills, captivating valleys, and the seclusion that exists here is simply adorable. While on a tour to this quaint village, visitors can also relax and rejuvenate themselves by taking a dip in Panamik’s natural hot water springs.

Yarab Tso Lake:

This high altitude lake in the bosom of Nubra Valley is one of the most mystical lakes in Ladakh. Located within a 15-20 minutes’ drive from Panamik, it can be easily reached while unravelling the pristine beauty of the poised Hunder Village. It is also one of the sought after hiking destinations in the entire of Nubra Valley.

Diskit Monastery:

A 14th century monastery in Ladakh, Diskit Monastery belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Buddhists, and is a magnificent place to visit as soon as the Leh Ladakh tour turns towards Hunder. In addition to the religious essence that exists in this pious monastery, visitors can also enjoy panoramic views of almost the entire Nubra Valley from its rooftop.

Samstanling Monastery:

Dating back to the 19th century, this sacred monastery is located within a remote village in the Nubra Valley, and is around 120km from Leh. Nestled amidst scenic vistas, the monastery is decked with captivating murals that depict the life and teachings of Lord Buddha.

Places to Stay in Hunder

Hunder has a plenitude of guest houses that offers comfortable stay options. These guest houses are budget-friendly and are mostly maintained by the local families or authorities, and costs around 500-1000 (INR) for a day.

For those, who yearns to experience the local life and culture at their best, they can opt for the local homestays and spend time with the local families to get acquainted with their life and culture. In addition to the guest houses and homestays, visitors can also plan their stays in luxury camps that charges around 3000-5000 (INR).

How to Reach Hunder

By Road:

Hunder can be easily accessed after making it to the Nubra Valley, which can be reached through overland journeys from Leh; via Leh-Manali Highway that passes through the Khardung La Pass. Srinagar can also be a good point to start a road journey to Hunder. However, as the public buses are pretty irregular, hiring private taxis or cabs can be a better idea to reachHunder Village or the Nubra Valley.

By Train:

Nubra Valley has no direct access to railway stations. However, visitors can make it to the Jammu Tawi Railway Station in Srinagar, and commute further to Leh to reach Hunder Village in Nubra Valley.

By Air:

Srinagar Airport or the Leh Airport can be an ideal destination for those who wants to embark on a Leh Ladakh tour via flight journeys. Once in Srinagar or Leh, visitors can easily make it to Hunder Village in Nubra Valley by overland journeys.