10 photographs of Ladakh that will blow your mind away!

Rediff.com's Reuben NV travelled to Ladakh recently and returned with a bagful of memories… not to mention these stunning pictures. Keep clicking!

Barren is how you would describe Ladakh's landscape.

As far as the eye stretches you will only see shades of brown of the earth, white of the snow-clad peaks and blue of the sky.

If you take a flight however, you will see something else too, something that you'd have missed if you were on foot or in a car -- this patch of green!

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You may have travelled on NH4 and you may have travelled on NH16, 71B or 79A but have you ever wondered where India's National Highway Number 1 was? :-)

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The Shanti Stupa, also called the Japan Stupa locally, is one of the highest point in Leh city.

While the stupa itself is breathtakingly beautiful, it also offers stunning views of the city...

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See what I mean? Leh city as seen from Shanti Stupa!

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The Zorawar Fort may lie in ruins today but it was once owned by General Zorawar Singh, a prominent warrior who defended Ladakh from Chinese invasions.

Today the Indian Army has a small office in the fort that also hosts a spectacular light-and-sound show every Wednesday.

Don't miss it!

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Located about 18km from Leh, the Thiksey is the largest monastery in Ladakh.

Standing 12 storeys tall, the monastery has 10 temples, an imposing assembly hall and is home to some 120 monks.

Impressed yet?

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Located at 17,590 feet, the Chang La is the third highest motorable road in the world and leads to the now-famous Pangong Lake.

Chang La literally means the Pass towards the South, though locals suggest that it has been named after one saint, Changla whose temple stands not very far from where I shot this picture.

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Sans comment...

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A picture, they say is worth a thousand words. Exhibit A above!

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And we wind up with this image of the Pangong Tso, the lake made famous by Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots. Stunning, isn't she?