What local food can I try near Karsha Monastery on a weekend visit?

If you’re heading out early for the 7 am prayers, many locals bring a small pot of tea or a sweet called “thukpa” a spicy noodle soup with yak meat or lentils that keeps you warm. Around the monastery you’ll find a few roadside stalls selling “ghee roasted yak cheese” and fresh “hand made flatbread” that pair nicely with the tea. A quick stop at a dhaba near Padum will give you a taste of the simple, hearty Ladakhi staples before you head back to the monastery.

A common stop near the monastery is a small stall that sells ghee roasted yak cheese and freshly made flatbread, usually paired with a cup of strong tea. If you’re there for the 7 am prayers, many locals bring a small pot of thukpa, a spicy noodle soup with yak meat or lentils, to keep warm. Have you tried the local yak cheese before?

If you’re stopping at a dhaba near Padum, try the local “thukpa” with yak meat and a side of “ghee roasted yak cheese.” It’s a common breakfast for monks before the 7 am prayers. After the prayers, a quick walk to the stall that sells freshly made flatbread pairs well with a cup of strong tea. If you have time, a short detour to a local bakery for warm “sangba” (cheese buns) is worth it.

If you’re stopping by the small shop near the monastery, don’t miss the local “sangba” a cheese bun that’s soft inside and lightly fried outside. It pairs well with a cup of strong tea, and many locals bring it to the 7 am prayers as a quick, nourishing snack. If you’re staying in Leh, the CHOSPA HOTEL has a kitchen that serves a similar cheese bun, so you could try it there first.

A quick stop at a dhaba near Padum is worth it for the local yak butter tea, a thick, creamy brew that keeps you warm before the 7 am prayers. Pair it with a fresh flatbread and a small portion of ghee roasted yak cheese. If you’re staying in Leh, the CHOSPA HOTEL’s kitchen also serves a similar cheese bun that many locals bring to the monastery.