The sheer serenity and the historical romanticism of this valley will sweep you to the brink of nothingness until you awake from the trance and realize what time you actually are in. Nubra Valley is a trekker’s inevitable halt and is constantly besotted with bikers and trekkers from around the globe who come here to quench their thirst for adventure trips to the Siachen Glacier north of the valley. The valley is dotted with monasteries, which look mystically beautiful from the river basin, out there in the open and vast expanse.

History

Situated at a distance of about 150 kilometers (93.2 miles) north of Leh, Nubra Valley, or Ldumra (Valley of Flowers) as it was proclaimed to be originally known as, stands between Ladakh and the mighty Karakoram Range. This vast expanse of a valley can be reached via the Khardung La (La means a mountain pass in Ladakhi), arguably the highest motorable road in the world, from Leh. Resting on a high altitude zone and measuring at an average height of 10,000 feet, Nubra happens to be a cold desert region like the rest of Ladakh. The valley has stoically played witness to a string of trade caravans that drove past the historic Silk Route along the Nubra River so long ago, linking South Asia with Central Asia. That was the period when traders of various races skirted their way from Baltistan in Pakistan to Yarkand in Xinjiang through Skardu and Gilgit in armies of camel and yak caravans. The frequent travels of those multi-racial tradesmen through Nubra Valley are in fact the reason behind the prevalence of Balti and other languages besides the local tongue of Ladakhi. A feeling of strange awe will overwhelm you, and perchance even a whiff of mystery race through your mind, as you will go deeper in uncovering more facts about the place. But that’s what the legacy of this trade route as a melting pot of diverse cultures and racial history rakes in.

Getting Around

Public transport service in and around Nubra Valley is quite limited with local buses running from Monday to Saturday between different points with few frequencies. These buses also ply to nearby places like Diskit, Sumur, Panamik and Hunder at sporadic intervals and the fares range from rupees 10 to rupees 45. Even jeeps, both booked and shared, are available at various points for you to get around and visit places that are of interest to you. If you have sufficient time at your disposal you can comfortably walk and explore the valley.

Tourist Traps in the City

Nubra Valley is accustomed to frequent tourist visits by now and sharp-eyed sharks can easily differentiate a first-timer from an experienced visitor. Be on your guard, starting from when you take the jeep from Leh to Nubra. Talk to your agent and the driver to make sure he doesn’t cram the vehicle with about 10 people unlike his customary promise of a comfortable ride with only 5 passengers.

The Kashmiri shops selling indigenous goods like carpets and shawls are another area that you need to look out for. Most of them try to fleece tourists by selling the goods at more than double the price that locals buy them for. Try out the well known and reputed shops or learn to bargain with a vengeance to avoid falling into the trap.

Local Custom

Be careful not to hurt the religious and cultural sentiments of the locals and accept what they offer willingly.

Always take permission before you take pictures of the monks and the lamas.

Shopping

Nubra can be a great place to look for handmade Kashmiri indigenous products like carpets, Pashmina shawls and socks besides a wide array of curious and souvenirs to make your visit really memorable. There are a slew of Kashmiri and Tibetan shops in the bazaar that cater to your shopping needs, although the products are a bit high-priced unless you are really good in bargaining.

Communications

Global telecommunication facilities, though available in nearby Diskit in Nubra, is limited more due to the high-altitude terrain and the foul weather conditions. Fax and postal services are also available in this small settlement. Airtel and BSNL offer mobile phone services here.

Internet accessibility is available through a solitary café in Diskit.