Caution
Alchi in April
Ladakh, India
April cracks Alchi open. The apricot blossoms arrive — suddenly the entire village is white and pink against brown desert mountains and blue sky. The monastery's ancient murals are best viewed now, when soft spring light enters the temple windows at the right angle.
The April story
Apricot blossom season transforms Alchi from a brown-and-beige monastery village into something that looks AI-generated — clouds of white-pink blossom against bare desert mountains, turquoise sky, and 1000-year-old stone temples. It's real, and it lasts about two weeks (usually early-to-mid April). The monastery murals are at their viewing best because spring sunlight enters the temple windows at low angles, illuminating details invisible in summer's overhead glare. The Sumtsek temple's bodhisattvas seem to glow. Local families harvest dried apricots and begin planting. The village has a handful of guesthouses open. Combine with Likir and Basgo monasteries for a three-day Indus valley art history circuit that most Ladakh tourists never do.
Why April scores 2/5
Roads & Access
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 3/5. rescue: Indian Army, SDRF. helpline: DC Leh: 01982-252010. ambulance: 108 (limited). police station: Khalsi Police Station (20km). nearest hospital: PHC Khalsi (20km), SNM Hospital Leh (68km)
Network
JIO: Yes, BSNL: Yes, AIRTEL: No
Kids
Kid-friendly (3/5) —
Elevation
3,100m — Moderate altitude
Who should go
- ✓First-time travelers
- ✓Senior citizens
- ✓Photographers timing the apricot blossom window
- ✓Art lovers wanting optimal natural light on the murals
- ✓Travellers combining monastery visits with spring Ladakh driving
Who should think twice
- ✗Travellers who need warm weather — nights still drop below 0°C
- ✗Those wanting full Ladakh monastery circuit — some higher passes still closed
- ✗Large tour groups — Alchi's temples are too small for crowds
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1/5 | — |
| February | 1/5 | — |
| March | 1/5 | — |
| Aprilviewing | 2/5 | — |
| May | 3/5 | May is Alchi's sweet spot for most travellers. |
| June | 5/5 | June brings the first wave of Ladakh tourism, but Alchi — 70km from Leh — stays quieter than Hemis or Thiksey. |
| July | 5/5 | July is peak Ladakh season. Tour buses visit Alchi as a day trip from Leh. |
| August | 4/5 | August continues peak season with an added wildcard: Ladakh gets occasional cloudbursts now that climate change has introduced monsoon-fringe weather. |
| September | 5/5 | September is Alchi's autumn grace period. |
| October | 3/5 | October is Alchi's last accessible month for most travellers. |
| November | 1/5 | — |
| December | 1/5 | — |
Practical Details
How to reach
Contact local transport
Elevation
3,100m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
budget
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