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The teal Zanskar river meeting the brown Indus between steep bare mountains near Nimmu
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Photo: Narender9 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day planroad-trip loversnaturerelaxed

One day from Leh — Magnetic Hill, the confluence and Alchi

A one-day road trip west of Leh: Magnetic Hill, the Zanskar–Indus confluence near Nimmu and the old temples of Alchi, with measured drive times.
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A long day west on the Srinagar highway: Magnetic Hill, the Zanskar–Indus confluence and Alchi. Allow the return drive, about 88 minutes from Alchi, and start early.

Photos: Narender9 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Bernard Gagnon (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

Visitors on their third day or later, in the months when the highway is open.

Day by day

Day 1

West along the Srinagar road

3 stops · 1 h 2 min on the road

The Srinagar highway west of Leh: a roadside illusion, two rivers meeting, then the old temples at Alchi.

  1. 08:30
    Magnetic Hill
    viewpoint · 30 min from Leh · about 20 min there
    The roadside stretch where cars seem to roll uphill, about 30 minutes from Leh on our routing.
  2. ↓ 9 min by road · 6 km
    10:00
    Confluence of the Zanskar and Indus
    viewpoint · 38 min from Leh · about 25 min there
    The viewpoint where the two rivers meet, about 38 minutes from Leh.
  3. ↓ 53 min by road · 36 km
    12:00
    Alchi Chhoskhor
    temple · 1 h 28 min from Leh · about 1 h 15 min there
    The Kashmiri-style temples and early wall paintings, about 88 minutes from Leh.

Getting there

Leh is reached by air all year, and by the Manali and Srinagar roads in the warm months; see how to reach Leh, when to visit for the season and things to do in Leh for more.

Where to stay

Stay in Leh. We have no verified lodging, prices or booking rules.

Know before you go

  • Stop only where the road allows; this is a working highway.
  • We have no verified opening hours or entry rules for Alchi; ask locally.
  • Carry water and a layer; the gorge is windy.

Places on this route

Magnetic Hill — the roadside illusion on the Leh–Srinagar highway
Magnetic Hill — the roadside illusion on the Leh–Srinagar highway
viewpoint · 30 min from Leh
Zanskar–Indus confluence — where two rivers meet near Nimmu
Zanskar–Indus confluence — where two rivers meet near Nimmu
viewpoint · 38 min from Leh
Alchi Monastery — the old temple complex of wall paintings
Alchi Monastery — the old temple complex of wall paintings
temple · 1 h 28 min from Leh

Going together

No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.

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More places nearby

All of Leh →
Spituk Monastery — the hilltop gompa near Leh's airport
Spituk Monastery — the hilltop gompa near Leh's airport
temple · 17 km away
Shanti Stupa — the white stupa on the ridge above Leh
Shanti Stupa — the white stupa on the ridge above Leh
temple · 20 km away
Stok Palace — the royal summer home across the Indus
Stok Palace — the royal summer home across the Indus
fort · 21 km away
Leh Palace — the nine-storey royal palace above the old town
Leh Palace — the nine-storey royal palace above the old town
fort · 22 km away
Shey Palace — the old royal hill complex and its great Buddha
Shey Palace — the old royal hill complex and its great Buddha
fort · 28 km away
Thiksey Monastery — the hilltop Gelug monastery with the great Maitreya
Thiksey Monastery — the hilltop Gelug monastery with the great Maitreya
temple · 32 km away
Hemis Monastery — Ladakh's Drukpa monastery and its June festival
Hemis Monastery — Ladakh's Drukpa monastery and its June festival
temple · 43 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
Shashur Monastery above Keylong
Keylong
184 km away · 3 itineraries · 7 places
A green forested valley with a stream winding through meadows below snow-capped peaks and white clouds near Pahalgam
Pahalgam
209 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
A rocky mountain stream running through a green valley beneath snow-covered peaks at Sonamarg
Sonamarg
212 km away · 1 itineraries · 2 places
The stone tower of the Narasimha temple at Bharmour with a green mountain behind it under a blue sky
Bharmour
215 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
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Questions people ask

How long is the drive to Alchi?

About 88 minutes each way on our routing, 68 km by road from Leh, though Wikipedia says 60 km. Magnetic Hill is 30 minutes out and the confluence 38 minutes, so the stops are on the way. Start early and keep time for the return before dark.

Is the road open all year?

Wikipedia says the Srinagar road is often blocked by snow in winter, and Wikivoyage says it normally runs from about June to October. Conditions change by the week, so check the road with the district authorities or your driver before you set out and carry spare time.

Can you swim or raft at the confluence?

Wikivoyage names white-water rafting on the Indus from Nimmu and on the Zanskar, with rapids up to grade five. We have no verified operators or safety rules, so use a registered operator and do not enter the rivers on your own; they are fast and cold.