Ladakh
Geographical
Location : Situated in the extreme north of India bordering with China &
Pakistan.
Capital : Leh
Languages Spoken : Hindi, Ladakhi, Purig, Tibetan and
English.
Airport : Leh
Distance From Delhi : One and half hours journey by
flight.
Distance From Manali : 473 Kms approx. 2 days journey
approx.
Permits : Permits are required for all foreigners and Non
Ladakhi and non Zanskari Indians
Currency Exchange- : State Bank of India , Leh Branch
Communication : Mail, Phone, Fax and Email facilities are
available but only in Leh.
Equipment Hire : Tents, Sleeping Bags, Mattresses,
Trekking and Mountaineering equipment can be hired from shops in Ladakh.
Medical : Basic health facilities are available in Leh.
Main Tourist Attractions Leh
Capital of Ladakh, Leh has been an important junction on the famous Silk
Route of the antiquities. It has enjoyed close trade relations with Central
Asia. The main sight seeing attraction in Leh are:
»
Leh Palace : This 17th Century building is an exact look alike of the
Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
» Sankar Gompa : Belonging to the Gelukspa order it
has an impressive representation of the Buddhist deity of compassion.,
Avaloketesvara, complete with 1000 arms and nine heads.
» Shanti Stupa : A new addition to the Temples of
Ladakh, it provides an excellent sight in the night when it is lit up.
Around Leh
» Hemis Gompa : One of the oldest and richest
Gompa's in Ladakh Hemis is also one of the most visited Gompa in this
region. Founded in 17th Cent. It has some well-preserved beautiful frescos,
betraying some Kashmiri influence, and the Largest Thanka in Ladakh. Some 12
meters long. Hemis is most famous for it's annual festival, usually held in
June/July.
» Shey Gompa : 15 Km. South of Leh, Shey was the
summer palace of the kings of Ladakh.
» Stok Palace & Museum : The museum has a unique
display of rare ornaments from the Royal family plus the Thankas,
traditional clothing and jewellery.
» Thiksey Gompa : Thiksey is famous for it's three
storey Maitriya Buddha's Statue.
Nubra Valley
Also known as the valley of flowers. This valley is a wonderful area to
visit, dominated by a broad, empty valley between Shyok and Nubra River.
» Diskit : Administrative headquarters of the Nubra
Valley Deskit was a major resting place of the travelers following the Silk
route in the yester years.
» Hunder : Famous for it's sand dunes and camel
safari on a double humped camel.
» Sumur : The Samstenling Gompa at Sumur, over 150
years old, is a large complex with seven temples.
» Panamik : Famous for it's hot springs, and as the
first and last step along the ancient Silk Route between Ladakh and central
Asia.
Rupshu Valley
» Tsomoriri Lake : Known as the 'Mountain Lake',
Tsomoriri is located in the Rupshu Valley only 140 Kms. From Leh. The lake
is 28 kms. long, 8 Kms. at it's widest and at an elevation of 4000 mts. This
is an area of Nomadic people known as Khampas. This place is abundant in
wild life and offers a wide variety of it. The most commonly seen are Wild
Ass, foxes and the Black necked Geese.
» Tsokar : Tsokar is popular for it's Salt Water
Lake and a small Gompa.
» Pangong : Situated at an altitude of 4267 mts.
Pangong lake offers some of the most breathtaking views in the region. A
long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven kms. at its widest
point and over 130 kms. Long , it is bisected by the international border
between India and China.
» Likir : Likir boasts of a magnificent Gompa. Known
as the Klu-khyil Gompa it was founded in the 14th century and was the first
Gompa in Ladakh built by the Tibetan Monks.
» Alchi : The Alchi Gompa is famous for its
beautiful frescos. Founded in 11th Century by the Great translator Ringchen
Zangpo . The three storey Dharma Wheel Gompa is noted for it's massive
Buddha Statutes.
» Lamayuru : Lamayuru is known for the oldest known
Gompa in Ladakh, dating back beyond the 10th century. The location of this
Gompa makes it an exotic place to visit. Perched above a drained lake on an
eroded crag overlooked by the massive mountains, it is hauntingly beautiful.
» Zanskar : The isolated region of Zanskar is
composed of a number of small mountain licked valleys to the south of
Ladakh. Zanskar essentially comprises the Stod Valley in the west and the
Lunak Valley in the east, which converge at Padum, the administrative center
of Zanskar.
» Padum : Padum , the administrative headquarter of
Zanskar region was the ancient capital of the region is also the halt for
many Treks.