About
Leh Ladakh
A
land
of
freezing
winds
and
burning
hot
sunlight,
Ladakh
is
a
cold
desert
lying
in
the
rain
shadow
of
the
Great
Himalayas
and
other
smaller
ranges.
Little
rain
and
snow
reaches
this
dry
area,
where
natural
forces
have
created
a
fantastic
landscape.
Surrounded
by
rugged
mountains
this
land
is
completely
different
from
the
green
landscape
of
many
parts
of
the
Himalayas.
Bounded
by
two
of
the
world's
mightiest
mountain
ranges,
the
Great
Himalaya
and
the
Karokaram,
it
is
a
land
which
has
no
match
In
geological
terms,
this
is
a
young
land,
formed
only
a
few
million
years
ago
by
the
buckling
and
folding
of
the
earth's
crust
as
the
Indian
sub-continent
pushed
with
irresistible
force
against
the
immovable
mass
of
Asia.
Its
basic
contours,
uplifted
by
these
unimaginable
tectonic
movements,
have
been
modified
over
the
millennia
by
the
opposite
process
of
erosion,
sculpted
into
the
form
we
see
today
by
wind
and
water
The
main
source
of
water
in
this
land
remains
the
winter
snowfall.
Ladakh
was
once
covered
by
an
extensive
lake
system,
the
vestiges
of
which
still
exist
on
its
south
-east
plateaux
of
Rupshu
and
Chushul
-
in
drainage
basins
with
evocative
names
like
Tso-moriri,
Tsokar,and
grandest
of
all,
Pangong-tso.
The
temperature
rarely
exceeds
27
degree
celcuis
in
summer
while
in
winter
it
may
drop
to
minus
20
degree
celcuis
.
Made
up
of
two
administrative
districts
-
Leh
and
Kargil,
Ladakh
covers
a
total
area
of
about
59,000
square
kilometers.
Leh
is
the
chief
town.
Allied
ethnologically
and
geographically
with
the
Tibet
region
of
China,
the
area
has
a
predominantly
Lamaist
Buddhist
population.
It
was
nominally
a
dependency
of
Tibet.
After
1531
it
was
invaded
periodically
by
Muslims
from
Kashmir;
it
was
annexed
to
Kashmir
in
the
mid-19th
cent
However
todays
Ladakh
which
forms
a
part
of
the
state
of
Jammu
and
Kashmir
in
India
has
some
of
its
areas
under
the
illegal
occupation
of
Pakistan
and
China.
Leh,
the
capital
of
Ladakh
is
situated
at
a
height
of
3505
meters
and
is
towards
the
eastern
parts
of
Jammu
and
Kashmir.
The
region
is
watered
by
the
Zanskar
River,
which
flows
into
the
Indus
River
just
below.
Spilling
out
of
a
side
valley
that
tapers
north
towards
eroded
snow-capped
peaks,
the
Ladakhi
capital
sprawls
from
the
foot
of
a
ruined
Tibetan
style
palace
-
a
maze
of
mud-brick
and
concrete
flanked
on
one
side
by
cream-coloured
desert,
and
on
the
other
by
a
swathe
of
lush
irrigated
farmland.
As
one
approaches
Leh
for
the
first
time,
via
the
sloping
seep
of
dust
and
pebbles
that
pide
if
from
the
floor
of
the
Indus
Valley,
one
will
have
little
difficulty
imagining
how
the
old
trans
-Himalayan
traders
must
have
felt
as
they
plodded
in
on
the
caravan
routes
from
Yarkhand
and
Tibet:
a
mixture
of
relief
at
having
crossed
the
mountains
in
one
piece,
and
anticipation
of
a
relaxing
spell
in
one
of
central
Asia's
most
scenic
and
atmospheric
towns.
Leh
is
a
beautiful
destination
with
so
many
attractions
and
is
the
center
of
Tibeto-Buddhist
Culture
for
ages.
Its
colorful
gompas
have
attracted
the
devout
Buddhists
from
all
over
the
globe.
Besides,
it
is
also
a
favorite
hiking
locale
and
is
known
for
some
of
the
best
hikes
in
the
country
History
of
Leh
King
Sengge
Namgyal
who
ruled
Ladakh
during
17th
century
and
during
whose
rule
Ladakh
was
at
its
greatest
shifted
his
court
from
Shey
to
Leh.
Leh
became
the
regional
capital
and
very
soon
the
town
blossomed
into
one
of
the
busiest
markets
on
the
Silk
Route.
During
the
1920s
and
1930s,
the
broad
bazaar
that
still
forms
its
heart
received
more
than
a
dozen
pony-
and
camel-trains
each
day
Leh's
prosperity,
managed
mainly
by
the
Sunni
Muslim
merchants
whose
descendants
live
in
its
labyrinthine
old
quarter,
came
to
an
abrupt
end
with
the
closure
of
the
Chinese
border
in
the
1950's.
However
its
fortunes
begin
to
look
up
after
India
rediscovered
the
hitherto
forgotten
capital's
strategic
value
after
two
wars
in
quick
succession
with
Pakistan
.
Today,
Khaki-clad
Jawans
(soldiers)
and
their
families
from
the
nearby
military
and
air
force
bases
are
the
mainstay
of
the
local
economy
in
winter,
when
foreign
visitors
are
few
and
far
between
Gates
opened
for
Tourists
Indian
government's
decision
in
1974
to
open
Ladakh
to
foreign
tourists
was
a
major
shake-up.
From
the
start,
Leh
bore
the
brunt
of
the
annual
invasion,
as
busloads
of
backpackers
poured
up
the
road
Srinagar.
Twenty
or
so
years
on,
though
the
main
approach
is
now
via
Himachal
Pradesh
rather
than
Kashmir,
the
summer
influx
shows
no
sign
of
abating
Leh
has
doubled
in
size
and
is
a
far
cry
from
the
sleepy
Himalayan
town
of
the
early
1970's.
During
July
and
August
tourists
stroll
shoulder
to
shoulder
down
its
main
street,
most
of
whose
old
style
outfitters
and
provision
stores
have
been
squeezed
out
by
Kashmiri
handicraft
shops,
art
emporiums
and
Tibetan
restaurants.
Around
the
Town
Around
Leh
Leh
has
nonetheless
retained
a
more
tranquil
side,
and
is
a
pleasant
place
to
unwind
after
a
long
bus
journey.
Attractions
in
and
around
the
town
itself
include
the
former
Palace
and
Namgyal
Tsemo
Gompa,
perched
amid
strings
of
prayer
flags
above
the
narrow
dusty
streets
of
the
Old
Quarter
A
short
walk
north
across
the
fields,
the
small
monastery
of
Sankar
harbours
accomplished
modern
Tantric
murals
and
a
thousand
beaded
Avalokitesvara
(also
spelt
as
Avalokiteshvara)
deity
Leh
is
also
a
good
base
for
longer
day
trips
out
into
the
Indus
Valley.
Among
the
string
of
picturesque
villages
and
Gompas
within
reach
by
bus
are
Shey,
site
of
a
derelict
17th
century
palace,
and
the
Spectacular
Tikse
Gompa.
Until
one
has
adjusted
to
the
altitude,
however,
the
Only
sightseeing
one
will
probably
feel
up
to
will
be
from
a
guesthouse
roof
terrace
or
garden,
from
where
the
snowy
summits
of
the
majestic
Stok-Kangri
massif
(6,120m),
magnified
in
the
crystal
clear
Ladakhi
sunshine,
look
close
enough
to
touch
Best
time
to
visit
Ladakh
Ladakh
is
open
for
tourist
throughout
the
year,
while
the
best
period
for
tour
and
trek
is
from
June
to
October.
Most
of
the
trekking
routes
are
closed
after
November
due
to
heavy
snowfall
at
high
passes
except
the
Liker
to
Kahltsey
(Sham)
trek.
The
best
period
for
Chadar
trek
is
from
January
to
Mid-March
Travel
Kit
Clothing:
Shirt
and
shorts
can
do
during
the
daytime
but
in
evening
one
needs
Jacket
or
pullover.
While
trekking
above
4000m,
you
need
warm
cloth.
Sometimes
there
is
a
rain
or
snow
in
early
June
therefore
you
need
Wind
sheeter
or
raincoat.
Shoes:
Good
waterproof
shoes
are
needed
while
trekking
and
extra
pair
of
shoes
and
Sandal
is
always
handy
Ruck
Sack:
A
good
spacious
rucksack
is
needed
to
carry
your
items
of
use.
Sleeping
Bag:
Warm
sleeping
Bag
How To Reach
By
Air
Airline
service
operates
regular
scheduled
flights
to
Leh
from
Delhi,
Chandigarh,
Jammu
and
Srinagar.
From
Jammu
there
are
two
flights
in
week
and
from
Srinagar
one
in
a
week.
By
Road
The
434-km
Srinagar-Leh
road,
which
remains
open
for
traffic
from
early
June
to
November
is
the
main
land
route
to
Ladakh.
The
most
dramatic
part
of
this
road
journey
is
the
ascent
up
the
11,500
feet
/3,505
m
high
Zoji-la.
The
J&K
State
Road
Transport
Corporation
(J&KSRTC)
operates
regular
Deluxe
and
Ordinary
bus
services
between
Srinagar
and
Leh
on
this
route
with
an
overnight
halt
at
Kargil.
Taxis,
cars
and
jeeps
are
also
available
at
Srinagar
for
the
journey.
Groups
can
charter
deluxe
and
A-class
buses
for
Leh,
Kargil
or
Padum
(Zanskar)
from
the
J
and
K
SRTC
at
Srinagar.
Recently,
the
473-km
Manali-Leh
road
has
been
serving
as
the
second
land
approach
to
Ladakh.
The
Manali
-
Leh
road
weaves
in
and
out
among
the
mighty
snow-clad
peaks
of
the
Western
Himalayas
over
a
stretch
of
nearly
485
kms.
The
road
is
open
from
mid-July
to
mid-October
every
year,
depending
on
weather
conditions
Details
Rohtang
Pass
Manali
is
the
starting
point
of
this
dramatic
journey
and
Rohtang
Pass(13,000
ft/3,978
m),
51
kms
away
is
the
first
important
milestone
on
the
Manali
-
Leh
road
as
it
is
the
gateway
to
the
Lahaul
and
Spiti
valleys.
Keylong
On
its
way
to
Keylong-
the
highest
jeepable
road
and
115
kms
from
Manali,
this
important
road,
which
was
once
part
of
the
ancient
trade
route
between
India
and
Central
Asia,
wends
its
way
through
breathtaking
mountain
views
via
the
Rohtang
Pass,
Gramphoo,
Kokhsar,
Sissu,
Gondla,
Tandi.
One
can
also
reach
Kaza,
the
main
town
of
Lahaul
and
Spiti.
Bara
Lachha
Pass
Onward
the
road
moves
to
the
Bara
Lachha
Pass
(height:
4892m
/16,050ft),
73
kms
from
Keylong.
Beyond
this
steep
pass
lies
Sarchu,
43
kms
away,
in
the
adjoining
state
of
Jammu
and
Kashmir.
Now
the
trail
hits
the
highest
regions
of
Ladakh.
Zanskar
Range
A
camping
ground
in
Zanskar,
litle
before
Sarchu,
Phalang-danda
(a
giant
rock)
marks
the
boundary
between
Lahaul
and
Zanskar.
Sarchu
has
wide
open
places
and
treks
to
Phirtse
la
starts
from
here.
Just
54
kms,
ahead
of'
Sarchu
the
road
crosses
Tsarap
Chu
over
a
bridge.
Then
it
climbs
up
to
Lachalang
la
Pass(
16,600
ft/5,059m)
Nearly
87
kms
from
Lachalang
la
pass
is
the
Tanglang
la
pass-the
highest
point
on
this
road.
This
pass
is
difficult
to
negotiate.
By
crossing
this
pass
one
enters
the
Central
Ladakh.
Upshi
60
kms
ahead
of
Tanglang
La
pass
is
Upshi--A
junction
on
the
Indus.
The
road
bifurcates
from
here
towards
Rupshu
and
for
Demchok,
and
little
ahead
at
Kiari
for
Chang
la.
Leh
Leh
-
Headquarters
of
Ladakh,
well
known
tourist
spot
with
an
airstrip
is
above
50
kms
from
Upshi.The
roads
leads
to
Khardung
la
(in
north)
and
to
Kargil
(in
west).
Tourism,
H.P.
SRTC
and
J&K
SRTC
operate
Deluxe
and
Ordinary
bus
services
between
Manali
and
LEH.
The
bus
journey
between
Leh
and
Manali
takes
about
19
hours
or
two
days
with
an
overnight
halt
in
camps
at
Serchu
or
Pang.
Gypsy
and
jeep
taxis
are
also
available,
both
at
Manali
and
Leh.
Internal
Transport
There
are
numerous
public
buses
in
Ladakh,
which
ply
on
fixed
routes
according
to
fixed
time
schedules.
However,
the
most
comfortable
and
convenient
though
expensive
mode
of
travel,
is
by
taxis,
cars,
and
Gypsy,
which
are
available
for
hire
on
fixed
point-to-Point
tariff.
For
visits
to
the
newly
opened
areas
of
Nubra,
Changthang
and
Dah-Hanu
it
is
mandatory
to
engage
the
services
of
a
registered/recognized
travel
agency
for
making
all
the
requisite
arrangements
including
internal
transport.
Detailed
information
about
bus
schedules,
taxi
tariff,
travel
agencies,
etc.
can
be
obtained
from
the
Tourist
Office.
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