subject: Capital Town Of Ladakh [print this page] Ladakh (land of high passes) is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northern most state of India. 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. It lies between the Karakoram mountain range in the north and the great Himalayas in the south.
Ladakh was the middle point of the most important trade route of South Asia and Central Asia. Trade between them was closed because Chinese authorities closed the borders with Tibet and India in the 1960s. Since 1974, the Government of India has successfully encouraged Tourism in Ladakh.
It is important to note that trekking in Ladakh is possible in summer only. The temperature decreases here to -20 degree Celsius in the winter season (November to April). All the roads of Ladakh are blocked due to heavy snowfall. Suitable time for trekking in Ladakh is May to October. Residents of the high altitude area migrate to the lower parts of the country.
Leh; the largest district of Jammu and Kashmir, covering approximately 100,000 sq. km, was the capital of the Himalayan kingdom and at present the most important town and gateway of Ladakh. It is still dominated by the ruined Leh palace, former mansion of royal family of Ladakh, which was built in the same style and about the same time as the Potala palace.
The Leh to Srinagar road is usually open from the end of May to early November. The trip takes two days with an overnight stop in Kargil (or occasionally Drass). Buses bound for Srinagar have to clear the pass by 5am, forcing a 2 am start from Kargil. Another land route is Leh Manali Highway which can be covered by easily available bus, taxi and bike within a span of one to three days with an overnight stop in Keylong. Tourists can reach Leh in a few hours by air root from Delhi and Srinagar. Trekking in Ladakh requires not only time and money, but also requires a commitment and a determination from the person to withstand the harsh realities of moving across the area through this harsh and unforgiving landscape.
