Visiting the local market of Leh is an excellent way of interacting with the locals and learning about their tradition and customs. Besides, a visit to the local market allows you to purchase unique items such as semi precious stones, pearls, tribal jewellery, organic products and local handicrafts.
It is a white domed sacred shrine situated on a hammock in Leh. It is indeed a masterpiece of royal, ancient beauty. The astonishing Buddha statues, holy books and holy relics are sealed here for future generations. It was built as a monument to celebrate 2500 years of Buddhism.
Leh Palace was sculpted in the mold of Potala Palace of Lhasa and is located on the Namgyal Hill in Leh. It overlooks Leh and has many cultural influences, dating back to centuries. As a religious and cultural hub of the Buddhist, Leh Palace is much revered and very much a part of Leh’s popular face of tourism. It is a nine storeyed building that can be seen from most parts of Leh.
It is a museum constructed and maintained by Indian army in memory of the brave Indian soldiers who fought and lost their lives in Indo-Pak wars. Biographies of eminent defence personalities, images and weapons used during Kargil and Siachen wars; guns, grenades and equipments seized by the Indian Army are on display. Ladakh' culture, vegetation and animals found in this part of the world are also displayed in this museum.
This 3 storey palace once the residence of royal family is perched on a hillock overlooking the Shey village 15 kms from Leh. There are 2 statues of Sakyamuni in the palace complex. One inside the palace is made of copper and is 3 storeys tall while the seated one is inside the temple and is 7.5 meters tall and made of copper and brass plated with gold.
Located approximately 19 kms from Leh City, Thiksey monastery is famous for its 3 storey Maitreya Buddha’s statue and the architectural resemblance of the monastery to that of Potala Palace of Lhasa in Tibet. The annual festival held in the monastery is known as the Gustor and is generally held from the 17th to 19th day of the ninth month of the Tibetan calendar (October-November).
One of the wealthiest monasteries, famous for its rich collection of ancient remnants like the copper statue of Buddha, stupas made of gold & silver, sacred Thangkas, murals and various artefacts. The Hemis festival attracts thousands of tourists from across the world. A huge Thangka of the monastery is displayed during the festival every twelfth year which is a sign of good health and spiritual strength.
The Stok Palace Museum is located about 14 kms away from Leh. This impressive four-storey structure was constructed in 1825 by King Tsespal Tondup Namgyal who was the last ruler of independent Ladakh. The current royal family lives in Stok Palace. The museum at this place has a huge collection of ornaments of the royal family, traditional clothing and a huge collection of thankas.
Founded by the great translator, Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo in the 11th century. The monastery has exquisite 11th century Kashmiri Buddhist murals which have suffered badly due to neglect and the harsh mountain weather, and soon you might not be able to see them at all: while some have been restored, some are clearly not going to survive.
One of the largest and oldest monasteries in Ladakh located at a distance of 120 kms from Leh on Leh- Srinagar Highway. The monastery is surrounded by picturesque landscape resembling that to moonland. The monastery belongs to Drigung sect of Tibetan Buddhism and is a residence to 150 permanent monks.
Renowned as ‘the Land of Aryans’, Dha and Hanu village are settlements of Drokpa or Brokpa community in Ladakh. The village is located about 163 km northwest of Leh at the confluence of rivers Shyok and Indus in Kargil region in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to popular belief, the Brokpas were part of the army of Alexander the Great and came to the region over two thousand years ago. The Brokpas reside in five villages; however, tourists are allowed only in two villages – Dha and Hanu. Besides tourists, the villages also attract anthropologists. Brokpa women of Dah Hanu in their traditional attire.
Changthang is a compound word of 'changpa' translating to nomads and 'thang' - plains in Ladakhi. The Changthang Valley, also called the Rupshu valley, is a unique landscape.The Changthang plateau lies on the eastern side of Ladakh near Chinese border stretching approximately 150 t0 220 kilometers with the geographical setting bestowed with snow peaks, which are the source of various Lakes. The temperature in the region varies from -5o Celsius to -35o Celsius in winter and up to a maximum of 30o Celsius in summer. The people of the Changthang are pastoralists, they are known as 'Changpa'.Unlike many other nomadic groups, the Changpas don't practice sedentary life and settled farming , as the vast majority of land they inhabit is too inhospitable for farming.The Changpas have been herding livestock and living in tents or seasonal camps known as Rebo since ages.
The Tsomoriri Lake is a beautiful mountain bounded expanse of water, around 240 Kms. from Leh in Rupsho Valley. This lake is situated at an elevation of 4500 mtrs above the sea level. It is like a pearl shape and contains large mineral deposits. It is located at 14,000 ft. near a small village of Korzok. Korzok village is situated on the south west bank of this lake. One important landmark in the Korzok village is the 19th century Korzok Monastery. It houses Shakyamuni Buddha and other statues. Korzok gompa and its inhabitants, the nomadic people are most outstanding feature of this lake area, which raise herds of goats and yaks. The Tsokar (the salt Lake) is around 76 kms. from Tsomoriri. It is also a wonderful lake in this area, offering spectacular views.
A twin lake Tsokar and Tarsaphuk tso form the part of a wide picturesque valley with many wildlife including migratory birds, wild asses (Kyangs) and Changpa nomads with thousands of livestock including sheep, goats and yaks live in their tents around the lakes in the vast expanse of pasture.
This beautiful Lake is located 140 Kms away from Leh, at an altitude of 14,000 feet. Pangong is 40 miles in length and nearly 2-4 miles in width at a height of 4267m above the sea level What strikes the eye in coming first in view of this lake is the lovely color of its water, especially towards evening, which is of the richest deep blue, over the whole expanse, at morning time, it is of a lighter a very brilliant color. The water of the Lake is not that salty as sea water.
Kargil is a district in Ladakh is the central meeting point between Srinagar, Leh and Zanskar with almost equal distances from all sides. Zanskar, Suru, Wakha and Dras valleys are part of Kargil District.
Located on Leh-Srinagar highway, Drass is the second coldest inhabited place on earth. A magnificent view of Tiger Hill can be enjoyed from the main road. It has a Kargil War Memorial and 10th century rock carved Buddhist statues.
A lush green valley on the way to Zanskar with Shia population is Famous for Its magnificent closer view of Nun Kun glacier peaks and giant rock carved statue of Buddha. The green hillsides of the Suru valley are a contrast to the awesome Himalayan glaciers, notably Parkachik and Shafaat.
Zanskar is most isolated region of Ladakh, situated in the Kargil district about 430Kms from Leh. Number of Buddhist monasteries such as Karsha, Phuktal, Zongkhul, Stongdey, Sani and Bardan etc. and the interesting folklores, myths and startling natural beauties attract thousands of tourists to this place.
In the days of yore, the fertile Valley of Nubra formed a part of the overland route between Tibet and Turkestan. Once dotted with garlands of camel and yak caravans, this Silk Route glen is also known as the 'Valley of Flowers' of Ladakh, and is amongst the greenest valleys in the region, ideal for your holiday break.
One can understand why anyone would envy this flowering glen. During early summer, Nubra is clad in endless bushes of yellow and pink wild roses, and once the valley is through with the season of roses around August, a carpet of wild lavender lies gently on it.
Administrative headquarters of Nubra valley offers variety of accommodation to travellers. It has a dramatically positioned monastery atop a hillock and a 32 metre high statue of Maitreya Buddha. Deskit sand dunes and double-humped camel ride reminds of silk route tradition.
Sumur is the largest village in the Nubra Valley across the Shayok River along lush green meadow. Samstenling Monastery founded by Lama Tsultim Nima more than 150 years ago, is the biggest attraction of Sumur. The monastery comprises of seven different temples and has a huge collection of thangkas and arduously restored frescoes.
The erstwhile capital of Nubra Kingdom in the 17th century located on the ancient Silk Route. Between Hundar and Diskit lie several kilometres of sand dunes, and the famous double humped Bactrian camels. Non-locals are not allowed below Hundar village into the Balti area, as it is a border area.
Panamik is the last village accessible to travellers and is located just 40kms from the Siachen base camp. It is renowned for its hot sulphur springs which are claimed to have curative powers. And was a major stopover for the caravans of silk route before continuing their journey.
Turtuk is about as close as you can get to Pakistan in India, physically and literally. This delightful village is crunched into the narrowing Shyok River valley in the furthest corner of India, right at the tippy-top of the map.