Ladakh
Overview
Ladakh is a district in Jammu and Kashmir that rests upon the Tibetan plateau in Himalayas. Its culture is closely related to Tibetan culture. It is relatively dry region with too much snowfall and too little rain. The region of Ladakh has sparsely distributed tourist places with most of the sightseeing in Leh. Leh is the capital of Ladakh and also has many hotels and restaurants. A tour around Leh gives an insight into the city’s lifestyle whereas trip to other adjoining areas is needed to see the true Ladakhi culture. A holiday or vacation is best spent in Ladakh’s interior exploration. Little help from a tour guide can take through the attractions easily. Leh is the main centre where one can find several hotels and restaurants and can spend a very long holiday. Ladakh lies at a very high altitude and it has many lakes and rivers. The Zanskar River is the heart and soul of the Zanskar region.
Places of Attraction
Zanskar Valley: The Zanskar Valley lies beside the bank of Zanskar River. It has many green fields and a rich deposit of minerals due to the river. There are few Gompas and an old palace.
Pangong Tso Lake: Pangong Lake is emerald blue lake that is the home to several rare Himalayan species of avifauna. It is a great place for camping that gives the comfort of a hotel. Pangong Lake harbours astounding beauty by reflecting the adjoining mountains.
Kargil: Kargil is connected by road and has many beautiful places. There is a vast settlement in the region with a lot of greenery in the main valley.
Khardung-la Pass: This is the highest Pass in the World that is connected to a road. The road remains motorable when weather is favourable and snow has not blocked the road.
Nubra Valley: This is also the place where double humped Bactrian camels give rides. It is settled in a remote corner of the world where there is no disturbance from the busy life. The Nubra Valley remains silent and beautiful.
Magnetic Hill: The Magnetic Hill of Ladakh has an interesting experience. The hill seems to pull the cars back if they are left unguarded. The car slides off the road, defeating gravity.
Hemis National Park: This is a protected National Park with some of the rarest Himalayan species like Ibex, Snow Leopard and Blue Sheep. The park is named after the settlement village Hemis which also has a beautiful monastery. The Hemis village in itself is worth visiting.
Weather
Ladakh has extreme weather conditions in summers and winters with very heavy snowfall in winters and very sharp sunshine in summers. March and April are the months of moderate weather with occasional snowfall in some regions. May, June, July and August are the months of summer when the sunshine during the day becomes excessively sharp and can cause sunburns but the nights are equally very cold. September, October and November are again the months of gloom and fall with snowfall at sometimes.
How to Reach
By Air: Leh has its own airport that is very well connected to Delhi.
By Road: The highways to Leh link the region to other main cities like Manali and Kargil.
By Train: Jammu Tawi Railway station falls closest to Leh. It is 712 km.
Best Time to Visit
The month of June is the best time to travel to Ladakh and enjoy sightseeing in a pleasant weather.