Magnetic Hill: Where a vehicle travels uphill on its own

Leh in Ladakh is studded with not only places of scenic beauty but also amazing natural phenomena, making it a must-see destination for all travellers.

Among the magical spots in Ladakh, which is a district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, is Magnetic Hill. The attraction of the place is that a vehicle goes uphill on its own.

Magnetic Hill is located 30 km from Leh on the highway to Srinagar at an altitude of 14,000 feet above sea level. At first sight, it looks similar to all the other such hills in the area. But when a vehicle enters the hill, it will move up the incline even if the engine is switched off or in neutral gear.

Any traveller to Leh can check this phenomenon himself. A few metres before the hill, a clear road sign with black letters on a yellow background mentions the peculiarity of the hill.

It is believed that the magnetic pull experienced at the place causes the phenomenon. However, no scientific studies have been conducted to prove this. Most scientists suggest that the magnetism of the hill pulls vehicles uphill. But some others say it is only an optical illusion. Yet another section argues that there is no hill at all in the area, which only looks like one. There are also reports that aircraft avoid flying over the hill owing to the severe gravitational pull experienced there.

There are other scenic attractions near Magnetic Hill. They include Nimmu Valley, which is the confluence of two rivers and Pathar Sahib Gurudwara situated about 12,000 feet above sea level.

The Leh International Airport is barely 32 km from Magnetic Hill. Leh can be reached from Delhi via Manali and the distance from Manali to Leh is about 490 km.