Travellers who love history will have a great time in the Leh Hall of Fame. Hall of fame located near the Leh Airfield is a museum that is constructed and maintained by the Indian army. It is surrounded by a beautiful and stunning landscape of mountains and vibrant deep blue skies. The museum is built in memory of the soldiers who had lost their lives during the Indo-Pak wars. The museum is also known as the war museum and it lets you know about the rich culture and possessions of the city. The museum owns the information that is related to Leh culture, way of life, history, vegetation and animals originating in this part of the world. Stok Palace, our heritage hotel in Ladakh is very close to Leh and is accessible to most places of significance in Leh.
The entrance of the Hall of Fame Museum is like a pyramid and it is a famous tourist attraction. The museum building comprises 2 floors. On the ground floor, there is information about the courageous soldiers. There is also a segment that is devoted to the Siachen glacier. The top floor has guns and equipment that have been detained by the Indian Army during its battles with the Pakistan Army. Room no 15 displays clothes that were worn by soldiers at -50ºC. The hall of fame museum also includes a 30-minute film that comprises 1999 ‘Kargil War’.
There are various sections that will explain different sides of the Ladakh region such as Biodiversity, culture, History of Ladakh. The entrance of the Hall of Fame Museum is like a pyramid and it is a famous tourist attraction. The museum also portrays the glorious flora and fauna of Leh. The Hall of Fame confines the important structures of Leh. The main reason for the attraction of the Leh Hall of Fame is that it portrays memorabilia, seized arms and facilities of Pakistani Soldiers, profiles and pictures of the brave soldiers. The museum displays objects related to Ladakhi’s cultural legacy.
Things to see inside the Hall of Fame:
The Hall of Fame museum consists of two storeys and is divided into various sections which contain several displays. On the upper floor, there is a section named OP Vijay Gallery where you can see the various kinds of weapons used in the Kargil war, along with the various arms and ammunition captured by the Indian Army during the war. On the same floor, in yet another section, various kinds of apparel and amenities used by the Indian Army in the Siachen region have also been displayed. Some of these show the pictures of army posts on the glacier, living accommodation of the troops and the training process of the troops on ice walls, besides others.
If you head to another section of the same ground floor, you will find the pictures of the Kargil War on the walls. The pictures provide an elaborate and fascinating account of how the Indian Army fought the war. There is also a wall named “Lest We Forget” which displays the photographs of those soldiers who laid down their lives defending our nation. It’s a very moving sight to come across and reminds you of the enormous sacrifices made by our soldiers to ensure that our country is safe and secure from foreign aggression at all times.
On the same ground floor, there is also a projection room where you can watch a documentary on “Operation Vijay”. One particular moving sight on this floor meets you in the form of a frame on a wall named “The Last Post”. This was the letter written by Captain Vijayant Thapar to his parents some days before he attained martyrdom. Upon reading the letter, you will encounter a sense of grief and pride, while your eyes well up with tears. The bravery and exemplary courage displayed by our soldiers while performing their service in the line of duty is unimaginable.
On the ground floor, there is a section that displays the history, culture and other associated facts with Ladakh. It also consists of a souvenir shop where you can buy several items including t-shirts, caps, coffee mugs and pashmina shawls, among others. You can also get a photoshoot clad in the Ladakhi attire in photoshop and get the prints after paying a small amount of money.
Notes:
Entry Fee
Entry ticket of Rs. 25 per person is a must. Additional Rs. 50 for photography inside the museum.
Opening and Closing time
The Hall of Fame museum is open from 9 A.M to 1 P.M. and from 2 P.M. to 7 P.M.
Just 25 minutes drive from Stok Palace, our heritage hotel in Ladakh is the Hall of fame museum and on the way, you can also visit Spituk Monastery, Shanti Stupa, and Leh Palace.
