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Ladakh

The Mystical Land Barren and Beautiful

Ladakh

Ladakh is a land like no other. Bounded by two of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the karakoram, "land of high passes" is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent. Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and culture. It is sometimes called "Little Tibet" as it has been strongly influenced by Tibetan culture. The Ladakh range and the Zanskar range, Geologically this is a young land, formed only a few million years ago by the backling and folding of the earth's crust as the Indian sub -continent pushed with irresistible force against the immovable mass of Asia.

Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet at Kargil to 25,170 feet at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram. Thus summer temperatures rarely exceed about 27 degree in the shade, while in winter they may plummet to minus 20 degree even in Leh. Surprisingly though, the thin air makes the heat of the sun even more intense than at lower altitude.

Ladakh known by many names like the Red land,,Snow Land,Land of the Lamas,Little Tibet,Heaven of Monasteries is known for its rugged terrains,barren lands,snow capped mountains,cultural heritage,heavenly monasteries,natural landscapes,with virgin valleys and rivers….. it is said that only in Ladakh can a man sitting in the sun with his feet in the shade suffer from sunstroke and frostbite at the same time.

History Of Ladakh
From the middle of the 10th Century, Ladakh was an independent kingdom, its dynasties descending from the Kings of Old Tibet. Its Political fortunes ebbed and flowed over the centuries, and the kingdom, was at its greatest in the early 17th century under the famous king Sengge Namgyal, whose rule extended across Spiti and Western Tibet up to the Mayumla Beyond the sacred sites of Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. It recognized as the best trade route between the Punjab and Central Asia, for centuries it was traversed by caravans carrying textiles and spices, raw silk and carpets, dyestuffs and narcotics. Ladakh together with the neighboring province of Baltistan, was incorporated into the newly created state of Jammu & Kashmir, just over a century later, this union was disturbed by the partition of India , Baltistan becoming part of Pakistan, while ladakh remained in India as part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.Leh, headquarter of Leh District is the largest town of the region. It is located to the north of the Indus River at an elevation of 3600m above the sea level.
Places to see in Ladakh
  • Shanti Stupa: 4km from leh market the stupa was built to spread Buddhism.
  • Jamia Masjid: It is situated in the heart of Leh town.
  • Leh palace: is a miniature replica of the great Potala palace in Lhasa.The palace houses a museum and one can get a spectacular view of Leh town.
  • Leh Fort: built in the 16th cent to commemorate the defeat of the Balti and kashmiri armies.
  • Leh market: has interesting small shops and Tibetan markets which sell silver jewllery,pearls,coral,turquoise and kashmiri embroidered suits and shawls.
  • Choglamsar: is a centre for Tibetan Buddhism culture and History.
  • Gompa Tsemo: is known for its 2 storreyed statue of Chamb Buddha in a sitting posture.
Famous Monasteries around Leh
  • Hemis
  • Alchi
  • Spituk
  • Phyan
  • Shey
  • Thiksey
  • Matho
  • Stok
  • Lamayuru
  • Likir
  • Samkar
  • Stakna
Excursions from Leh
The 3 most fascinating Holiday resorts of Kashmir are Gulmarg,Pahalgam and Sonmarg are a must see here.Magnificient is a too mild term to describe these heavenly places.Kashmir is one such place that can be visited in each season be it Spring,Summer,Autumn or Winter.
  • 1. NUBRA VALLEY: 120 kms from Leh and Alt 3700 m Nubra is the largest district in Ladakh.To reach Nubra valley one must pass through the highest Motarable road in the world the KHARDUNGLA PASS.Nubra valley is surrounded by the Karakorum range in the north and the Nubra and shyok rivers in the east,the journey to Nubra is through rough terrain and is traversed by many visitors.Nubra valley is full of sand dunes and boulder strewn plains which was under a glacier.

    MUST SEE: Hundar a village in Nubra one can visit the king’s palace and Temple of Buddha. Diskit famous for sulphur springs and monasteries.

    MUST DO: Take the famous bactarian camel ride in Hundar.

    MUST REMEMBER: An innerline permit is required to visit Nubra valley

  • PANGONG LAKE: 150 km from leh Alt 4267 m Pangong lake is one of the most picturesque high altitude lake one can’t miss to see in Ladakh.The lake is 6km long and 130 km wide is bisected between India and China.

    MUST SEE: Pangong in its diverse colours.

    MUST DO: Camp here and watch the starry sky.

    MUST REMEMBER: An innerline permit is required to visit Pangong lake.

  • TSO-MORIRI: 140 KM ALT 4572 M Yet another beautiful high altitude lake in Rupsha valley.It means a mountain lake which is 28km long and 8 km across.Beautiful snow clad mountains surround this lake with a best chance of of spotting wild life such as the kiang foxes,hares and Himalayan mermots.

    MUST SEE: A great place for bird watching and wild animals.

    MUST DO: Have Maggi Noddles and sip tea in one of the tea stalls. Camp at Lake tso-moriri and watch the lake change its colours.

    MUST REMEMBER: An innerline permit is required to visit Tso-Moriri.

  • TSO KAR: ALT 5030 MIs called the salt water lake for the high quality of salt that rings its edges.
  • DHA-HANU: 165 KM ALT 3400 MThe last race of the Aryans are divided into 2 villages of Dha and Hanu.This village is located off the Leh khaltse Road.
  • KARGIL: 230 KM ALT 2704 M Kargil Town is the second largest district of Ladakh ,a stopover for tourists visitng Leh and also offers great camping and mountaineering opportunities.Drass 60 km from Kargil is known for the second coldest inhabitated place in the world.
  • ZANSKAR: means White copper ,besides spectacular scenery,rafting down the Zanskar river to meet the Indus at Nimmu is an experience of a lifetime.
  • SURU VALLEY: 140 KM from kargil offers panoramic view of kun and Nun peaks
  • RANGDUM: This is an isolated amphitheatre – like valley which lies 130 kms from Kargil.
  • MULBEKH: Situated 45 kms east of Kargil on the road to Leh, Mulbekh is a typical Buddhist village. The chief attraction of Mulbekh is a 9mts high rock sculpture of Maitreya.
  • BRASGO: It is listed as one of the top 100 endangered World Heritage sites in 2000. This 400 years old mud brick gompa can be reached only through winding, steep tracks.
  • SANKOO: A picturesque expanse surrounded by colourful rocky mountains, Sankoo is a upcoming township with a small bazaar.
  • PANIKHAR: 67 kms south of Kargil, Panikhar lies spread under the shadows of the Nan – Kun matsij Panikhar comprises of beautiful expanse of Suru valley with a dozen villages, intensively cultivated plateau.
  • PADUM: Once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Zanskar, Padum (3503mts) is the present day administrative head quarters of the region . It is the most popular settlement of Zanskar, it is a major trekking base.
  • SANI: This picturesque village is 6 kms west of Padum, on the road to Kargil. The chief attraction here is the castle like monastery, founded by Kanishka on account of the Kanika Stupa inside the complex.
Fairs & Festivals
In Ladakh every occasion marriage, birth, harvesting, commemoration of head Lamas founding of the monastery, Losar (new year) and flowering is marked by feasting, dancing and the singing of folksongs that forms a part of its living heritage. Most of the festivals are held in winter but some popular festival take place in summer too. The monastic festivals are the heart of all the festivals. They are performed by Monks wearing colorful silk garments and different facial mask.
  • Hemis Festival: Hemis festival is one of the most famous monastic festivals in June to commemorate birth of Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tantric Buddhism in Tibet.
  • Thiksey, Karsha and Spituk Gustor: Gustors take place at Thiksey, Spituk and Karsha in different months of the year. The festival takes place for two days. The celebration is to mark the victory over evils. The mask worn by the dancers represent the Guardians, Protectors and the Gods and Goddesses. The festival ends with the symbolic assassination of evils and burning of the effigy of evils.
  • Dosmochey: Dosmochey is celebrated in Leh (Leh Palace), Liker (Lower Ladakh) and Deskit (Nubra valley) monasteries in February. The most famous among all is Leh Dosmochey, which is celebrated for two days in the courtyards of the Leh palace. The monks from different monasteries perform the Chams every year turn by turn. The festival takes place in the end and starting of the Tibetan New Year.
  • Matho Nagrang: Matho Nagrang is celebrated on the 15th day of the 1st month of Tibetan calander, at Matho monastery, the only monastery of the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism. During these two days of festival mask dances are performed by monks of the monastery wearing colorful silk brocaded robes and mask in different forms of God and Goddesses.
  • Stok Guru Tsechu: The monks of Stok and Spituk monasteries also celebrate Stok Gruru Tsechu for two days with mask dances performed. It is also held in Feb. around a week before the Matho Nagrang. During the festival two oracle appears, but they are laymen from the same village prepared by monks to receive the spirit of the deities.
  • Phyang Tsedup: Phyang Tsedup takes place in July / August. Like other monasteries, monks wearing colorful brocade robes and Mask in the form of different god and goddesses perform mask dances. The huge thanka of Skyoba Giksten Gonbo is hung in the courtyard during the festival.
  • Yuru Kabgyat: The 2-day festival takes place in July in Lamayuru monastery around 125 kms. from Leh. Monks like other monastic festival perform mask dances. During the festival monks perform prayer and rituals to get rid of disaster and peace in the world.
  • Losar Celebration The Losar (New Year) celebration is followed by Galdan Namchot, the birth anniversary of Tsogkha pa who introduced Gelukpa School of order. During Namchot people illuminate their houses, monasteries and mountains and make offerings in the houses and monasteries.
  • Ladakh Festival: Ladakh festival takes place in September 1-15 every year in Leh and villages. The inauguration ceremony takes place in Leh on large scale with the procession of various cultural troupes from different part of Ladakh. It passes through Leh Market dancing, singing with traditional music, in colorful traditional Ladakhi dresses, and finishes at Polo ground after performing their best dances and songs. The festival last for 15 days with regular program in different villages.
  • Sindhu Darshan (Visit Indus) Festival: Sindhu Darshan is three-day festival held from 1st to 3rd June, in Shey Manla around 8 kms. from Leh on the bank of Indus river. For the first time it was organized in October 1997, as a symbol of unity and Communal harmony and national integration. Whilst promoting domestic tourism in Ladakh. It is also a symbolic salute to brave soldiers of India who have been fighting not only with enemies in the in the human form but also in the form of nature
Shopping in Ladakh

You can enjoy shopping for curios and souvenirs in the bazaars and markets of Leh, while on your tour of Ladakh. Popular items with tourists are Pashmina shawls, stoles and other Pashmina wool garments. Locally handmade woolen socks, gloves, caps and sweaters are a favorite of tourists in Ladakh. Tibetan handicraft items including prayer wheels, Buddhist masks and Thangka paintings can be purchased in Ladakh. Tibetan silver jewelry and traditional Ladakhi jewelry with turquoise are also popular with tourists. Apricots that grow abundantly in Ladakh are another popular gift that you can take back as a delicious souvenir of your trip to Ladakh. Handwoven rugs, carpets and shawls are available in a range of prices in Ladakh's markets. The carpets have floral or geometric designs or dragon motifs on them and can also be hung as decorative wall hangings. Woven in wool gathered from Ladakhi goats, and dyed with natural dyes, Ladakhi carpets and rugs are thick, long-lasting and objects of utility and beauty, which you can buy while shopping in Ladakh. While shopping in open markets, bargaining is commonly practiced and the final price you pay for any product will depend on your skill at negotiating with the seller. In government-run crafts emporia and larger established stores the prices are fixed and bargaining does not occur.

Things To Do
  • RAFTING: Zanskar and Indus(June to sept) Leh to Nimmu river
  • TREKKING: Marka valley trek, Sham Trek, Old monastery Trail, Lamayuru to stok Trek, Hemis to Darcha Trek, Lamayuru to Padam Trek and Khurna river in Ladakh.
Getting to Ladakh
  • By Air: Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport.
  • By Road: Srinagar to Ladakh is 434 kms now a national Highway earlier known as the Treaty Road
  • By Road: Manali to Leh is 473 kms.

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