Pangong Lake

Pangong Lake (Tibetan: Bangong Co or Tsomo Nganglha Ringpo) is a famous soda lake in the Ladakh region of India. It is actually separated between India and China, and there have been border disputes in the past.

Cities

• 1 Chushul – A larger village on the way out south from Pangong with a few guesthouses.
• 2 Durbuk – A village on the crossroad between Leh, Shyok and Nubra Valley, and Pangong. It comprises numerous homestays and roadrests.
• 3 Man – A small village along the southern shore of the lake.
• 4 Merak – A larger village along the southern shore of the lake.
• 5 Spangmik – A larger village along the southern shore of the lake.
• 6 Tangtse – A larger village 20 km before Pangong with a few accommodation options

Understand

As part of the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, it is a high-altitude wildlife sanctuary and home to many rare species of flora and fauna. It is the highest salt lake in Asia, straddling the Sino-Indian border.

Approximately 50% of the length of the overall lake lies within Tibet in China, 40% in Ladakh, India and the remaining 10% is disputed and is a de facto buffer zone between India and China. The lake is 5 km (3.1 mi) wide at its broadest point. All together it covers almost 700 km². During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water.

The past few years have seen a remarkable increase in Indian tourists flocking to Pangong Lake. For security reasons, boating is not permitted. Groups are permitted, accompanied by an accredited guide.

Get in

By bus

Supposedly there is a bus from Leh once a week (Sunday at 6:30AM?) that either goes until Tangtse or Pangong. Inquire at the Leh bus station.

By thumb

Getting until Tangtse should be considerably easy. After Tangtse the amount of local traffic relevant for hitch-hiking may be reduced.

By tour

Most people will be travelling on an arranged tour, either by taxi or by motorbike, often coming the lengthy gravel road from Nubra Valley.

Tour operators will offer the trip from Leh one day and back the next day for 3 people at ₹4,000 each, but you are better off just inquiring a taxi yourself—just be wary of the taxi drivers, they are not to be trusted, only pay at the end.

Fees and permits

Non-Ladakhi visitors will need a permit to visit Nubra—see Ladakh#Fees and permits.

Get around

No buses ply the region, so private vehicles will be your only choice.

See and do

Pangong Lake is the main attraction in this area.

• 1 Mongoose Point. Half way between Tangtse and Pangon. (updated Sep 2023)

Eat

Guesthouses and homestay will usually come with dinner and breakfast included.

Sleep

The accommodation options near the lake are mostly camps with seasonal tents, they usually concentrate in certain areas, which there are 4-5 of them. They are pricey due to the popularity of the lake and the amount of tourists that flow into this area, starting at around ₹2,000.

Cheaper alternatives may be found in Durbuk, Tangtse and Chushul—the 1 TD Guest House & Cafeteria near Durbuk charges ₹300 for a bed in the dormitory.

Go next

• Leh – Many people will have come from here in the first place.
• Nubra Valley – Further northwest along a lengthy gravel road by Tangtse and Shyok villages in the Shyok Valley, a picturesque and very popular destination from Leh. Though, most people will choose to head the opposite direction from Nubra to Pangong.
• Changthang Western Lakes – Many visitors will choose this as their next destination, if they have their own vehicle, are on a tour, or do hitch-hike.