Area:
97,000 sq kms out of which nearly 38,000 sq. kms are under Chinese
Occupation since 1962.
Population: Approx. 2.40 lakh
in the 2 districts of Leh & Kargil.
Languages: Ladakhi including Balti / Purgi, Shina or Dardic,
Urdu / Hindi.
Ethnic composition: Mongoloid/Tibetan, Dardic and assorted
Indo-Aryan elements.
Altitude: Leh 3505 m, Kargil 2750 m
|
Temperature: |
Maximum |
Minimum |
|
Summer |
25oC |
8oC |
|
Winter |
(-) 5oC |
(-) 20oC |
Rain-fall : 15cm, 6" (annual average)
Clothing
:Cotton & light woollens in summer and heavy woollens including
down-filled wind proof upper garments in winter.
Geographical
Introduction
Ladakh is a land abounding in awesome physical features, set in an
enormous and spectacular environment. Bounded by two of the world's
mightiest mountain ranges, the Karakoram in the north and the Great
Himalaya in the south, it is traversed by two other parallel chains,
the Ladakh Range and the Zanskar Range.
In geological
terms, this is a young land, formed a few million years ago. Its
basic contours, uplifted by tectonic movements, have been modified
over the millennia by the process of erosion due to wind and water,
sculpted into the form that we see today.
A Virtually
Rainless Area
Today a high-altitude
desert, sheltered from the rain-bearing clouds of the Indian monsoon
by the barrier of the Great Himalaya, Ladakh was once covered by an
extensive lake system, the vestiges of which still exist on its
south-east plateaux of Rupshu and Chushul, in the drainage basins or
lakes of Tso-moriri, Tso-kar and Pangong-tso. But the main source of
water is winter snowfall.
For the rest of the region, the snow on the peaks is virtually the
only source of water. As the crops grow, the villagers pray not for
rain, but for sun to melt the glaciers and liberate their water.
Usually their prayers are answered, for the skies are clear and the
sun shines for over 300 days in the year.
Dras, Zanskar and the Suru Valley on the Himalaya's northern flanks
receive heavy snow in winter, this feeds the glaciers from which
melt water, carried down by streams, irrigates the fields in summer.
For the rest of the region, the snow on the peaks is virtually the
only source of water. As the crops grow, the villagers pray not for
rain, but for sun to melt the glaciers and liberate their water.
Leh, the
capital of Ladakh is situated at a height of 3505 meters. Leh is a
beautiful destination with so many attractions and is the center of
Tibeto-Buddhist Culture for ages. Its colorful gompas have attracted
the devout Buddhists from all over the globe. Besides, it is also a
favorite hiking locale and is known for some of the best hikes in
the country.
Weather of The Cold Desert
Ladakh lies
at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet (2,750m) at Kargil to
25,170 feet (7,672m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram. Thus summer
temperatures rarely exceed about 270 C in the shade, while in winter
they may plummet to -200 C even in Leh.
Surprisingly, though, the thin air makes the heat of the sun even
more intense than at lower altitudes; it is said that only in Ladakh
can a man sitting in the sun with his feet in the shade suffer from
sunstroke and frostbite at the same time!
What to Do and See in Ladakh
Ladakh has
nonetheless retained a more tranquil side, and is a pleasant place
to unwind after a long bus journey. Attractions in and around the
town itself include the former Palace and
Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, perched amid strings of prayer flags above
the narrow dusty streets of the Old Quarter. Ladakh is also a good
base for longer day trips out into the Indus Valley. Among the
string of picturesque villages and Gompas within reach by bus are
Shey, site of a derelict 17th century palace, and the
Spectacular
Tikse Gompa. Untill one has adjusted to the altitude, however,
the only sightseeing one will probably feel up to will be from a
guesthouse roof terrace or garden, from where the snowy summits of
the majestic Stok-Kangri massif (6,120m ).
Ladakh offers great opportunities for undertaking adventure
activities amidst landscapes of breathtaking, rugged beauty. The
most popular and best established among these are trekking,
mountaineering and river rafting. more...
Trekking in Ladakh
The
captivating landscape, with an incomparable diversity of flora and
fauna: Ladakh is regarded as the 'trekkers' paradise' and, indeed,
is a refreshing treat to the trekkers. Ladakh is the ultimate
destination for a trekking holiday, offering everything from short
and easy excursions to the long challenges of the snowy peaks,
invoking visions of the spectacular views, the lush meadows, green
woodland and fragrant orchards. Ladakh and its adjoining areas like
Zanskar valley provide excellent trekking routes, which allow the
traveller to visit the remote village in the far-flung area of these
regions. The high mountain passes, monasteries, yak herds on the
high slopes would all give a feeling of the land beyond.
more...
Buddhism in Ladakh
The dominant
religion of Ladakh is Buddhism, and it is the living religion of the
people here, the practice of which has enabled them to live in
complete peace not only with other religions but also with the
nature. It is manifest in the art and architecture of Ladakh. The
monasteries, or the gompas as they are called, are beautifully
designed and have the finest of sculptures, wood carvings, bronzes,
gold and silver chortens, paintings done on silk scrolls and walls
and scriptures printed out of hand-made wooden blocks. In the
monasteries the devout pray for the peace of the world.
more...
Festivals of
Ladakh
The centuries
-old culture of Ladakh has found expression in its monuments,
monasteries, oral literature, art forms and fairs and festivals. And
in the time-honoured tradition of collective celebration ; every
occasion -marriage , birth , harvesting or even the flowering of
plants is marked by feasting, dancing and the singing of folk
songs that form a part of its living heritage
more...
How to Reach Ladakh
By Air:
The nearest airport is Leh. There are flights from Delhi,
Chandigarh and Srinagar.
By Road: There are two overland routes the Srinagar to Leh
road remains open from early June to November. The Jammu and Kashmir
State Road Transport Corporation operates regular deluxe and
ordinary bus services.
Manali - Leh road remains open from mid June to early
October. Himachal Pradesh tourism, HRTC and Manali private bus
union, operates a daily bus services, which takes two days to reach
Leh, after a night halt at Sarchu or Darcha.
Taxi - Taxies are also available at Leh, Manali and
Srinagar.
Hotels in Ladakh
Check out the
Ladakh Hotels Guide offering a list of options to get online Hotel
bookings and instant hotel reservations before planning your trip to
Ladakh.
Click Here For
Hotels Booking in Ladakh
LADAKH
TOUR PACKAGES
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LADAKH
PANORAMA TREKS(Durations
8Nights/9Days)
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TSOMORIRI
LAKE TREKS(Durations
7Nights/8Days)
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LADAKH
MONASTERY TREKS(Durations
15Nights/16Days)
-|-
CLASSIC
MARKHA VALLEY TREKS(Durations
16Nights/17Days)
-|-
-|-
MANALI TO
LADAKH TREKS (Durations
22Nights/23Days)
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