Population:
8718 Altitude: 3521 m Best season: May to November Clothing: Woolens
Information about
Leh Leh, the capital of Ladakh is spreading rapidly in
all directions. Leh is situated in a fertile side valley
of the Indus river at an altitude of 3521 meters,
towards the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Since
the 17th century Leh has been the capital of the
Ladakh region. Leh and Indus
Valley are earlier capitals of the region. The centre is about
10 km from the river. It was developed as an important trading
post and market and attracted a wide variety of merchants from
Yarkand, Kashgar, Kashmir, Tibet and northern India. Tea,
salt, household articles, wool and semi-precious stones were
all sold and bought in the city which became a hub for the
business traveler to South Asia. While Leh has come a long way
from the time when most of the activities took place on its
main street, it still retains its pleasant traditional
quality. Due to tourism, there are various hotels and guest
houses in the city. Tourism has certainly had the impacts on
the society of Leh. The best season to visit Leh is from May
to November. From traveler by road we recommend to check if
the road is open before to proceed. We recommend to carry
plenty of warm clothes. When the sun is up it gets quite hot
but in the shade it can still be very cold. Leh is a beautiful
destination with so many attractions and is the center of
Tibeto-Buddhist Culture for ages. Its colorful gompas have
attracted the devout Buddhists from all over the globe.
Besides, it is also a favorite hiking locale and is known for
some of the best hikes in the country.
Temperature in Leh
If you are arriving in Leh by air after having spent a few
days in Srinagar which is 1768 meter or flying straight from
Delhi which is at an altitude of 216 meter or Jammu at 305
meter which means that your body has experienced a substantial
increase of altitude. You need to acclimatize yourself by not
exerting too much. Taking rest in the first 24 hours is very
important. If you have traveled by road from Srinagar you will
be acclimatized better. Still, a mild headache is common and
can be treated with aspirin or paracetomol. After a couple of
days in this area one will feel more energetic as the body
gets adjusted and adapted to the local altitude.
History of Leh
King Sengge Namgyal who ruled Ladakh during 17th century
and during whose rule Ladakh was at its greatest shifted
his court from Shey to Leh. Leh became the regional
capital and very soon the town blossomed into one of the
busiest markets on the Silk Route. During the 1920 and
1930, the broad bazaar that still forms its heart
received more than a dozen pony and camel trains each
day. Leh's prosperity was managed
mainly by the Sunni Muslim
merchants whose descendants live in its labyrinthine old
quarter, came to an abrupt end with the closure of the Chinese
border in the 1950. However its fortunes begin to look up
after India rediscovered the hitherto forgotten capital's
strategic value after two wars in quick succession with
Pakistan. Today, Khaki-clad Jawans (soldiers) and their
families from the nearby military and air force bases are the
mainstay of the local economy in winter, when there are very
few foreign visitors. The Indian government's decision in 1974
to open Ladakh to foreign tourists was a major shake-up. From
the start, Leh bore the brunt of the annual invasion. Twenty
or so years on, though the main approach is now via Himachal
Pradesh rather than Kashmir, the summer influx shows no sign
of abating. Leh has doubled in size and is a far cry from the
sleepy Himalayan town of the early 1970's. During July and
August tourists stroll shoulder to shoulder down its main
street, most of whose old style outfitters and provision
stores have been squeezed out by Kashmiri handicraft shops,
art emporiums and Tibetan restaurants.
Geography of Leh
The region of Leh is watered by the Zanskar River, which flows
into the Indus River just below. Spilling out of a side valley
that tapers north towards eroded snow-capped peaks, the
Ladakhi capital sprawls from the foot of a ruined Tibetan
style palace - a maze of mud-brick and concrete flanked on one
side by cream-coloured desert, and on the other by a swathe of
lush irrigated farmland. As one approaches Leh for the first
time, via the sloping seep of dust and pebbles that divide it
from the floor of the Indus Valley, one will have little
difficulty imagining how the old trans-Himalayan traders must
have felt as they plodded in on the caravan routes from
Yarkhand and Tibet: a mixture of relief at having crossed the
mountains in one piece, and anticipation of a relaxing spell
in one of central Asia's most scenic and atmospheric towns.
Festivals of Leh
Some of the festivals which are celebrated in Leh are
the Hemis Festival and Losar Festival. Hemis Festival is
celebrated in the month of June on the occasion of the
birth of Guru Padmasambhava. Guru Padmasambhava is
believed to have fought local demons to protect the
local people. The famous mask dances are the part of the
celebrations. Young and old, males and females, Lamas
and common people take part in the mask dances. Stalls
are also set up selling handicrafts and other wares. For
3 days there is joy and worship. The Losar Festival
dates back to the 15th century and is celebrated in the
11th month of the Buddhist year. It was held before a
battle against the evil powers protection for the people
of Ladakh.
Shopping in Leh
Hand-woven carpets with
dragon designs, copper and silver trinkets set with turquoise
Thangkas are widely available in Leh.
In the colourful bazaar
of Leh there are plenty of little shops with everything from
semi-precious stones like corals, turquoise, pearls, curios
and artifacts.
Adventure in Leh
Trekking in Ladakh is most popular activity at the moment as
it goes through very high mountains. However, it is advisable
to be fully equipped before starting the trek. We organize
porter and ponies from Leh, Lamayuru or Padum and at other
places from where the treks commence. Archery contests are
also quite popular and competitions are also held in the
season.
Tourist Attractions in Leh
The town of Leh is quite small and consists of a main street
running up to the palace with small side streets running off
it. Within the town of Leh there is a lot to see. One can have
an easy walk away through the interesting coppersmith’s
quarter, visit the Moravian Church, the Ladakh Ecological
Centre, the Leh Palace and Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, perched amid
strings of prayer flags above the narrow dusty streets of the
Old Quarter. A short walk north across the fields, the small
monastery of Sankar harbours accomplished modern Tantric
murals and a thousand beaded Avalokitesvara (also spelt as
Avalokiteshvara) deity, small statues of pure gold and
paintings. An interesting walk brings you to the Ladakh Shanti
Stupa. This walk goes through the picturesque village of
Changspa. The other tourist attractions in Leh are the Leh
Palace, Stok Palace, Tso Moriri Lake and monasteries. The Leh
Monastery houses a solid gold statue of Buddha.
Monasteries in Leh
Leh is the town of Buddhist monasteries. A look at the
monasteries gives a visitor an idea of the inside life of the
people of Ladakh. All of them are spread along the Indus river
and are easily accessible so that within manageable time the
visits can be organized. The ideal time to visit the
monasteries is early morning or late evening when the priests
are saying their prayers and doing their mystical chanting.
The ringing of bells and blowing of long brass horns lend a
magical touch to the whole atmosphere. The most visited
monasteries by tourists are Shey, Thiksey, Hemis and Spituk.
Other magnificent Gompas located near Leh are the Alchi,
Lamayuru, Likir, Phyang, Rizdong, Stakna, Matho and Chemery.
All these Gompas are easily accessible from Leh.
How to reach Leh
By Air:
The airport is 8 km from the city centre. Leh is connected to
Srinagar, Delhi and Jammu by air.
Warning:
Those with heart trouble or lungs problem should check with a
doctor before flying to such a high altitude.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station is Jammu (739 km)
By Road:
Leh is about 434 km. from Srinagar and 739 km. from Jammu by
road. There is a motorable road between Srinagar and Leh via
Kargil. However, we recommend that the best way would be to go
by road to Leh and return by air.
