In a recent declaration, J&K government has decided to open Nubra Valley further by another 39 kilometers after Panamik. What does it mean? It means that travelers who earlier could go only as far as the village of Panamik can start adding the villages of Taksha, Sasoma and Warshi in their itineraries. Warshi, another 39 kilometers from Panamik would now serve as the last point till where civilians would be allowed to travel. Until 2014, only people who had a special permit from the Indian Army to visit the Siachen base camp could go beyond Panamik but this year onwards, this restriction would be applicable after Warshi.
It is definitely a welcoming news, more for the locals than the travelers. Villagers in these small villages heavily rely on agriculture and tourism for their livelihood. Opening up further areas for tourists would create better employment opportunities for the people here. The reason why government is taking such drastic steps to promote tourism in Ladakh these days, in my opinion, is to handle the recent increase in Chinese incursions in the area. Ladakh remains cut off from rest of the country for a major part of the year which definitely makes it easier for a foreign country to try and take it over. Promoting tourism would give the locals here to connect better to rest of the country and make them feel that they too are as much Indians as rest of us. The more the Indian involvement here, lesser it would be for China to think that this region belongs to them.
For travelers, apart from enjoying the virgin beauty of Ladakh in Warshi, they can also visit the Yarma-Gompa and Yarma-Gonboo Monastery.
Click on the link below to read a complete travel guide to Nubra valley.
Leh To Nubra Valley Travel Guide
This is how the new map for Nubra Valley for travelers would look like.
Nubra Valley Map
Please note that no permits are required to visit Warshi village. ILP was earlier needed to visit Nubra valley but as of 2015, Indian tourists have no need to acquire ILP. Same applies to Warshi village as well. Indian nationals will just be required to submit a self declaration form at Panamik check post in order to reach Warshi.
Warshi village is open for both Indian citizens as well as foreign nationals. Foreigners and NRIs however will be required to obtain a protected area permit to reach Warshi village, as a matter of fact to even get to Nubra valley. Click on the link below to know how to obtain a protected area permit.
How to obtain Ladakh Protected Area Permit (PAP)
Warshi is about 45 kilometers from Panamik and this road, after Warshi, further continues to Siachen Glacier, world’s highest battleground. Since Siachen is a highly sensitive area, this region has remained cut off from rest of the country for a long time . Warshi itself is a very small village and there are no hotels or guest houses here. It has just been opened for tourists so not much facilities here but I am sure in coming years, there will be accommodation options here as well. For now, if you want to visit Warshi, you can drive up to the village and then would have to return to Panamik to stay for the night.
17 comments
Hi. Wishing to visit Leh and Nubra Valley next summer. Want budget accommodation. How much costly are stays in Panamik and Warshi or Sasoma ?
I would primarily go to explore butterflies of Ladakh. Which places may you suggest me to explore for the butterflies ? August or late July, I believe is the best time for the purpose.
Expect the rate to be anywhere around Rs. 1000 pretty much anywhere in Ladakh. I am not really sure about the Butterflies though.
Hi Vargis,
while coming back from TURTUK to Leh, any other good option to visit rather than WARSHI ?
Thanks in Advance,
Arjun Dhawan
Hi Arujun, All the way to Turtuk on one side and all the way to Warshi on other side of Nubra pretty much sums up the valley. There is nothing more. Stop at the hot water springs at Panamik while on the way to Warhi, place is worth a visit.
Hi Varghis,
I wanted to know if villagers in Nubra Valley let tourist stay in their hut or not?
Hi Rahul Bhai – There are not huts really, all cemented houses and yes, at a very nominal cost, they will let you stay as a paying guest.
Thanks Vargis for sharing this. Any permit required Warshi village?
Hi Rahul – No permits required
Hello,
I want to visit warshi this may. Can you please tell me if the accommodation is available easily or can I carry my own tent?
Accommodation can be a bit of problem. The only type you will find is of paying guest. Better option would be to return to Panamik and stay there.
Oh, they don’t allow us to fix our tents there in Warshi?
Want to visit warshi in may 1st week. How would be the temperature then? Are there any hotels or Guest House?
Temperature would be cold but not extremely cold. No hotels, you may find option in terms of paying guest or would have to return to Panamik for the night.
Road near Polokongka La and after, till Karzok, is quite a nightmare and this is where you will have to be very careful with ground clearance in a Beat.Rest of the Manali Leh Highway people have done even in a Maruti 800 so you will be okay.
I will not take the route from pangong to moriri via chusul. I will take the route from leh to morriri via sumdo and then to sarchu via tso kar.
Can I make it from karzok to manali highway via polakongka la. ??
You can for rest of the journey however you may face some problem while travelling to Moriri and Tso Kar from Pangong. Roads are too bad around here and most of the times its just not there. There is a lot of off-roading involved and ground clearance could become a problem.
Great news. Thanks for the information.
I want to ask you. Can I travel to jammu- srinagar- jojilla pass-kargil-leh-turtuk-warshi via khardungla-pangong lake via changla. tso moriri via chumathang, sumdo and tsokar via sumdo puga polakongkalaand leh-manali highway in my Chevrolet beat diesel having GC of 175 which is equal to innova and tavera with GC of 176.