Pangong Lake

Pangong Tso (Tso stands for "Lake") is 40 miles in length and nearly 2-4 miles in width at a height of 4267m above the sea level. Its most eye-catching feature is the lovely colour of its water, especially towards evening, which is of the richest deep blue, over the whole expanse; and a lighter brilliant colour in the morning. The water of the Lake is not that salty as sea water.

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 Changla pass, where army sentries and a small teahouse greet visitors. Road down from Changla Pass 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.

The lake has very low micro vegetation and there are no reports of existing flora and fauna other than small crustaceans. However, visitors are known to have seen numerous ducks and gulls over and on the lake surface.

The lake has also been captured cinematographically in popular Bollywood movies like Jab Tak Hai Jaan, 3 Idiots, Dil Se, Heroes.