Ladakh

Introduction : Ladakh The hill resort of Ladakh is one of the ten provinces in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh offer the magic of the majestic mountains and the Tibeto-Buddhist Culture. The lovely Ladakh is one place where you may suffer from sunstroke and frostbite at the same time. The snow capped peaks and the barren lands beckon more intense and adventurous of travelers. You need to be in the wilderness of Ladakh to enjoy its virginal beauty.

Location : The hill resort of Ladakh is surrounded by the Karakoram Range in the north. The Himalayas border Ladakh in the south. The Indus River flows through Ladakh and divides it into Leh, Nubra, Zanskar, lower Ladakh and Rupshu. Geographically speaking the landscape of Ladakh comprises of uplands, craggy, barren cliffs and plateaus.

Past : The rich cultural past of Ladakh is revealed in the Buddhist simplicity. The Tibetan culture and the Buddhist monasteries not only offer the gorgeous gompas to the tourists but also have a vital part to play in the social lives of the people. The rich cultural past of Ladakh is revealed in the Buddhist simplicity. The Tibetan culture and the Buddhist monasteries not only offer the gorgeous gompas to the tourists but also have a vital part to play in the social lives of the people.

Sites to Visit : The hill resort of Ladakh is dotted with places of tourist interest. Amongst the must visits in Ladakh is the Hemis monastery. Hemis is one of the largest monasteries in Ladakh. At Hemis there is a huge painting of the Buddha but it is displayed to the public only once in 11 years. The monastery is home to over a hundred and fifty lamas. Then there is the Thikse monastery whose architecture will not fail to sweep you off your feet. In the Shey monastery you must see the huge gold-plated copper statue of the Buddha. Amongst the other old gompas worth visiting in Ladakh are 1,000-year-old Alchi, 11th century- Likir and Lamayuru.
Coming back to nature it is noteworthy that Ladakh is rich in flora and fauna. You may feast your eyes on the exotic flowers like iris and larkspurs in Ladakh. Moving on to fauna you will be able to spot Yak easily in Ladakh. The local people of Ladakh use the meat, horns, hooves, hide, hair and even the tail of Yak. Though you may use the animal for a ride. While in Ladakh you will come across the hybrid between the yaks and cow namely Dzo. Dzo can only be seen in Ladakh. Ladakh is home to several wool-producing animals like sheep, goats and yak. While holidaying in the hill resort of Ladakh you must dress in the lovely local beautiful beribboned costumes for a picture!

Sites Near By : Double humped Bactrian Camel - Ladakh
While holidaying in Ladakh you must visit the sites nearby that make interesting excursion options.
Close to Ladakh is a village called Skara. The village is a renowned host of the local archery contests. The competing archers display their skill and accuracy. You must attend these competitions for the sport and refreshments. You are treated with amazing apricots, apples and dry fruits. Adding to the local flavor is a brew of barley and gur tea.
Then there is the Nubra valley near Ladakh. You will pass the reddish mountain peaks and the Khardungla Pass to reach the Nubra valley. The amazing fact about Nubra is the co-existence of water, mountain and desert. You must check out for the rare double humped Bactrian camel at Nubra.

What to Buy : Any holiday would not be complete without a shopping spree. In the lovely hill resort of Ladakh pieces of metal work, woodcarving and paintings are popular gift items. Clothes and especially the pashmina is a must have for yourself as a souvenir from Ladakh. The abundance of the sheep, goats and yak in the region leads to production of various varieties of wool and woolens in Ladakh that might interest you.

Adventure Sports : For the adventure seekers Ladakh is the place to check out for hiking, skiing, river rafting, paragliding, trekking and mountaineering. You can go white river rafting in the highest location for the sport in the world in Ladakh. Try along the 26-kilometre stretch from Fhey to Nimo in the Indus River.

How to Reach : The airport at Leh is the nearest to Ladakh. Regular flights to the Leh airport connect Leh and in turn Ladakh with Delhi, Chandigarh and Srinagar.
Ladakh is connected to other places through a road network too. The various routes link Ladakh with Srinagar, Leh, Kargil, Manali and Keylong.
Local transportation in places in and around Ladakh is not a problem. You may go in for buses for hire jeeps for commuting and sightseeing.

Best Time to Visit : The hill resort of Ladakh experiences, cold and dry climate. Ladakh receives approximately fifty mm of annual rainfall. The lovely landscape of Ladakh turns freezing in the winters that is long and bitter. The best time to visit Ladakh is certainly the summer months. Though short the heat of the summers makes glaciers melt.

Where to Stay : Accommodation is easily available in the hill resort of Ladakh. There are several hotels that cater to the needs of the tourists to Ladakh. In fact you will find some suitable accommodation option within your budget. Delicious and hygienic food is also readily available in the hotels, restaurants and the eateries that dot Ladakh.

Fairs and Festivals : The lovely land of Ladakh plays hosts to the annual Ladakhi festival. The festival is a big time event that attracts several tourists to Leh. The celebration of the festival includes lot of zest and fervor from the local people. There are traditional dance performances, display of sporting skills in the various competitions and the exhibition of the local handicrafts. The tunes of the drums and the flutes will not fail to move you. The festival reveals a lot about the people and their culture in Ladakh.