Ladakh Travel Guide: Places to Visit

Ladakh is called ‘the land of high passes’. Leh is the largest town and the capital of Ladakh also. Ladakh is the region that is most sparsely populated in Kashmir. Ladakh is a land of Buddhist Monasteries and Lamas. It is a beautiful picture that is painted with lakes, monasteries, Himalayas, and spectacular scenery. Every year a multitude of tourists throng here to visit the ultimate beauty of Ladakh. For adventure lovers, this cold desert is a paradise. The more you know about Ladakh, the more you are tempted to see the natural splendor spread here.

Location of Ladakh

Ladakh is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. A huge part of Ladakh is over 3,000m. It spans the Himalayas and Karakoram Mountain and the upper Indus River Valley. Ladakh is the highest plateau in Jammu and Kashmir.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh

The ideal season to visit Ladakh is the summer season which is from June to September. Winters in Ladakh do not welcome you as it is in winter when the temperature in Ladakh falls below zero degrees now and then. The weather becomes biting cold and poses very harsh conditions. The heavy snowfall makes the place inaccessible in winter.

History of Ladakh

The area of Ladakh has been inhabited since Neolithic times. This is proved by rock carvings found in many parts of Ladakh. It was a part of the Kushan Empire in the 1st century. In the 2nd century, Buddhism took root here. It was the seed of dispute among many powers. The turbulence made Ladakhis take refuge in the capital of India. It remained a hot pot for many and suffered continuous disturbances. King Bhagan founded the Namgyal dynasty here after reuniting and strengthening Ladakh. In 1979, it was bifurcated into Kargil and Leh. In 1993 Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council was created. Even after facing numerous conflicts, the beauty of Ladakh is as pure as a child’s heart.

Adventurous Sports in Ladakh

Ladakh houses many places where you can have fun and enjoy to the fullest. Apart from the places of wonderful vistas, Ladakh has many adventurous sports such as high-altitude treks, rock climbing, mountain biking, wild jeep safaris, white water rafting, and the like that fascinate the sportsperson in you.

The charisma and beauty of this place are worth a visit at least once in a lifetime. Its gompas, barren landscapes slightly sprinkled with green patches, ancient palaces, and women colorfully dressed in their traditional attire add to the magnetism of Ladakh. Now that you have learned about Ladakh, its appeal, and magic, do not resist the temptation to see the beauty in person and plan a trip to Ladakh.

Places to See in Ladakh

Ladakh is the highest plateau in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The two great mountain ranges - The Himalayas and the Karakoram, surround it. Ladakh is a lucrative destination for tourists that are gifted with charming geographical features. Ladakh is also known as ‘Little Tibet’ or ‘the cold desert of India’. If you are planning a trip to Ladakh and do not know what to see in Ladakh, then you can find the following account useful.

Leh

Leh is not only the biggest town in Ladakh but also it's capital. It is the crown of Ladakh and also the chief commercial hub of Ladakh. The ravishing rivers, delightful dales, majestic mountains, and vibrant vistas from the natural beauty of Leh. To this natural beauty, man-made attraction adds glory. This man-made attraction is the nine-story building of the Namgyal Palace. Since ancient times, Leh was a vital trade center with Central Asia. It was in 1974 that it opened its gates to international tourists. Leh has seen the progress of Tibeto-Buddhist culture on its land. The gorgeous gompas are also alluring. The place is also liked by adventure freaks as it provides excellent places for hiking.

Monasteries in Ladakh

Ladakh is a basket of Buddhist monasteries. These ancient monasteries are also known as gompas. These gompas shelter numerous paintings, ancient Buddhist sculptures, and Thangkas. Some of the important Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh are Spituk Monastery, Shanti Stupa, Thiksey Monastery, Likir Monastery, Hemis Gompa, Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, Shey Monastery, Phugtal Gompa and Lamayuru Monastery.

Zanskar Valley

It has a very interesting fact to its credit. The region receives snowfall for about seven months a year, thus it is one of the coldest habitats on the globe. It has picturesque dales and high passes that compete with the heights of passes throughout the world. Its trekking routes are very famous.

Alchi

Alchi nestles in the lap of the Himalayas on the banks of the river Indus. Alchi monastery-one of the oldest monasteries of Ladakh is found in the Alchi village. Alchi monastery stands there since the 11th century, decorated with frescoes and murals.

Sarchu

Sarchu satisfies your adventurous desires. It lies on Manali-Leh highway. The Camp Himalayan Saga having Swiss cottage tents is the hot spot here.

Lamayuru

Its village boasts of its beautiful gompas. It houses Kagyupa monastery which is another monastery among the largest and oldest monasteries of Ladakh.

Pangong Lake

It is located at an altitude of 4,267 m. The main attraction of this lake is its turquoise color. Its 25% area is located in India and 75% is in China.

Tso Moriri Lake

Located at an altitude of 14000 ft. near Korzok village, this lake is surrounded by mountains.

Nubra Valley

Nubra Valley means valley of flowers. Some ancient monasteries, Khardung La Pass, and Bactrian Camels are the main attractions here. Other than the above-mentioned places some more places demand your visit to Ladakh. These attractions draw a multitude of tourists to Ladakh every year. The above-mentioned places facilitate your hunt for what to see in Ladakh. So, this time spend your vacations there and experience the fun and joy in Ladakh.