| A land of freezing winds and burning hot sunlight, a | | | | known for some of the best hikes in the country. |
| cold desert in the rain shadow of the awe inspiring | | | | A miniature version of the Potala in Lhasa, the Leh |
| Great Himalayas ---welcome to Ladakh. Little Tibet' | | | | Palace is one of the major attractions in ladakh. The |
| or, 'the moonland' or 'the last Shangri La' these are all | | | | nine-storeyed palace was built by the 17th century |
| names that have been given to the cold dry and | | | | illustrious ruler of Ladakh, Sengge Namgyal. It is an |
| harsh land of Ladhak. Slight rain and snow reaches | | | | imposing structure, now in ruins; it is situated on a hill |
| this dry area, where nature has created an | | | | and commands a grand view of the Leh town. Within |
| improbable landscape. Ladakh is bounded by two of | | | | the palace are Buddhist wall paintings, centuries old |
| the world's most impressive mountain ranges, the | | | | 'tankas' or painted scrolls and other artefacts. Above |
| Great Himalaya and the Karokaram, Surrounded by | | | | the palace, at the top of the Namgyal hill, is the |
| rugged mountains this land is utterly different from | | | | Victory Tower, built to commemorate Ladakh's |
| the green landscape of many parts of the Himalayas, | | | | victory over the Balti Kashmir armies in the early 16th |
| a. | | | | century. This palace built for King Singge Namgyal, |
| Ladakh which forms a part of the state of Jammu | | | | now houses the Ladakhi branch of the Indian |
| and Kashmir in India is made up of two administrative | | | | Government's archaeological conservation |
| districts - Leh and Kargil. It covers a total area of | | | | organisation. Namgyal Tsemo, the peak overlooking |
| about 59,000 square kilometers and is allied | | | | the town, is the ruins of the fortbuilt, by the king |
| ethnologically and geologically with the Tibet region of | | | | Tashi namgyal in the 16th century, as a royal |
| China, the area has a predominantly Lamaist Buddhist | | | | residence. |
| population as it was nominally a dependency of Tibet. | | | | The mosque, city palace, the bazar and the gompas, |
| After 1531 it was invaded periodically by Muslims | | | | are all within walking distance. A memorable sight of |
| from Kashmir; it was annexed to Kashmir in the | | | | the Leh bazar is the group of women, traditionally |
| mid-19th cent. With a population of 10,000 people, | | | | attired, selling fruits, vegetables and household |
| mainly Buddhist, some Argoos (Muslim descendants | | | | articles, spinning and knitting, and exchanging gentle |
| of Yarkandi traders) and a small Christian community, | | | | banter between themselves and with passers-by. |
| Ladakh bears the distinct stamp of its mixed heritage. | | | | Shey, Spituk and Phyang monasteries are quite close |
| The Tourist Destination | | | | while Stok, Matho, Thiksey, Stakna, Chernrey, Hemis, |
| The Ladakh Festival is a regular tourist event on the | | | | Likir, Basgo and Alchi monasteries are all a day's |
| tourist calendar. Along with the Ladakh festival, | | | | touring distance. Rumbak and Markha offer exciting |
| adventure tourism figures prominently in Ladakh. A | | | | treks, while Stok Kangri is the best for a climb. |
| white water river rafting expedition along the | | | | Boating and river running too are possible on the |
| 26-kilometre stretch from Fhey to Nimo along the | | | | Indus. |
| mighty Indus River is the highest point where river | | | | Traveling To Ladakh |
| rafting is possible in the world. The high altitude and | | | | Air |
| mountains make it an ideal spot for paragliding, | | | | Leh, the principal town of Ladakh has now become |
| mountaineering, trekking and even skiing. Ladakhis are | | | | gateway to the world, one can fly in to Leh from |
| keen sportsmen polo and archery contests are | | | | Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar as well as |
| frequently arranged at the village level, which draws | | | | abroad all through the year. |
| all aspiring marksmen. Polo, is played with great gusto | | | | Road |
| reminiscent of the Mongol horsemen, this robust | | | | There are two land ways to Ladakh. The main |
| game is far removed from the watered down | | | | overland approach to Ladakh is from the Kashmir |
| version seen in today's polo circuits. | | | | valley via the 434-km. Srinagar-Leh road, which |
| Drass, Kargil, Zanskar, Padum, Sanku, Nubra valleys | | | | remains open for traffic from early June to |
| etc are beautiful places and must be visited when in | | | | November. The J&K State Road Transport |
| Ladakh. The sleepy pastoral countryside of Nubra | | | | Corporation (J&KSRTC) operates regular Deluxe and |
| which has recently been thrown open to tourism is | | | | Ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on |
| located on the Indo-Pak border. In Nubra one sees | | | | this route with an overnight halt at Kargil.Taxis. cars |
| the co-existence of water, mountain and desert-a | | | | and jeeps are also available at Srinagar for the |
| rare and thrilling sight. | | | | journey. Groups can charter Deluxe and A-class buses |
| Leh the Roof | | | | for Leh, Kargil or Padum (Zanskar) from the J&K |
| Amidst starkly beautiful and majestic mountains, is | | | | SRTC at Srinagar. |
| Leh, the capital of Ladakh, the roof of the world. It is | | | | Manali-Leh roads is the second land approach to |
| located in the Indus river valley at a crossroads of | | | | Ladakh, open for traffic from around mid-June to |
| the old trading routes from Kashgar, Tibet, and | | | | early October, this high road traverses the upland |
| Kashmir situated on the banks of the Indus, at a | | | | desert plateaux of Rupsho. A number of high |
| height of 11,000 feet. It is a stunning and magnificent | | | | passes fall enroute among which the highest one, |
| region, watered by the Zanskar River, which flows | | | | known as Taglang-la, is the world’s second |
| into the Indus River just below and surrounded by | | | | highest motorable Himachal Pradesh Tourism, H.P. |
| snow-capped peaks. | | | | SRTC and J&K SRTC operate Deluxe and Ordinary |
| Leh is a truly beautiful milieu with many attractions | | | | bus services between Manali and Leh. The bus |
| and gorgeous surroundings. It is the center of | | | | journey between Leh and Manali takes about 19 |
| Tibeto-Buddhist Culture for ages. Its colorful gompas | | | | hours or two days with an overnight halt in camps at |
| have attracted the devout Buddhists from all over | | | | Serchu and Pang. Gypsy and jeep taxis are also |
| the globe. Besides, it is also a favorite hiking place, | | | | available, both at Manali and Leh. |