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MAGNETIC HILL: LADAKH TRAVEL GUIDE

Come and be amazed at nature's wonder

Magnetic Hill, also called the gravity hill is situated on the Leh Srinagar national highway. The hill is observed to have extreme magnetic properties which are strong enough to pull cars uphill and force passing aircrafts to increase their altitude in order to escape magnetic interference. This is likely based on the illusion that some people see of objects which appear to roll up a hill. In reality, this is purely an optical effect caused by the specific layout of hills and deceptive fields of reference. , At a height of 14,000 feet above sea level, the magnetic hill has the Sindhu River, which originates in Tibet and goes to Pakistan.

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The Indian Army maintains a Sikh Gurudwara near the hill where Guru Nanak Dev, the first of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism, meditated in the 15th century. Due to both the presence of the Gurudwara and the gravity hill, the area has become a popular sightseeing destination among visiting tourists. The curiosity and uniqueness associated with this site, makes for a truly interesting visit.

How to reach Magnetic Hill

By air : Magnetic Hill is at a distance of 32 km from Leh International Airport, which is the nearest airstrip and well connected with major airports in India. From the airport you can take a taxi to reach the Ladakh Magnetic Hill located on the Leh-Kargil-Baltic National Highway.

By train : Nearest railhead is Jammutawi at a distance of 700 km from Leh Ladakh. Jammutawi is well connected with Delhi and other major Indian cities by railways. Cover the remaining distance can by a taxi.

By road : If you are traveling from Delhi, Manali-Leh highway makes for the easiest and the most convenient option to reach Leh. State transport buses and private buses frequently run from Himachal Pradesh to Leh Ladakh. Travelers also prefer to travel Manali to Leh (490 km) in their own vehicle.

Note : As the hill falls in the barren region 30 km far from Leh, don’t expect eating joints & hotels in the region. If at all you are that lucky, you might come across a few homestays. Therefore, stock enough snacks in your vehicle before you head for the Magnetic Hill in Ladakh.

Best Time to Visit the Ladakh Magnetic Hill

The best time to visit the Ladakh Magnetic Hill is from July to September. The roads are clear at this time of the year and the weather is just right to explore Ladakh and its beauty.

The mystery of the Magnetic Hill & Road in Ladakh

The strange world that we live in, there are plenty of theories backing this strange wonder of nature. All of them propose a different logic and are backed by strong reasoning, barring superstitions like ‘the magnetic road is a straightaway to heaven’. Here’s a look at what each of these beliefs and theories have to say.

The superstition - Villagers residing in Ladakh believe that there once existed a road that led people to heaven. Those who rightly deserved were pulled to the path directly while those who didn’t deserve could never make it there.

The magnetic force theory - Next comes a sensible theory, which is also the most widespread. It states that there is a strong magnetic force emanating from the hill that pulls vehicles that are within its range.

The strange occurrence on the Leh-Kargil highway has been experienced and testified by travelers from across the world. As a matter of fact, the notorious hill has caused planes of Indian Air Force to divert their route in the past to avoid magnetic interference on them.

The optical illusion theory - Another widely accepted theory says that the hill is no source of magnetic force, rather it’s just an optical illusion that makes the downslope of the road leading to the Magnetic Hill look like an upslope. So, when you see the vehicle going uphill, it is actually going downhill.

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