About
Leh-Ladakh
Leh-Ladakh is bounded by two of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the
Great Himalaya and the karkoram. An extension of the Trans Himalayan Chain,
the Ladakh range, is relatively lower than the other ranges and has no major
ridges and peaks. Ladakh with its toothed peaks and alluring landscape lies
at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet at Kargil to 25,170 feet at Saser
Kangri in the Karakoram.
Leh, the capital of Ladakh is situated at a height of 3505 meters. Leh is a
beautiful destination with numerous attractions and is the hub of
Tibeto-Buddhist culture for ages.
When to Travel
Ladakh is open for tourist throughout the year, while the best period for
tour and trek is from June to October.
How to Reach There
Indian Airlines and Jet Airways operates regular scheduled flights to Leh
from Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu.
The mail overland approach to Ladakh is from the Kashmir Valley via the
Srinagar -Leh road which remains open for traffic from early June to
November. Cars/ Jeeps, J&K State Road Transport corporation bus service
are available at Srinagar for the journey including with an overnight halt
at Kargil.
Manali -Leh road has been serving as the second land approach to Ladakh
open for traffic from around Mid june to early October which passes through
Taglang-la. Cars/Jeeps, Himachal Tourism and J&K and other private bus
service are available from Manali to Leh with an overnight halt in camps at
Serchu or Pang.
Where to Stay
Leh- Ladakh offers a variety of accommodation to suit almost every tourist.
Hotels are categorised as A,B,C and Economy categories while Guest Houses
fall under Upper, Medium and Economy class.
There are also some Government run Tourist Bungalows located mainly along
the Srinagar -Leh road. These offer the best value in the medium range.
Tourist
attractions
Surrounded by the enchanting beauty of jagged mountain peaks and pictiresqe
landscape, Ladakh has numerous places of attraction.
Some of the Tourist Attractions are :
Leh Palace : Built in 17th century, Leh Palace raised on the edge
captivates every tourist visiting Leh-Ladakh. The palace had nine storeys,
but today only the ruins remain. It was the home of the royal family till
1830s when they were exiled to Stok. Above the palace, at the top of the
Namgyal hill, is the Victory Tower, built to commemorate Ladakh's victory
over the Balti Kashmir armies in the early 16th century.
Central Ladakh
This is the most beautiful area with numerous Monasteries and Villages. The
major attractions are the nine storey palace (Leh), the palace museum of
Stok, Hemis, Thiksey, Chemrey, Phyang, Lamayuru, Spituk, Ridzong, Alchi
Monasteries and villages of Basgo, Nimoo, Sankar etc.
Recreation
Trekking, jeep safari, adventure sports, mountain climbing, cycling to list
a few.
Shopping Delights
Between June and September, many travelling Tibetan and Kashmiri traders as
well as souvenir hungry tourists come to leh-Ladakh. The Ladakh art palace
off the main bazaar is one of only two locally owned and run souvenir
stores, is the least pushy, and a good place to explore. The wide array of
articles one can find here are - Tibetan trumpets, cymbals, brass and copper
'Chang' kettles, prayer wheels, thunderbolts, 'Gur Gur' tea churners,
'Chaam' dance masks, 'Thangkas', coral and seed pearl necklaces, to name but
a few.
Some of the markets one can churn :
Tibetan Markets :
During the season, temporary "Tibetan markets" run by travelling
Tibetans spring up around Fort Road where one can pick up amulets, butter
lamps, beads, and reasonably priced silver jewellery inlaid with semi
precious stones.
Tibetan
Children's Village Handicraft Centre :
Ideal for Thangkas and hand woven Tibetan carpets, cheap woollen Nepali
style jackets, waistcoats, and the whole gamut of "Free Tibet"
stickers and posters.
Main Bazar :
Ideal for authentic Ladakhi souvenirs.
The Lahauli run Sonambongo Barongpa & Sons :
Sells traditional costume and religious paraphernalia at fixed prices. One
can find dapper stovepipe hats, hand dyed 'Gonchans', raw silk cummerbunds,
tie-dyed rope soled shoes, Bhutanese cross button shirts, prayer flags, real
Ladakhi incense, or even monks' robes.
