Leh - Ladakh India

About Leh - Ladakh

Leh-Ladakh located in the state of Jammu & Kashmir is the highest inhabited region in India. The hill station is surrounded by two biggest mountain ranges namely, Karakoram mountains in the north and by the Great Himalayas in the south. The Indus river with its tributaries divides the region into Leh, Nubra, Zanksar, Lower Ladakh and Rupshu. Leh the capital of Ladakh is situated at an altitude of 3,500 metres, a flight to the city provide an unforgettable experience. Ladakh is also famous as the 'Little Tibet' as the monks from Tibet were the first immigrants to Ladakh. Leh-Ladakh hill stations are known for their scenic beauty, Buddhist monasteries and unique culture. Today a high-altitude desert, Ladakh was once covered by an extensive lake system, the remains of which still present on its south-east plateaux of Ruspshu and Chushul. The villages and mountains of Leh-Ladakh are the major tourists attractions. In addition the hills of Leh-Ladakh offers plenty of adventure opportunities to adventure seekers like mountain climbing, trekking, cycling, river rafting jeep safari and yak safari etc.

Fairs and Festivals in Leh- Ladakh

The people of Ladakh, celebrate many festivals, which is an important part of its living heritage. Some of the major festivals include :

Leh Ladakh Festival Hemis Festival : This three day festival is celebrated in the month of June to commemorate the birth of Buddhist Guru Padmasambhava. Local artists perform sacred dance drama by wearing facial masks.

Ladakh Festival : The Ladakh Festival is organized by Department of Tourism Ladakh in September to propagate the rich cultural heritage of the region. Major attractions of the festival include the monastic dance, traditional folk dance, songs and events like traditional Polo match and village archery.

Major Attractions

Leh Palace : The palace built in the 16th century A.D, was the residence of the royal family of Ladakh. Leh Palace offers a panoramic view of the Zanskar Mountains. The palace is open every day from sunrise to sunset, entry fee Rs 5 for Indian and Rs 100 for foreigners.

Hemis Monastery : Hemis Monastery or Gompa, is the biggest monastery in Ladakh Built in 1630, the monastery has beautiful frescoes on its walls. It is the venue of Hemis Festival and the Tse Chu Festival held every year in June and July. The festival attract large number of Buddhist pilgrims as well as tourists. A huge painting of the Buddha displayed here to the public only once in 11 years.

Thikse Monastery : The monastery is known for its architecture.

Shey Monastery : Shey Monastery houses a massive gold-plated copper statue of the Lord Buddha.

Stok Palace: Built in 1814, this four storeyed palace was the official residence of the royal family. The palace houses a museum which displays a collection of Buddhist art, weapons, artifacts and jewelery. The palace is open daily from 8 a.m to 7 p.m with an entry fee of Rs 25.

Stok Palace Shanti Stupa : Located in Chandspa, this white domed structure was built by the Japanese Buddhist organization. The stupa offers the splendour views of sunrise and sunset. Shanti Stupa is open daily from 5 a.m to 9 p.m without any entry fee.

Tsemo Gompa: Tsemo or the Red Gompa, was built in 1430 A.D. It is situated above the Leh Palace and houses beautiful paintings and manuscripts. The monastery has a 3 storey high statue of seated Buddha.

Sankar Gompa: The gompa is situated a few kilometers away from the main town. The electrically lighted gompa has a statue of Avalokiteshvara, which is represented with 1,000 arms and heads.

How to reach there

By Air : Leh is the main airport, Alliance air flights connect Leh with Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar.

By Rail : Jammu (620 Kms) is the nearest railhead, it is connected to major cities and towns of India.

By Road : Leh-Ladakh is well connected by good network of roads with cities like Srinagar, Manali (Himachal Pradesh) and Kargil etc. There are two road routes, one is Srinagar-Leh road and other is Manali-Leh road. The Srinagar-Leh road remains open between June and October, while the Manali-Leh road is open between July and September. The private and state transport buses run frequently to Leh from nearby places.

Where to Stay

Leh-Ladakh offer plenty of accommodation facilities in several hotels range from deluxe, luxury to budget categories. Famous hotels include the Hotel Dragon, Hotel Shambha-la, Lotus Hotel, Mandala Hotel, Hotel Mahay and Royal Palace Hotel etc.