Sandwiched between the Karakoram
mountain range to the north and Himalayas to the south, Ladakh is one of the
most sparsely populated regions of India. It lies at an altitude ranging
from about 2,750m to 7,673m. The feature of Ladakhi people, their dialects,
clothes are very much similar to Tibetan, Mongoloid and then Indian that is
why it is popular among the tourists as little Tibet.The religion of
Buddhism is very popular in Ladakh.
See & Do
Singhee Palace - Leh
became the capital of upper Ladakh during the reign of king Graspa Bum-Lde
who ruled over Ladakh from 1400 A.D to 1430 A.D. The Leh area is very much
dominated by the nine storey Singhee Palace.
Suru Valley - The landscape of Suru Valley is amazing. It
looks wonderful when the area gets covered by the flowers during summers.
Drass - This place
has beautiful pasture grounds and the second coldest inhabited place in the
world. One can have a lovely view of the Tiger Hills from the Drass village.
Monasteries of Ladakh
- Spituk Monastery - The Spituk monastery is known
for its collection of Buddhist artifacts and for the Spituk festival
held from the 17th to 19th days of the 11th month of the Buddhist
calendar.
- Shanti Stupa - This was built by a Japanese
Buddhist organisation and was inaugurated by his holiness Dalai Lama.
- Stok Gonpa and Palace - The museum at the Stok
Palace has an intriguing collection of Buddhist art, weapons, jewelry
and artifacts, including thangkas painted with colors derived from
crushed precious stones.
- Thiksey Monastery - The Thiksey monastery
located 17 Km from Leh is 12 storeys high and has many statues of
Buddha.
- Likir Monastery - The Likir monastery has a rich
collection of paintings, robes and artifacts. The Likir Festival is held
from the 17th to 19th of the 12th month of the Tibetan Buddhist
calendar.
- Hemis Monastery - This is the biggest monastery
in Ladakh built in 1630. It is famous for its annual Tse-Chu festival.
Get Adventurous In Ladakh
Amidst the landscape of breathtaking and
rugged beauty, Ladakh offers all the adventure enthusiasts a chance to boost
their love for activities as -
- Trekking - The rugged landscape of Ladakh provides great
routes for trekkers. Trekking is very much possible here in the month of
June to October.
- River Rafting - The swift-flowing Indus and Zanskar Rivers
offer rafting enthusiasts excellent venues for white-water rafting in
Ladakh
- Mountain climbing - Several challenging peaks are offered to
all the travellers who are interested in mountaineering.
- Jeep Safari - One of the most popular adventure activities
in Ladakh is the jeep safari. The jeep safari through Ladakh is an
excellent way to explore the remote region. The picturesque landscapes
in and around Ladakh beckon nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.
Everyone visiting Ladakh should definitely try jeep safari because they
are the fastest, easiest and most comfortable means of transportation.
The trips of the jeep safari are meticulously planned.
- Archery - It is an important sport of Ladakh. Archery
contests are organised at frequent intervals here.
- Camel Safari - Want to enjoy a camel safari on a camel that
has 2 humps then you have landed at the right place because in India its
only Ladakh where such camels are found.
Shop Till You Drop
Everyone of us would like to take back
something or the other from the world's highest hill station. You can find
traditional curios and all kinds of trinkets in the colourful markets of
Ladakh. The popular items that one can take back home from Ladakh are-
Pashmina shawls, stoles, woolen garments, socks, gloves, caps and sweaters
that are locally made and are in great demand by the tourists. Even Tibetan
handicraft items like prayer wheels, buddhist masks, thangka paintings are
found in here. Tibetan silver jewellery and traditional turquoise jewellery
from Ladakh are in the eyes of many.
Main markets
The main markets in Leh are the Tibetan market off Leh Road which sells a
complete array of curios, handicrafts and jewellery.
- Moti market near the bus stand.
- Government run craft emporiums and the open markets.
Some good venues for shopping in Ladakh are:
- Ladakh Art Palace on the Main Bazaar Road
- Tibetan Handicraft Emporium on the Main Bazaar Road
- Ladakh Environment and Health Organization on the Main Bazaar Road
- Tibetan Handicraft Community Showroom in Choglamsar
- Cottage Industries Exposition in Changspa
- Ecology Centre in Changspa · Women's Alliance in Changspa
Food Paradise
The local Ladakhi food is very famous among the
tourists visiting Ladakh. Favorites include Thukpa, a thick soup with
vegetables that provides a complete meal and delicious Momos or steamed
dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables, accompanied by a fiery chili
sauce. Restaurants in Ladakh offer multi cuisine like Tibetan, Korean,
Chinese and Western dishes.
Some good restaurants in Leh are:
- Himalaya Cafe - for good Tibetan fare
- Shangri La - offers Korean cuisine
- Budshah Inn - offers Chinese and Kashmiri cuisine
- Dreamland Restaurant - offers Tibetan, Kashmiri,
Indian and Italian food.
- Penguin Bar and Restaurant - has a German Bakery
with a wide choice of baked goods.
- Mentokling Restaurant - offers pizzas cooked over
a traditional wood-fired oven
- Pumpernickel German Bakery - offers lasagna and a
fixed-price breakfast, as well as picnic meals.
