Ladakh

World’s greatest places of 2023 has been released by the The TIME magazine. TIME magazine has included 50 greatest places of 2023 to explore in 2023 and two Indian destinations have made it to the list.

World’s greatest places of 2023

Mayurbhanj ( Odisha, India ) and Union Territory of Ladakh, that have been selected for their rare tigers and ancient temples, and adventures and eats, respectively. Post Covid, the travel and tourism industry is back and grooming extensively. Hence, this list by Time Magazine will definitely be a guide for travel enthusiasts across the globe.

Sl.No	Time Magazine’s 50 Greatest Places to EXPLORE	Tagline by Time Magazine
1	Dominica	Keeping the Caribbean beautiful
2	Barcelona	An iconic cathedral nears completion
3	Torres del Paine National Park, Chile	Puma safari
4	Ladakh, India	Adventures and eats
5	Churchill, Manitoba	Northern wonders
6	Aarhus, Denmark	The sea and the stars
7	Roatán, Honduras	A quieter barrier reef
8	Aqaba, Jordan	Otherworldly escape
9	Kyoto	Peak Japanese culture
10	Musanze, Rwanda	Trek with gorillas
11	Luang Prabang, Laos	A hidden paradise
12	Sylt, Germany	A chic beach hideout
13	Willamette Valley, Oregon	The next Napa
14	Budapest	Making history
15	Mayurbhanj, India	Rare tigers and ancient temples
16	Yosemite National Park, California	Nature, restored
17	Giza and Saqqara, Egypt	Back to the pyramids
18	Medellín, Colombia	Colombia’s creative capital
19	Isan, Thailand	Unique culinary capital
20	Freetown Peninsula, Sierra Leone	Africa’s new coastal hub
21	Naples, Italy	Take it to the streets
22	Kangaroo Island, Australia	Rising from the ashes
23	Vienna	A classical city, modernized
24	Bozeman, Mont.	A warm Western welcome
25	Mexico City	South-of-the-border sports
26	Dakar, Senegal	Fashion capital
27	Jeju Island, South Korea	A quirky resort getaway
28	Berat, Albania	History and hospitality
29	Pantanal, Brazil	South America’s safari spot
30	Rabat, Morocco	Budding cultural metropolis
31	Loango National Park, Gabon	Africa’s Eden
32	Phuket, Thailand	Family thrills
33	Dijon, France	Gourmet haven
34	Tampa, Florida	Waterfront fun
35	Rio Grande, P. R.	A more accessible rainforest
36	Tucson, Ariz.	The soul of the Sonoran Desert
37	Washington, D.C.	A new artistic identity
38	Vancouver	Eclectic cuisine
39	Pantelleria, Italy	Italy’s new island destination
40	St. Moritz, Switzerland	Beyond ski slopes
41	Timisoara, Romania	A year-long celebration of culture
42	Brisbane, Australia	Sports and sun
43	Guadalajara, Mexico	Preserving the past and future
44	Ollantaytambo, Peru	The Sacred Valley’s new gem
45	Nagoya, Japan	Anime and whiskey
46	Chyulu Hills, Kenya	Wildlife oasis
47	The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia	A novel adventure
48	Jerusalem	Israel by bike
49	Sharjah, UAE	Emirati cultural capital
50	Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia	Preserving paradise

 

”The list we selected reflects a couple of big trends in travel right now: sustainability, and authenticity. Many locations on this list are finding ways to let tourists visit with a more limited environmental impact. And many have responded to travellers’ desire to have unique, local experiences by offering indigenous-led tours or curated homestays,” Emma Barker Bonomo, a senior editor at TIME, told.

To compile this list of the World’s Greatest Places, the magazine solicited nominations of places from its international network of correspondents and contributors,” with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences”.

Last year, Kerala and Ahmedabad were the Indian destinations in Time’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2022’.

World’s greatest places of 2023, LADAKH

”With its astonishing alpine landscapes and Tibetan Buddhist culture, Ladakh—in the farthest-flung part of North India—has enough wonders to warrant multiple visits.” the magazine said.

In 2023, India designated its first Dark Sky Reserve, in Hanle village, about 168 miles southeast of Leh, Ladakh’s capital. The village has roughly 270 clear nights a year, making it ideal for astronomical splendour, it added.

Time Magazine also recommended staying at sustainable properties when in Ladakh– Kyagar Hotel in Nubra Valley, Shel Ladakh and Dolkhar in Leh.

Ladakh is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. Ladakh is bordered by the Tibet Autonomous Region to the east, the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh to the south, both the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan to the west, and the southwest corner of Xinjiang across the Karakoram Pass in the far north.

It extends from the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram range to the north to the main Great Himalayas to the south. The eastern end, consisting of the uninhabited Aksai Chin plains, is claimed by the Indian Government as part of Ladakh, and has been under Chinese control since 1962.

Ladakh is the highest plateau in India with most of it being over 3,000 m (9,800 ft). It extends from the Himalayan to the Kunlun Ranges and includes the upper Indus River valley.

How to reach Ladakh?

Ladakh, the adventure capital of the country is one of the most scenic places to visit in India. It is one of the very few destinations in the world where the entertainment starts the moment you begin your travel towards it. Ladakh ranks very high, probably on top, on the list of motorbikers across the country. The stunning landscapes make the drive from Manali or Srinagar to Leh in Ladakh one of the most memorable journeys one can ever embark upon.

By Flight

The easiest and best way to travel to Ladakh is to take a flight. There are a number of flights flying to Ladakh during the peak season and also during the offseason.

The nearest airport is Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport located in Leh. This airport is just 3.8 km away from the main city. Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is well connected with many international airports in India like Delhi. It also receives flights from Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh, and other common destinations in India.

The scenic flight from Delhi to Leh takes one and a half hours. Even international travelers can directly board a flight from the major cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi to reach Leh Airport by air and then ultimately to Ladakh. You can find a few taxis outside the airport or book a cab to reach the required destination.

By Road

There are two road routes to Leh Ladakh- one through Manali in Himachal Pradesh and the second one through Srinagar. Ladakh is 434 km from Srinagar and 494 km from Manali.

To reach Leh by road you can hire a cab or a jeep or board a JKSRTC bus, both deluxe and ordinary, run from Kargil and between Leh and Srinagar on regular and frequent intervals.

Alternatively, you can embark on a bike trip to Leh from Srinagar, Manali, Delhi or Chandigarh depending upon the time you have. You can only travel to Ladakh by road between May to September as during the winter months the highways are shut due to heavy snowfalls.

By Train

You cannot reach Ladakh directly by train as there is no train station in Ladakh. The nearest railway station is Jammu Jammu Tawi (700 km from Ladakh) which is well connected with Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. You can hire a cab or board a JKSRTC bus to reach Ladakh from Jammu.

The Best time to visit Ladakh is during the summer season from the month of April to July during this time Ladakh temperature is between 15 to 30 Degree Celsius. Ladakh is known for its extremely low temperatures almost all through the year.

World’s greatest places of 2023, MAYURBHANJ

Renowned for its green landscape, rich cultural legacy and ancient temples, Odisha’s Mayurbhanj is the second Indian site on the list. Talking about Mayurbhanj, the magazine noted that it is the only place on earth to spot the exceedingly rare black tiger. Apart from the famous Similipal National Park, there’s a lot more that you can do in this district.

”This April, Mayurbhanj Chhau, a captivating dance festival on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list will take place on a much larger scale following a pandemic hiatus. Bespoke chhau performances that combine ancient martial arts and folk dance are scheduled at The Belgadia Palace, an elegant boutique hotel and royal residence,” Time magazine noted.

”Stunning biodiversity and interminable heritage continue throughout the state. In the capital Bhubaneswar, a new guided walking tour series, Odisha Walks, explores ancient cultural sites, monolithic rock edicts, and remarkable temple architecture,” it added.

Encouraged by TIME Magazine’s World’s greatest places of 2023 recognition to Odisha’s MAYURBHANJ, the state government is now planning to develop the tourism potential of the place.

 

How to reach Mayurbhanj?

Baripada town is the district headquarter of Mayurbhanj district in the state of Odisha, India. The city is well connected to different parts of Odisha, India.