Ladakh – the cold desert

Ladakh is part of the Jammu and Kashmir state and is called ‘Little Tibet’ for its mountain ranges and Buddhist culture. Situated at an altitude of about 3500 meters above sea level this cold desert is tucked between two mountain ranges, Himalayas and the Karakoram. Ladakh is almost cut off from the rest of the world from the months of November to May making the region an inhospitable and bitterly cold place to live. Even during the summer months one has to cross some of the highest mountain passes in the world to reach Ladakh. But this inaccessibility has acted as a boon, helping in preserving the culture and unique landscape.

Ladakh’s earliest inhabitants were nomadic Yak herders. Buddhism was brought by the Buddhist pilgrims travelling to Tibet. Till the 16th century Buddhism prevailed, falling briefly to the Muslim invaders but bouncing back.

Ladakh is now sub-district of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh is a mountaineer’s paradise. Several adventure based tour operators offer trekking and climbing trip to the mountains. Due to its high altitude, tourists often suffer from symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS), including headache, lethargy, dizziness and nausea. It is always better to acclimatise to the altitude by avoiding exertion for the first 24 hours of arrival and drink plenty of water. Leh is the main town to visit in Ladakh.

The main landmark in Leh is the Royal Palace that resembles the Potala palace in Tibet. There are quite a few Gompas and Stupas in and around the town. Namgyal Tsemo Gompa is located above the Leh palace and has a three-storeyed high image of Sakyamuni. Sankar Gompa has a collection of ancient murals and statues of Maitreya Buddha and Avalokiteswara. Chowkhang is a modern Gompa located next to the main market. Shanti stupa is reached by a flight of steep steps, but the view from the top is stunning. Next to the Shanti stupa is the ruins of an 11th century stupa, Tisserru stupa. The only way to reach Ladakh in winter is to take a filght to the Leh airport. Indian airlines have daily flights between Leh and Delhi.

During the summer months of May to November, buses are available from the main bus station to Manali, Keylong, Nubra, Srinagar and Kargil. A visit to Ladakh is incomplete without indulging in some retail therapy. The wonderful items on offer range from the Thangkas, Ladakhi hats, and coral jewellery to Tibetan artefacts. Do not forget to try out Tingmo (steamed bread) and Thukpa (noodle soup), the local delicacies. A lot of the hotels are closed during the winter months, making accommodation difficult. Most of the mid-range hotels are placed near the main market in Leh. 

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