Ladakh

Famous as 'Little Tibet', Ladakh is a region located in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. It is devised between the Karakoram mountain range to the north and the Himalayas to the south. It is made up of two administrative districts – Leh and Kargil and is spread in an area of 59 ,000 sq.kms. The region is sparsely populated and is mostly dwelt by the Tibetans. Though dry and arid and bitterly cold for most of the year Ladakh is a beautiful haunt for the tourists. It boasts of a centuries old culture and its monuments, monasteries, oral literature, art forms, fairs and festivals have earned a recognition for this land of celebration. No doubt the remote mountain beauty and the Buddhist culture has made it an outstanding hideaway of India.

The land of Ladakh is a paradise for the adventure enthusiasts. The region offers them great scope to try out some of the wonderful and thrilling adventure sports of India like:

• Trekking
• Mountain Climbing
• Cycling
• Jeep Safari
• Camel Safari

Sightseeing
Surrounded by rugged mountains, the region of Ladakh offers such sights to our glance that no other place in the world can.

Buddhist Monasteries in Ladakh: The monasteries in Ladakh are popular worldwide and play a vital role in enhancing the charm of the land. Some of the famous monasteries of Ladakh are:

• Hemis Gompa
• Namgyal Tsemo Gompa
• Sankar Gompa
• Shanti Stupa
• Likir Monastery
• Spituk Monastery
• Cave Monastery

Leh Palace : Leh Palace is a wannabe spot to look at when in Ladakh. The Palace is nine-storied and was built during the 17th century.

Leh Mosque : Located in the main Bazaar of Ladakh, Leh Mosque is an architectural marvel. The Leh-Mosque is one of the main attractions of the tourists who pay a visit to Ladakh.

Wildlife : Ladakh is known to be the land rich in wildlife species. One can find wild animals like Yak, Nyan, Urial, Churu, Ibex, Snow Leopard, Bharal etc in their natural habitat. One can also come across a number of resident as well as migratory birds in Ladakh.

Dining
There are not of good places to eat at leh-Ladakh. Restaurants here serve many kinds of cuisine including Tibetan, Korean, Chinese and Western dishes. Some hotels like Royal Palace, Mandala also prepare good quality food. A list of fine restaurants in Leh are as follows:

• Himalaya Cafe
• Shangri La
• Budshah Inn
• Dreamland Restaurant
• Penguin Bar & Restaurant
• Mentokling Restaurant
• Pumpernickel German Bakery

Accommodation
There are a number of quality accommodation options for the tourists in Ladakh. Some of them are:

• Hotel 'De -Wa-Chan'Continental
• Hotel Shambha – La
• Hotel Dragon
• Hotel Laser Mo
• Lotus Hotel
• Mandala Hotel
• Hotel Mahay
• Royal Palace Hotel

Shopping
You can take back curios and souvenirs from the markets of Ladakh. Some of the famous items

with the tourists are: Pashmina Shawls, stoles, other Pashmina garments, locally hand-made woolen gloves, caps, socks and sweaters. There are certain Tibetan handicraft items that include prayer wheels, Buddhist masks and Thangka paintings that should be purchased by the tourists during their trip to Ladakh. Tibetan silver jewellery, traditional Ladakhi jewellery can also be taken back home from Ladakh.

Some good shopping venues in Ladakh are:

• Ladakh Art Palace on the Main Bazaar Road
• Tibetan Handicraft Emporium on the Main Bazaar Road
• Ladakh Environment and Health Organization on the Main Bazaar Road
• Tibetan Handicraft Community Showroom in Choglamsar
• Cottage Industries Exposition in Changspa
• Ecology Centre in Changspa
• Women's Alliance in Changspa

How To Reach
Leh is well connected by air from Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar. Ladakh is also properly linked by roads. Various transport facilities like state transport buses, mini coach buses and taxis are available to reach by road.