Le Mentok—The Perfect Spot for your Leh Getaway

Leh was once a sleepy pitstop on the storied Silk Road. The main town is a far cry from those tranquil days, overrun with tourists, hotels, cafés, shops and lots of traffic. If you’re tired of all the hustle and bustle and looking for peace and an opportunity to commune with nature, then you can stay below the town on the banks of the Indus River at Le Mentok, a resort like no other. You’ll also acclimatise better, given the slightly lower altitude and the wonderful food and traditional Ladakhi hospitality will win your heart.

The Le Mentok Resort is the brainchild of Lobsang Shamshu, a veteran adventure tour operator who is known and respected all across Ladakh and has been running tours in the region for over four decades. But you wouldn’t be able to tell his age by looking at his spry and agile frame—and disarming smile.

The resort has a stunning location in Agling village, with the Indus River flowing gently by and you’ll definitely be tempted to picnic on the riverbank. The resort is built along sustainable lines and is solar powered. Eco-friendly native materials including mud, straw, stone and wood have been used in the contruction, making Le Mentok an eco-conscious structure that pays homage to its natural setting. The main building materials utilised in the construction process include locally sourced stones and wood, in addition to compressed earth blocks (CEB), which are widely recognised as one of the most sustainable building materials.

In addition to the meticulous architecture, the space’s natural surroundings allow the visitors to immerse themselves in pure nature. Charming village life, a government-proclaimed forest, and the shimmering Indus River to the south form Le Mentok’s surroundings. The town centre is not too far either. Suitable for groups of friends or families, Le Mentok boasts 16 lovely cottages and 2 duplexes. There is plenty of room between the cottages to make sure you have some quiet time to yourself. The rooms themselves capture the tranquillity and comfort of a picturesque Tibetan atmosphere and come with all modern conveniences.

As for the experience, an extraordinary and soul-stirring experience awaits you at Le Mentok Wellness Resort. Surrounded by verdant vegetation, the resort provides a picturesque vista of the river. You can relax with a good book by the riverside as you listen to birdsong and the rippling sound of water. The spa offers tradtional Tibetan kunye wellness treatments apart from normal massages.

Perhaps the best part is the food. The resort grows a lot of its vegetables organically and sources the rest from nearby villages. The charming Terrace Café overlooks the river and offers a range of health foods, continental favourites as well as Indian and Ladakhi delicacies. It’s the perfect spot to while away the hours with a pot of green tea or excellent black coffee.

The food tries to balance nutrition with deliciousness. “Along with aiming at healthy and natural food, our hope is also to help local communities around us by sourcing our vegetables, milk and milk product from these villages. These villages continue to practice traditional Ladakhi method of farming that use natural manure. Our restaurant offers tantalizing recipes that will surely please your palates,” says the proprietor Lopsang Shamshu.

As you dine, you can enjoy the mesmerizing view of the Indus in the distance with its gentle sparkling waters flowing alongside and the grand Himalayas in the backdrop. There isn’t a more serene space to enjoy your meals in all of Leh.

The rejuvenating setting with a view of the river against the Himalayas, private cottages, and a duplex, making Le Mentok the ideal base from which to explore the Ladakh Himalayas and their rich culture and way of life. Truly an experience like no other.

Check out www.lementok.com for more information.