LADAKH - the land of celebration

Ladakh the abode of Dalai Lama is set in a gigantic and extravagant environment. It is bordered by two of the world's monumental mountain ranges the Karakoram in the north and the Himalayas in the south.

Ladakh is a sight of tranquility, beauty and peace. A number of different festivals celebrated in ladakh add energy and excitement to its calm and serene environment. These traditions give a good contrast to its modern ambience.

The wintry weather, the beautiful environment and the dazzling physical features of the land make it closest to the nature and naturally scenic. Ladakh is traversed by parallel chains, the Ladakh range and the Zanskar range.

Ladakh was once covered by a massive lake system, the signs of which still exist in the south-east plateaus of Rupshu and Chushul and in the lakes of Tso-moriri, Tso-kar and Pangong-tso. The Himalayan range protects the region from the Indian monsoons making the winter snowfall their only source of water. Dras, Zanskar and Suru valley receive heavy snowfalls melting the glaciers and carrying the water in the form of streams in summers to irrigate the fields. For the rest of the region, the snow on the peaks is the only source of water.

Ladakh lies at an altitude ranging from about 2,750 meters at Kargil to 7,672 meters at Saser Kangri, in the Karakoram Range . The weather is so unique that a man can get both sunstroke and frostbite at the same time. The maximum temperature in summers can be around 25 degree Celsius while the minimum in winters can be around -25 degree Celsius.

Historical Background

For nearly 900 years, Ladakh was an independent kingdom, its ruling dynasties descending from the kings of old Tibet . The kingdom attained its greatest geographical extent in the early 17th century under King Singge Namgyal, whose territory extended across Spiti and western Tibet right up to the Mayum-la, beyond the sacred sites of Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar . Ladakh became recognized as the best trade route between Punjab and Central Asia . For centuries it was traversed by caravans carrying textiles, spices, raw silk, carpets, dyestuffs, narcotics, etc. Leh was a middle route for the tradesmen hence leading to the establishment of the markets over there.

The famous Pashmina (better known as cashmere) came down from eastern Ladakh and western Tibet to Srinagar through Leh. Pashmina was converted into shawls known for their softness and warmth. The trade attracted the attention of Gulab Singh, the ruler of Jammu in the early 19 th centrury who sent his general, Zorawar Singh to invade Ladakh. However, a decade of war ended in the supremacy of British power in north India incorporating Ladakh and Baltistan into Jammu and Kashmir . However, Ladakh and Baltistan were separated after the partition of India as Baltistan was made a part of Pakistan and Ladakh was in India .

The spoken languages in Ladakh are Balti, Shina, Dardic, Urdu and Hindi. Leh is connected by direct flights from Srinagar , Delhi and Jammu . It is also connected by road from Srinagar and Manali.

Vital Statistics

Area: 97,000 sq kms out of which nearly 38,000 sq. kms are under Chinese Occupation since 1962.

Altitude: Leh 3505 m, Kargil 2750 m

Temperature: Max Min

Summer: 25°C 10.6° C

Winter: (-) 5°C -20°C

Rainfall: 15cm, 6" (annual average)

Population: Approx. 2.40 lakh in the 2 districts of Leh & Kargil.

Best Season: Throughout the year, though the winter months can be quite cold.

Clothing: Cotton & light woollens in summer and heavy woollens including down-filled wind proof upper garments in winter.

Languages: Ladakhi including Balti / Purgi, Shina or Dardic, Urdu / Hindi.

How to reach Ladakh
Leh: is connected by direct flights operated by Indian Airlines / Jet Airways /Air Deccan, etc. There direct flights from Delhi / Jammu / Srinagar to Leh, Ladakh is connected by Road from Srinagar and Manali