Ladakh "land of high passes" is a region of India in the state of Jammu and Kashmir that 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. It is one of the most sparsely populated regions in Jammu and Kashmir and because of the cultural and historic facts being similar to that of Tibet, it is also known as "Mini Tibet".."Ladakh, the Persian transliteration of the Tibetan La-dvags, is warranted by the pronunciation of the word in several Tibetan districts. Historically, the region included the Baltistan (Baltiyul) valleys, the Indus Valley, the remote Zangskar, Lahaul and Spiti to the south, Aksai Chinand Ngari, including the Rudok region and Guge, in the east, and the Nubra valleys to the north.Contemporary Ladakh borders Tibet to the east, the Lahaul and Spiti to the south, the Vale of Kashmir, Jammu and Baltiyul regions to the west, and the trans Kunlun territory of Xinjiang to the far north. 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.In the past Ladakh gained importance from its strategic location at the crossroads of important trade routes, but since the Chinese authorities closed the borders with Tibet and Central Asia in the 1960s, international trade has dwindled except for tourism. Since 1974, the Government of India has successfully encouraged tourism in Ladakh. The largest town in Ladakh is Leh. It is one of the few remaining abodes of Buddhism in South Asia, including the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bhutanand Sri Lanka; a majority of Ladakhis are Tibetan Buddhists and the rest are mostly Shia Muslims.Leh is a backpacker's haven with numerous trekking trails, valleys, and picturesque lakes. Renowned as the land of monks and monasteries there is lots to see in this amazing piece of land. Leh is followed by Kargil as the second largest town in Ladakh. Some Ladakhi activists have in recent times called for Ladakh to be constituted as a union territory because of its religious and cultural differences with predominantly Muslim Kashmir..
Detailed Destination Itinerary
- Hall of Fame Museum - Hall of Fame Leh is a museum constructed and maintained by the Indian army in memory of the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the Indo-Pak wars
- Shanti Stupa - Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist stupa on a hilltop near Leh built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura. The Shanti Stupa holds the relics of the Buddha at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama himself. The stupa has become a tourist attraction not only due to its religious significance but also due to its location which provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
- Kali Mata Temple - Kali Mata temple is a locally popular temple near Leh Airport dedicated to Goddess Kali.
- Shey Monastery - The Shey Monastery and the Shey Palace complex are located 15 kilometres south of Leh on the Leh-Manali road. Shey was the summer capital of Ladakh in the past
- Gurdwara Pathar Sahib - Gurdwara Pathar Sahib was constructed in 1517 to commemorate the visit to the Ladakh region of Guru Nanak Dev in the region. Gurdwara is located at about 25 kms from Leh, on the Leh-Kargil road, 12000 ft above sea level.
- Khardungla Pass - Khardung La (17582 ft asl) is one of the worlds highest motorable passes at 39 kms from Leh. Khardung La offers spectacular views and is kind of must visit for any traveller to Leh.
- Alchi Monastery - At 70 kms from Leh, Alchi Choskor(10000 - 11000 ft) is situated on the banks of Indus River. It is the Jewel among Ladakhs monasteries. The main attraction here is the Alchi Gompa, a Buddhist worshipping place and study center, with an estimated 1000 years old
- Pangong Lake - Pangong Lake is an high altitude lake visited ex-Leh (128 kms). The lake is 134 kms long and max 5 km wide. Pangong drive from Leh is most spectacular via Changla pass and staying overnight at Pangong Lake is nothing short of an experience. Pangong area is also renowned for bird watching as its a nesting grounds for migratory birds like Bar headed Geese and being considered for a Ramsar site.
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