Magnetic Hill (India)

 

Magnet Hill is a "Cyclops hill" located near Leh in Ladakh, India.^[1] The layout of the area and surrounding slopes create the appearance of a hill. The right hill road is actually an uphill road. Objects and cars on the left hill road may appear to roll "uphill" in defiance of gravity when they are, in fact, rolling downhill.^[2]
The other two such magnetic hills are in Gujarat. One is near Bhuj (Kalo dungar - the black hills) and other at Tulsi Shyam.

 

 

 

Located at a distance of 30 km from Leh city on the Leh-Kargil Highway is a small stretch of road that defies the phenomenon of gravity. The reason is the magnetic hill that pulls stationary vehicles upwards. Famous as the Magnetic Hill in Ladakh, it is a major tourist attraction in the valley and a perfect pit-stop for tired riders moving on the highway.

 

 

 

How to reach Magnetic Hill

 

 

 

By air: Magnetic Hill is at a distance of 32 km from Leh International Airport, which is the nearest airstrip and well connected with major airports in India. From the airport you can take a taxi to reach the Ladakh Magnetic Hill located on the Leh-Kargil-Baltic National Highway.
By train: Nearest railhead is Jammutawi at a distance of 700 km from Leh Ladakh. Jammutawi is well connected with Delhi and other major Indian cities by railways. Cover the remaining distance can by a taxi.
By road: If you are traveling from Delhi, Manali-Leh highway makes for the easiest and the most convenient option to reach Leh. State transport buses and private buses frequently run from Himachal Pradesh to Leh Ladakh. Travelers also prefer to travel Manali to Leh (490 km) in their own vehicle.
Note: As the hill falls in the barren region 30 km far from Leh, don’t expect eating joints & hotels in the region. If at all you are that lucky, you might come across a few homestays. Therefore, stock enough snacks in your vehicle before you head for the Magnetic Hill in Ladakh.
The best time to visit the Ladakh Magnetic Hill is from July to September. The roads are clear at this time of the year and the weather is just right to explore Ladakh and its beauty.

 

 

 

Location of Magnetic Hill in Ladakh

 

 

Sitting pretty at an altitude of 14,000 feet, Magnetic Hill is located on the Leh-Kargil-Baltic National Highway in the Trans-Himalayan region. Sindhu river flows to the east of Magnetic Hill and makes the surrounding a picture perfect frame.
Blessed with amazing natural beauty and mysterious magnetic abilities, the magnetic road in Ladakh is where travelers stop by to experience the strange, gravity-defying phenomenon. A yellow box marked on the magnetic road, few meters away from the Magnetic Hill indicates that the vehicle must be parked in neutral gear. It is from here that the vehicle starts to move at a speed close to 20 kmph.
So, is the magnetism really this strong at Magnetic Hill in Ladakh? Or it is just a mind-blowing illusion? Let’s look at both possibilities!

 

The mystery of the Magnetic Hill & Road in Ladakh

 

 

The strange world that we live in, there are plenty of theories backing this strange wonder of nature. All of them propose a different logic and are backed by strong reasoning, barring superstitions like ‘the magnetic road is a straightaway to heaven’. Here’s a look at what each of these beliefs and theories have to say.
The superstition – Villagers residing in Ladakh believe that there once existed a road that led people to heaven. Those who rightly deserved were pulled to the path directly while those who didn’t deserve could never make it there.
The magnetic force theory – Next comes a sensible theory, which is also the most widespread. It states that there is a strong magnetic force emanating from the hill that pulls vehicles that are within its range.
The strange occurrence on the Leh-Kargil highway has been experienced and testified by travelers from across the world. As a matter of fact, the notorious hill has caused planes of Indian Air Force to divert their route in the past to avoid magnetic interference on them.
The optical illusion theory – Another widely accepted theory says that the hill is no source of magnetic force, rather it’s just an optical illusion that makes the downslope of the road leading to the Magnetic Hill look like an upslope. So, when you see the vehicle going uphill, it is actually going downhill.