Leh Ladakh-kashmir
Divided into the main regions
Divided into the main regions
of Leh and Kargil, this region has remained isolated from the rest of the world for a long time. Entering this Little Tibet you get transported into a different age, when people travelled across high mountain passes and over swift-flowing rivers, kings ruled with a firm hand and on occasion, marauding armies swept in to carry away the wealth. Lying on the cross roads of the fabled Silk Route, Ladakh was a important halt for the caravans that made their way across the hostile Karakoram Ranges into Central Asia. The severe mountainscape of Leh, the green river valleys, winding roads straddling towering mountains, untouched wildernesses of the Zanskar valley and the unforgiving terrain of the Kargil region are all about unravelling nature at its starkest best. At every bend of the road, every tiny hamlet across the river and remote monastery on the hillside, an intriguing picture unfolds before your eyes. A land, truly unparalleled in its majestic beauty.
1. The climate in Ladakh is one of extremes; it swings between hot and cold, with cold usually getting the upper hand. This region lies tucked way up amongst some of the world''s highest peaks, the temeratures can be very low through most of the year with many parts of Ladakh remaining snowbound
even during the summer. Average temperatures in summer ranges between 20c and 38c across most of the area lying in the Indus Valley, around Leh and Kargil whereas average temperatures in winter range between -30c in Leh and Kargil and down to as much as -60c in Dras. Tap water freezes, the Zanskar becomes a sheet of ice over which nomadic tribes trudge across to the Indus valley. In summer with thawing comes the bright scorching sunlight. With very little vegetation providing wind breaks or cover and so, totally exposed to the elements, Ladakh experiences high velocity dust storms and snow blizzards. 2. The staple food of Ladakhis is barley, which is roasted and then ground to make the tsampa, a kind of barley porridge. Variations of tsampa include yoghurt or cheese along with the barley; skir, a stew of meat cooked with potatoes and barley; thukpa, a soup of noodles and meat, an the much loved momos, steamed meat dumplings. And to wash it all down there''s plenty of gurgur chai, a typically Ladhaki tea which is served topped with dollops of salted yak butter; or chhang, the locally brewed barley beer. Chang is the local alcoholic drink, brewed from fermented rice. The market also has some fantastic bakeries that offer a mouth- watering range of pies and pastries. 3. While going trekking, pack sufficient protective clothing, including something to ward off the bone-chiiling winds that whoosh down the mountains; they are deathly cold It is important to carry Vitamin C tablets for the high altitudes. The entire region of Ladakh- barring parts of the Nubra Valley and the Suru Valley is very dry, and if one is not careful, there is a risk of dehydration.
Historically Speaking
Rock engravings and archaeological finds indicate that the early inhabitants of Ladakh living here for thousands of years were nomadic tribals or Changpas from the Tibetan plateau. They were later joined by Buddhists from northern India called the Mons, in the 4th and 5th centuries AD by the Indo-Aryan
Dards. Migrating along the course of the Indus, the Dards introduced irrigation and settled cultivation into this region. The Muslim Baltis came in from Central Asia to settle around Kargil. In Roman times, Ladakh was a major trading centre on the Silk Route between China and the Mediterranean. The first independent kingdom that consolidated the entire region was established in the 9th century. At the same time, Buddhism was introduced in the region by great teachers like Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche). Towards the end of the 10th century, Ladakh came under the rule of the Thi dynasty, which established its capital at Shey. The Thi rulers built great forts and palaces, and also shifted their religious order more towards Tibetan Buddhism with its strong tantric aspects. In 1533, Soyang Namgyal established the Namgyal dynasty, which extended its empire up to the outskirts of Lhasa. The capital was shifted to the more strategically located Leh, where the descendants of the Namgyal dynasty still live. In the late 16th and 17th century, Ladakh was invaded by the Muslim Baltis. In the tumultuous years after Indias independence, Ladakh also experienced some of the fiercest battles. In 1950, Chinese troops occupied Aksai Chin, which they claimed to be part of China. Their army marched deep into Ladakh, building roads and bridges without the knowledge of Indian authorities to link Tibet with Xinjiang. Though contested by India, the territorial dispute has never been settled. In 1962, China launched a full-scale war on India, with Ladakh as one of the fronts. In the aftermath of this war, Ladakh grew in importance as a military base. Due to its sensitive location, Ladakh remained closed to foreigners till 1974, when it was opened up for tourists from abroad. The aspirations of the distinctly different Ladakhis led to creation of Autonomous Hill Council within Jammu & Kashmir in 1995. Local councillors with greater decision-making powers govern this council, with its headquarters at Leh. Today, Ladakh has been rediscovered, not as a trade link, but a land of amazing beauty and antiquity.
How to get there by Air
Ladakh''s capital Leh is connected by an Indian Airlines service that comes in to the airport, 5kms from the main town on the Srinagar Highway. Indian Airlines has 3-5 flights on the Delhi-Leh sector in peak season (June to September). Foreigners have to pay a US $10 entry fee. From the airport,
shuttle bus services and shared jeep-taxis are available into town. Weather conditions can be erratic in Leh and flights get cancelled at short notice. Check before travelling and book well in advance, since flights are usually full.
How to get there by Rail
There are no trains to Ladakh. One can only avail the air or the bus services.
How to get there by Bus
The most used overland approach to Ladakh is from the Kashmir valley on the Srinagar-Leh road (435km), The highway opens in early June just as the summer traffic to the region begins and closes down by November. The highway crosses some really fabulous scenic areas before entering Ladakh through
the Zoji-La pass (3505m).
Best time to Visit
The best time to visit Ladakh is from middle of May till end of September. However the remote trek routes open up only by June. Travellers coming in even as late as November find Ladakh has much to offer, despite it being pretty cold.
Hotels in Leh,
Hotels in LadakhThere is a variety of accommodation available in Ladakh - hotels, guesthouses, paying guest accommodation and tourist hostels. Hotels are classified into A, B, C & Economy categories while guest houses fall in the upper, medium and economy class. Quite a few hotels in Ladakh are family-run concerns
and give tourists the opportunity of interaction with local families. Some monasteries allow guests and offer essentially basic accommodation that is available for the price of a small donation. Most of the hotels are around the main bazaar area, which tends to get rather crowded during the peak tourist season. Most hotels and guesthouses close down in winter, mainly because occupancy is pretty low. Kargil has reasonably tolerable accommodation - hotels, guest houses, paying guest rooms in private homes - but nothing that is even remotely luxurious. In the newly open to tourists areas of the Nubra Valley, Tangse, Spangmik ( Lake Pongong), Drokpa and Zanskar, infrastructure is pretty inadequate except for the Tourist Department operated guest houses and hikers/trekkers huts. Tents and other gear for camping is available at the tourist offices. Accommodation is at a premium during the peak tourist season (May-Sept), so book in advance to avoid being disappointed.
Nearby Places
Leh is a large town that once was an important stopover for laden caravan travelling the Central Asian Silk Route. It is situated at a height of 3417m amidst high mountain ranges. It is pretty, picturesque place with old monasteries, temples or gompas and stupas, palaces of the ruling family
and traditional houses. In recent times, Leh has become a popular destination and so tends to be more crowded and commercial than before. However, being well connected to other parts of India, most tourists prefer touse it as a base for forays into the less travelled parts of the province. Ldomra , the valley of flowers is the Ladakhi name given to the Nubra Valley . Nubra (10,000ft ASL) lies in the north of Ladakh and includes the valley of the Rivers Nubra and Shayok. The approach to the valley involves crossing the worlds highest motorable mountain pass, the famous Khardung-la (18,383 ft). The valley of the Nubra and Shayok Rivers lies surrounded by massifs and peaks of the mighty Himalayas and present impressive vistas glaciers, snow clad mountain peaks contrast with pretty valleys and charming villages. Nubras other attractions are its sulphur springs, monasteries and gompas . Despite the high altitude, the valleys in the lee are sheltered enough to grow plenty of fruits and the flowering orchards are a visual delight in the summer months. Sumur and Panamic are two important villages of the Nubra Valley and are located some 60 km from the town of Deskit, just across the Shayok River. Panamik has an interesting history going back to the days of camel trains wending their way on the ancient Silk Route. It was the last stop for these caravans before they embarked on the hazardous journey through the hostile Karakoram mountain range to reach Central Asia. Sumur is famous for the Samstanling Monastery . The region is also well known for sulphur hot springs that have therapeutic properties and are very popular with locals. Drass is a small town to the west of Kargil (60km). Drass lies in the valley that shares its name. Drasss claim to fame is the fact that it experiences the second coldest temperatures in Asia - in severe winters, temperatures fall to minus 40 Celsius and the valley and its inhabitants are completely cut off from the rest of the world. Relatively flat, open countryside lined with willow trees forms the charming valley of the River Drass that has it source in the Machoi glacier near Zoji-la. During summer, the river is a roaring cascade as the melting snows of other rivers and streams in the snowfields higher up combine to make it a raging torrent. Drasss short summer season begins in May - and many avid trekkers find their way here to climb up to the Suru valley . A hot favourite with enthusiasts, the trek entails a demanding three day walk over high passes and across many mountain rivers. Zanskar is a three-pronged valley lying between the Himalayan and Zanskar mountain ranges and is home to more than 10,000 Buddhists. Overlooking the valley is the awesome mountain range with the mighty Nun-Kun peaks , considered the most tough and challenging mountains in Ladakh by mountaineers. It is the most remote and inaccessible district in Ladakh and has only recently been opened up for tourism. It has the requisite number of Buddhist monasteries, gompas and old monuments but its attraction lies in its terrain- ideal for trekking, climbing and white water rafting. Zanzkars popularity as a tourist destination has seen a quantum leap as both government and private operators are actively promoting the region for adventure tourism as well as developing and investing in the necessary infrastructure. Kargil lies on the banks of the Suru River, frothing and fretting its way down the mountains. A predominantly Muslim town, Kargil was first settled by the Indo-Aryan Mons from across the Himalayas, the nomadic people of Dard from the valleys of the rivers Indus and Gilgit and immigrants from the Tibetan plateau. It enjoys the status of Ladakhs second most important town though there is little to qualify it as such.
For more information for this Destination please check
india Travel Guidebudget hotels in Hyderabadby: Raman Mankotia
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