Location
Ladakh
a part of the North Indian state Jammu and Kashmir, consists of two
districts Leh and Kargil. The districts are bounded by Pakistan occupied
Kashmir in the West, China in the north and eastern part and Lahul Spiti of
Himachal Pradesh in South East. Ladakh is at a distance of 434 kms from
Srinagar.
The City Leh & Ladakh
The district Ladakh of the state Jammu and Kashmir is bounded by two
biggest mountain ranges, the Himalayan and the Karakoram. Ladakh is also
popularly known as the little Tibet, as the monks from Tibet were the first
immigrants to Ladakh. Leh is the administrative centre for the district
Ladakh. The area Leh Ladakh is known for their scenic beauty, Buddhist
monasteries and unique culture. The area is also famous for adventure sports
like trekking, motorcycle racing, river rafting etc. Buddhism is the
dominant religion in Ladakh. The villages and mountains are the major
tourists attractions, which house many Buddhist Gompas or monasteries. A
travel to this beautiful area would be an exciting experience for its
tourists.
Climate
Leh Ladakh experiences an extreme climate with cold in winter and hot in
summer. The temperature in the summer varies from -3 to 30 degrees C and
from -20 to 15 degrees C during winter. June to September is the best time
to visit the hill station.
Sightseeing
The major tourist attractions of Leh and Ladakh include several Buddhist
monasteries and palaces.
» Leh Palace - Built in the 17th century, the Leh
Palace was the residence of the Ladakh royal family. The palace is open
daily from sunrise to sunset with an entry fee of Rs 5 for Indian and Rs 100
for foreigners.
»
Hemis Gompa - Built in the year 1630, it is the biggest monastery in
Ladakh. Beautiful frescoes on its walls are the major attractions. Hemis
Festival and the annual Tse Chu Festival held in the month of June and July
attract Buddhist pilgrims and tourists on a large scale.
» Stok Palace - This four storeys tall palace was
constructed in 1814 as the official residence of the royal family. The
museum inside the palace has a collection of Buddhist art, weapons,
artifacts and jewellery. The palace is open daily from 8 am to 7 pm with an
entry fee of Rs 25.
» Shanti Stupa - This white domed structure in
Chandspa was built by the Japanese Buddhist organization. The stupa provides
spectacular sunrise and sunset views. It is open daily from 5 am to 9 pm
with no entry fee.
Other Attractions
Some other attractions are the Likir Monastery, Thiksey Monastery, Sankar
Gompa, Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, Spituk monastery etc.
Fairs and Festivals
Numerous festivals are celebrated by the people of Ladakh, which marks a
part of its living heritage. Feasting, dancing and the singing of folk songs
are major parts of all festivals. Some principal festivals are as follows :
» Hemis Festival - It is celebrated in the month of
June to commemorate the birth of Buddhist Guru Padmasambhava. The three day
festival is celebrated by performing sacred dance drama by wearing facial
masks.
» Ladakh Festival - It is organized by the
Department of Tourism Ladakh in the month of September to propagate the rich
cultural heritage of the area. Famous monastic dance, traditional folk dance
and songs and a variety of other events like traditional Polo match and
village archery are the major attractions of the festival.
Buddha
Mahotsava Festival and Sindhu Darshan are the two other festivals held in
the month June which represents the rich cultural heritage of Ladakh.
Shopping
Markets in Ladakh offers various shopping items including Pashimana wool
garments, Tibetan handicraft items, Ladakhi jewellery, handwoven carpets and
shawls. Some good markets for shopping in Leh-Ladakh are the Ladakh Art
Palace in Main Bazaar Road, Tibetan Handicraft Emporium, Tibetan Market of
Old Leh Road and Moti Market near the Bus Stand. Bragaining is commonly
practiced for any product in all the shops.
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