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Leh Ladakh
| ABOUT LADAKH |
| Ladakh is an ideal destination for adventure enthusiasts. The range of adventure sports activities on offer in Ladakh is sure to satisfy every adventure lover. One can try trekking and mountaineering in the Himalayas or white water rafting on mountain rivers. Traditional sports such as polo and archery, and camel safaris across the countryside, a tour to Ladakh is sure to make a thrill seeker happy with lots of options for adventure sports in Ladakh. |
| LANGUAGE |
| People in Ladkah speak Ladakhi, Urdu, Hindi and English. |
| BEST TIME TO VISIT |
| March to October. Though Ladakh its visited though out the year. |
| CLOTHING |
| When visiting Ladkah during summers one must carry light & medium woolen cloths whereas when traveling during winters please carry heavy woolen cloths. If going for some adventure sports in Ladakh then do carry good waterproof shoes & extra pair of shoes.
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| SHOPPING IN LADAKH |
| Things To Buy from Ladakh: Tibetan Trumpets, Cymbals, Brass & Copper 'Chang' Kettles, Prayer Wheels, Thunderbolts, 'Gur ' Tea Churners, 'Chaam' Dance Masks, 'Thangkas', Coral & Seed Pearl Necklaces.
Famous Shopping Centers: Tibetan Children's Village Handicraft Centre, Potala
Traditional Items from Ladakh. |
IN & AROUND LADKAH
| Pangong Tso Lake |
The lake is surrounded by giant peaks that are well over 6400 mtrs. Pangong is situated 160 kms. from Leh. This route takes the visitor past picturesque villages of Shey and Thikse, and turns off the Indus valley by the side-valley of Chemrey and Sakti.The drive begins with Thiksey village famous for its huge monasteries covering an entire mountain ridge. Beyond this remote village there is nothing but the extreme mountain ridge. Pangong Tso Lake is 150 kms. long and only 4 kms. at its widest. Only the quarter of the lake is in India and the rest is in Tibet.
Leh Palace: Leh palace was built in the 17th century by King Singe Namgyal as the royal residence. The Palace of Ladakh, though in a dilapidated condition continues to lure tourists from far and wide. The majestic palace overlooks the Namgyal hill and is nestled amidst breath taking locales of the Himalayas. Located in the Himalayas, the adventurous journey one has to undertake to reach the palace is what makes it even more special. It was deserted in the mid 19th century after the family shifted. The Leh Palace of Ladakh still retains an old worldly charm about it, though it has been maintained now. Right above the palace is the famous Victory Tower that was built in the memory of the triumphant brave Ladakhi soldiers who fought the invading armies of Balti Kashmiris in the early 16th Century. Today, the palace serves as an office for Indian Government's Archaeological Conservation Organization. |
| Khardung La Pass |
| Khardung La is the world's highest motorable mountain pass – maybe. Apparently there is another, higher pass nearby, although it is one that would be very difficult for foreign tourist to get to. Apparently some people with GPS have also measured less than the 5602 metres that is advertised on top of Khardung La. Who cares? It's very high! You can't stay too long because of the altitude, but there is also not so much to do anyway except to take some photos and have a cup of tea. Khardung La, or K-Top, is an easy half a day's trip from Leh, and also a gateway to the Nubra Valley, the northernmost part of India a tourist can visit.It is not very often that one gets to drive on a road at an altitude of 18,380 feet. That is where Khardungla Pass, meaning the 'Pass of Lower Castle,' is located on the way from Leh to the Nubra Valley in Ladakh. It is the highest motorable road in the world as signs put up by the Border Roads Organization proudly proclaim. |
| Alchi and its Buddhist Murals |
| Alchi is a small mountain village at just over 3000 metres altitude by the Indus River, around 60 km from Leh, Ladakh's capital and home to unique Buddhist murals. The 11th century Kashmiri Buddhist murals have suffered badly due to neglect and the harsh mountain weather, and soon you might not be able to see them at all: while some have been restored, some are clearly not going to survive.Alchi is an easy daytrip from Leh (although in Ladakh 60 km of road means a good few hours of driving ) but the cute guesthouses, nice restaurants and bakeries and the gorgeous views made me wish I could have stayed a few nights.
Shanti Stupa: Shanti Stupa at Changspa,it can be reached quite easily from the Fort Road,just on the outskirts of Leh, was built by the Japanese Buddhist organization "The Japanese for World Peace" to celebrate 2,500 years of Budhism was inaugurated by His Holiness Dalai Lama in 1985. Seen in the morning light of the rising sun, the aim behind the construction of the stupa was to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism and to promote World Peace,it is a truly peaceful and unforgettable sight!His Holiness, the Dalai Lama inaugurated the Shanti Stupa in the year 1985. A magnificent white-domed structure, the Shanti Stupa of Leh Ladakh offers spectacular views of the sunrise and sunset. The stupa looks best at night, when it is beautifully illuminated with glittering lights. A large number of tourists come to Ladakh every year to visit this amazing stupa.
Tso Moriri lake: The Tso Moriri lake in the Changthang area of Ladakh.The lake is approximately 19 kms long and 7 kms wide and is located at an altitude of 4595 meters above sea level.This lake was declared as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 2003. The lake now has the distinction of being the highest Ramsar site in the world surpassing Salar de Tara in Chile. It is fed by a number of small glacial streams and has no external drainage. This fact coupled with a high rate of evaporation, has resulted in the waters being brackish and bereft of any life.
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| ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES IN LEH & LADAKH |
WHITE WATER RAFTING: The swift-flowing Indus and Zanskar Rivers offer rafting enthusiasts excellent venues for white-water rafting in Ladakh. Rafting expeditions are organized from July to September and usually cover the stretches of the Indus river between Hemis to Choglamsar and Nimmu to Phey.
MOUNTAINEERING: Ladakh offers many challenging peaks for a mountaineer. Stok Kangri Peak (6121 m) in Zanskar, Kangyaze Peak (6400 m) to the south east of Leh and the Nunkun Massif, which can be reached from the Leh-Kargil road are popular with serious mountaineers. All climbers need to get permission from the Indian Mountaineering Federation in Delhi, before attempting the ascent of an peak in Ladakh.
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