Pangong
Pangong is not a specific region. It is only the name of the lake. By Pangong here we mean, enroute Pangong lake. The village where Pangong is located is named Spangmik. There are two nearby villages by the names Man and Merak, where you would find many homestays and hotels. The Pangong stretches upto the Merak village. There are two ways to approach Pangong Lake: one from Nubra Valley and the other directly from Leh city. Interestingly, to arrive at Pangong Lake you have to cross a high pass. The Nubra Valley route would cross Khardung La. The Leh city to Pangong route passes the Chang La. La means pass. Chang La pass is higher than Khardung La and occupies 10th spot in the list of highest mototrable roads.
The route to Pangong is most picturesque as you wind along the green Shyok river which cuts deep gorges in the hills. The winding roads are well maintained by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and you do not feel much difficulty but the driving is to be left for the specialists. There are several tourist stops in between before you reach Spangmik village. For more places to explore in Ladakh see this post.
Rezang La Memorial
On the way to Pangong, at Rewari near Chushul , there is a war memorial Rezang La. It is built as an honorarium to the 13 Kumaon battalion led by PVC Major Shaitan Singh posted at Rezang La during the 1962 Indo-China war. It was a show of pure courage and defiance. They fought till the last man to stop the Chinese PLA from crossing the ridge into the Chushul Valley. 114 Indian soldiers were martyred while slaying 1300 Chinese soldiers.
China administers the actual Rezang La peak along with the Spanggur Lake, currently. At the memorial, there are 3D models, Audio Visuals and soldiers posted there to assist you in discovering the story of that fateful 1962 war. You can see the BTM Huts where the Flag meetings between the two countries take place. It was among these passes where the standoff between India and China took place in 2020-21.
Shyok River
Shyok river is another main river that flows through Ladakh. Its greenish water runs along the Indo-China border area all the way from Nubra to Pangong. Enroute Pangong, you will find this river meandering through the landscapes and creating beautiful ravines. Sometimes so close to the road that you may stop by and watch fishes swimming along the riverbed. Following this river all along your road trip adds an enchanting mood to your journey.
The Pangong Lake
The most coveted prize of the Ladakh trip. The main attraction that pulls lakhs of tourists every year to it like a magnet. This vast lake stretching as far as your eyes can see is surreal. It is every bit of everything you know and even more. You do not understand it until you see it. The lake is so vast that it crosses our borders into China, into the unknown. The surrounding hills, all shades of blue water, the ripples forming on the surface of the lake with the strong winds, all give a divine look to the area.
From the first glimpse to the last view of the lake, its beauty will mesmerize you. It is windy and cold but every moment is worth it. The 4km stretch along the lake crossing the villages of Spangmik, Man and Merak give you an opportunity to breathe in the authenticity of the lake from a wonderful viewpoint. You will also be able to see scattered military posts on the opposite side of the lake on the hills. The Chinese side is beyond the hills and out of our view, but you know it is there. Definitely visit this place at least once in your lifetime.
