-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INDIA SEEK.com
---› Ladakh Tourism
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ladakh Tourism
Ladakh - The Trans Himalayan Region
Location : Jammu & Kashmir
Altitude Range: 2,500 To 4,500m
Main Attractions: Trekking, Mountaineering, Camping, Water Rafting, And
Buddhist Monasteries
Best Time To Visit : June To End September
Trans Himalayan Regions : Ladakh, Leh, Zanskar, Lahaul & Spiti
Travel to Ladakh & Leh in India Trans Himalayas region which is full of
amazing sights, blessed with all the natural bounties, surrounded by towering
peaks, trekking and hiking trails, a popular destination known for its immense
natural beauty all over the world.
About Ladakh
The
remote, high altitude area of northern India occupies 96,701 sq km (including
Aksai Chin) of the eastern half of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is
called Ladakh. It is bordered on the northwest with Pakistan; the north with
the Chinese province of Sinkiang; and the east with Tibet. The capital city
of Leh lies at an altitude of 3500 meters and it is also the largest population
center, about 25,000 residents. Many books have been written about this fascinating
and remote area in the Himalayas. Short descriptions of the following subjects
should provide you with basic knowledge, and hopefully encourage you to visit
Ladakh to learn more.
The flight into Leh, the capital of Ladakh, is an unforgettable experience -
over the dramatic expanse of the Himalayas - for Ladakh straddles four main
ranges - the great Himalayan, Zanskar, Ladakh and the Karakoram. This is the
highest inhabited region in India and the River Indus with its tributaries,
slice their way through the ranges.
Remote though it is, Ladakh has never been totally isolated. Over the centuries
the trade route from India to central Asia passed through this area undeterred
by its high passes and desert landscape. Caravans carrying spices, brocades,
pearls, carpets and more mundane merchandise like salt and tea took just two
months to cover the distance from Amritsar in the Punjab to the central Asian
towns of Varkand and Khotan! Leh and Kargil on this ancient route developed
then into centres of trade.
Topography Ladakh
Ladakh
translates to Land of the High Passes, and it certainly merits this name with
its multitude of towering mountain ranges, river valleys and high plateaus.
The Karakoram Range isolates the northern border and contains the highest peak
in Ladakh, Saser Kangri at 7672 meters (25,164 ft). The Himalayan Range along
the southern and eastern border contains two 7000-meter peaks, Nun and Kun.
Popular trekking peaks are Stok Kangri (6121 m) in the Stok Range and Kang Yatse
(6401 m) in the Zanskar Range.
Routes over the high passes of Ladakh were established centuries ago by the
caravan traders and by the local people. Some of these routes have been developed
into motorable roads. The road from Srinagar to Leh via Kargil crosses the
Himalayas over the Zoji La (pass) at 3530 m, and then over the Namika La at
3719 m and the Fotu La at 4094 m before descending by the Lamayuru Monastery
and down into the Indus Valley. The road from Manali must cross the Lachlung
la at 5060 m and the Taglang La at 5328 m. The world’s highest motorable
road from Leh to the Nubra Valley crosses the Kardung La at 5602 m (18,375
ft). The road from Kargil to Padum in the Zanskar Valley must pass over the
Fentse La at 4450 m.
Several major river systems flow through Ladakh. The mighty Indus River enters
Ladakh in the east, from its origin near Mt. Kailas in Tibet, and flows to
the western side into northern Pakistan, where it then flows south to Arabian
Sea near Karachi. The Indus forms a broad valley about 10 kilometers wide
between the Ladakh and Stok Ranges near Leh. In Zanskar, located between the
Zanskar and Himalayan Ranges, the Stod and Tsarap Rivers join to form the
Zanskar River, which eventually cuts through deep gorges in the Zanskar Range
and flows into the Indus River at Nimoo. The Shyok River flows south from
its origin in the disputed area of Aksai Chin (now under Chinese control)
and then turns northwest, flowing between the Ladakh and Karakoram Ranges.
Its tributary, the Nubra River, originates in the Saichen glacier and gives
its name to the valley. The Suru River flows in western Ladakh before joining
with the Drass River at Kargil and flowing into Kashmir.
The high plains of eastern Ladakh contain several large brackish lakes. The
largest is Pangong Tso (lake), which extends into Tibet. The Rupshu plains
to the south contain the lakes of Tso Moriri and Tso Kar.
Wildlife Ladakh
Wildlife
is abundant in the mountains. It is very common on our treks to see herds
of blue sheep, some ibex, an occasional wolf, wild yaks, marmots, chukors,
and birds of prey such as the golden eagle and the lammergier. Snow leopards
also live in these mountains but are rarely seen due to their shyness. However,
a group of trekkers with Namgial saw one cross in front of them on their descent
from Stok Kangri in 2003. Herds of Kyang (wild horses) can sometimes be seen
on the Rupshu plains in eastern Ladakh.
Besides the highly visible golden eagles and lammergiers, and the noisy chukors,
other birds are abundant in Ladakh. The migratory barheaded goose and rare
black-necked crane are sometimes seen near the brackish lakes in eastern Ladakh.
Culture of Ladakh
The traditional culture of Ladakh evolved from Tibetan Buddhism. Evidence
of this can be found in the many, centuries old, monasteries that are found
in almost every village throughout Ladakh. A large population of monks provides
for the religious and spiritual needs of the people, and are the most respected
members of society. Most Ladakhi homes have a small chapel, even in the tents
of the nomads, containing various religious objects and sacred images. Other
visible signs of the Buddhist faith are prayer flags, stupas and mani walls.
An infusion of more Tibetans has occurred as a result of the Chinese invasion
of Tibet in the 1950’s.
The
people in the Dha Hanu area and around Drass descended from the Buddhist Dards,
who originated in Gilgit, Pakistan. Those in the Dha Hanu area are called
Brokpas and still practice their Buddhist faith. Those around Drass have converted
to Islam under the influence of nearby Kashmir. In Kargil and the Suru Valley,
the population is predominately Baltis. This area was part of Baltistan until
1947. They have Tibetan origins, but were converted to Islam in the 15th century
and the majority of them are Shiite Muslims.
With its history as a trading center on the old caravan route, Leh has a
mixture of cultures living and working together. The most recent addition
to this mix is the Indian Armed Forces.
When to Visit Ladakh
Although Ladakh is a remote region of the world, it is accessible by air
(New Delhi to Leh, the capital of Ladakh) and thus conducive to touring almost
year-round. The main trekking season in Ladakh is during the North American
summer, from the beginning of June to the end of September. Although July and
August bring the warmest temperatures in Ladakh as in North America, this is
the period of rainfall in Ladakh. Being in the so-called 'rain shadow' of the
Himalayas, Ladakh sees very little precipitation, particularly compared to the
Himalayas further south, however, the rivers do rise, making many areas inaccessible,
trails and bridges get swept away, and landslides tumble down. Above all, rain
brings snow to the highest elevations resulting in difficulties crossing the
passes. Thus many treks can be undertaken best only in the later parts of summer
and early fall, from mid September to mid October. Spring and fall only start
and end the short but hot summer, separating it from the long and brutally cold
winter. In general, though, June to September is the best time to trek as the
days are hot in low valleys, warm in higher elevations and the nights are cool.
From late September to late October the days stay pleasantly warm but get shorter
and nights become progressively colder; on the other hand, the rivers at this
time are low and easier to ford, and the crowds of tourists are gone. By the
end of October, the climate starts turning to winter, with the lowest temperatures
arriving in January. Although Ladakh stays frozen until March and it’s
completely cut off by overland routes from Manali and Kashmir south of the towering
ranges of the Himalayas, this is the time we run our winter treks on the frozen
Zanskar River and some of our Ladakh festival tours. During April and May Ladakh
starts to warm up again, the ground thaws and the color returns. The villages
begin slowly to turn from its winter brown to summer green, a striking contrast
to the arid earth tones of the surroundings, and our summer season of Ladakh
treks and jeep tours begins.
Ladakh Tourism Reservation Form
• 
