Leh Ladakh
About Ladakh Locked in the arms of spectacularly jagged and arid mountains, stands this crowning glory of India, i.e. Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. Dramatically rolling mountains hemming Ladakh; lofty peaks; high altitude, pristine lakes; the great Indus river […]
About Ladakh
Locked in the arms of spectacularly jagged and arid mountains, stands this crowning glory of India, i.e. Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. Dramatically rolling mountains hemming Ladakh; lofty peaks; high altitude, pristine lakes; the great Indus river flowing right through it; exceptional, turquoise-grey confluence of Zanskar and Indus; vibrant, fluttering prayer flags; whitewashed stupas; and spinning prayer wheels make feast-for-an-eye lalndscape in this region. Ladakh, which literally means ‘the land of high passes’ lies between the Himalayas and the Kunlun mountain range at a height of more than 3000 metres (9800 feet). The bordering Himalayas create Ladakh a rain shadow region making it cold and dry desert area. This region is majorly inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent.
Leh, a small yet bustling town is the main town in Ladakh. Nestled at an altitude of 3500 metres/ 11,480 feet, this mountain-framed Leh is a place that has everything too easy to fall in love with; let it be the stupas, Ladakhi houses, a web of narrow footpaths, a green patchwork of irrigated barley fields, gushing streams, an imposing Tibetan-styled palace and fort at Old Town, etc. The multi-colored and gorgeous panorama of Leh city seen from Leh Palace make every bit of it worth viewing. So, Leh attracts the maximum number of tourists.
Ladakh can certainly be described as India’s Shangri La. It caters to every type of tourist; let him be a nature lover, explorer, spirituality enthusiast, adventure seeker, trekker or biker. This most sought-after destination has a gamut of adventure activities and sites to be visited. There are many perfect short haul excursions from Leh. You can start from the Shyok and Nubra river valleys. These valleys bid unendingly breathtaking scenery; with green oasis hamlets surrounded by thrillingly stark scree slopes of arid mountains, like Turtuk, Hunder, Diskit, Sumur, Panamik, etc. and sand dunes. You can visit the most secluded lakes like the ever-alluring Pangon-Tso and placid Tso Moriri. Also, you get to hit the highest motorable passes like Khardung La (5359 metres/ 17,582 feet) and Chang La (5,360 metres/ 17,590 feet). Hidden in the folds of mountains, the mystical monasteries like Thiksey Monastery, Lamayuru Monastery, Hemis Monastery captivate you with the riot of golden Buddhas, intricately colorful murals and burgundy-robed monks residing in them. And, the Shanti Stupa, sitting majestically on a hilltop at Leh especially steals/ takes away every heart with the awe-inspiring panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
They say life is about the journey and not the destination. Well, reaching Leh by road is a grand achievement; especially if you choose the most scenic but treacherous route from Manali to Leh (Manali – Rohtan Pass – Khoksar – Keylong – Jispa – Zingzingbar – Baralacha La – Sarchu – Pang – Tanglang La – Upshi – Karu – Leh). Or you can opt for the other charming route from Srinagar to Leh (Srinagar – Sonmarg – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil – Mulbek – Lamayuru – Leh). You can reach Leh by flight too. There are direct flights from Delhi, Manali and Srinagar to Leh. The road trip to Ladakh helps to acclimatize whereas in the flight journey due to sudden changes in the level of altitude you have to rest enough to get acclimatized with the high altitude.
You can embark on your memorable journey during the summer season when the snow-clad mountains start to melt down making the surroundings energizing and refreshing. However, during the winter Ladakh offers some of the best views with snow covered mountains all around. And, not to forget winter is the time when you can enjoy the most beautiful and adventurous trek in the world Chadar Trek. Trekking over the grand and solidified Zanskar River is something which will be cherished forever. Well, you can say that both the seasons have their own charm and allure.
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