Other Attractions

Magnetic Hill - Magnetic Hill is a gravity hill located on the national highway at about 30 kms west of Leh. This hill is renowned for the magnetic effect which pulls vehicles uphill against natural gravity, with the engines turned off.

The spot is well marked by a prominent bill board and a white square drawn in the middle of the road. For experiencing the phenomenon of the magnetic hill the vehicle has to be placed on the marked spot in the middle of the road with the engine switched off. One can notice the vehicle moving up the inclined road at a noticeable speed. Even helicopters flying over the area are said to register this magnetic impact.

Gurudwara Patthar Sahib - Gurudwara Pathar Sahib is located a few kilometers from the "Magnetic Hill". It's believed that Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru of the Sikhs, had spent time meditating here during the 17th century. The Gurudwara is built around a big boulder which has features the imprint of a human back and head on it. Legend has it that during 1515-1518 AD, when Guru Nanak was returning to Punjab through Srinagar, after travelling to Sikkim, Nepal and Tibet, he rested at this place and meditated. A demon residing in the nearby hill was angered by his presence and threw a large rock at the Guru which hit the back of the meditating Guru and stopped there. Nothing happened to the Guru but the shape of his body got imprinted on the boulder. Seeing this, the demon felt ashamed and apologized to the Guru by prostrating at the feet.

The place remained unexplored even after the boulder was discovered during the construction of the road in the 1970's. The road workers had tried to remove the boulder from the work site but could not do so even with bulldozers. In the meanwhile some locals were seen worshipping the impression of a human back & head on this the boulder. Upon enquiry by the army officers on the spot, it was reported that the impression was that of the Guru Rimpoche. Guru Rimpoche was taken to be referring to Guru Nanak and the Gurudwara evolved around this boulder in the course of time. Now it is the focus of attention and reverence of hundreds of visitors and devotees every day.