History of Ladakh

Till 17th century, Ladakh was ruled by King Sengge Namgyal and was prone to frequent attacks by the Kashmiri Muslim. When Leh was accorded the status of regional capital, it soon flourished into a prosperous town with a market on the popular Silk Route. 

It is also believed that in 1920s and 1930s, the vibrant bazaar, which is still present today used to receive camel -trains and a dozen ponies every day and when the Chinese border was closed all of a sudden, the fate of Leh changed as the Sunni Muslim merchants who were responsible for bringing fortunes for Leh went through financial crisis.

Incidentally the town of Leh acquired a new status when India realised its strategic importance after two wars with the neighbouring country, Pakistan and today Leh is not only important from an army’s point of view but is also a favourite holiday destination amidst adventure enthusiasts of the country.

History of Old Leh Town

The Old Town of Leh is locally known as ‘Skyanos Gogsum’. The core areas of Old Town include Kharyok, Stalam, Lobding, Stago Philog and Maney Khang. Peripheral areas include Chute Ranktak, Now Shar and Zangsti. Located within this area are some of the most important historical buildings including Leh Palace, Namgyal Tsemo Monastery, the Jama Masjid and Leh’s first cinema hall.

The area dates back to the first part of the 17th century, when Leh Palace was constructed.

The first king to take up residence at the Palace was Senge Namgyal, one of the most powerful rulers of the Namygyal dynasty. Most of the residents of the Old Town lived here by virtue of their affinity to the King – his ministers, secretary, horsemen, tailors, jewellers, musicians and artisans amongst others – and had accommodation of varying sizes and types depending upon their rank in the area below the Palace. Thus, the area was the most important part of Leh, as well as the wider Ladakh area, as it played a crucial role in the political, commercial and cultural life of the region. Many of the homes that remain display some of the best remaining examples of the vernacular domestic architecture of this time.

Old Town continues to stand testimony to the grandeur of the artistic heritage and cultural legacy that once exemplified Ladakh but is today largely overlooked and forgotten. 

Access

By Air:   Leh is connected by flight service that comes in to the airport from Delhi & Chandigarh. The airport is located 5kms from town. From the airport travellers can take a bus or shared jeep-taxis to reach the town. The flights are at best erratic and depend on the weather conditions prevailing in Leh and flights can get cancelled at short notice. Flight should be booked  in advance as flights get full very fast and it may not be possible to get a seat at the last minute.

By Road: Leh is connected by two major routes, one to Manali and the other to Srinagar. Both traverse treacherous mountain routes and high passes, many times getting blocked due to landslides. The Leh-Srinagar road runs close to the border with Pakistan and is often blocked by the army. The road connection to Leh is open only in the summer months from mid-June till end of September. You can do the route either by private cars and jeeps or by the tourist buses that run from Manali. Buses come in to the town bus stand, close to the main bazaar and most of the hotels.

Magnetic hill

A Gravity hill situated near Leh having strong magnetic properties which can pull cars uphill and make Aircrafts go higher in terms of altitude so that they could bypass magnetic interference. Due to this amazing effect, millions of people from all over the world are attracted towards this place.

Nubra valley

Trekking on the rocky, colossal trails of this valley is a truly exciting experience as it is situated near the banks of the pure nubra river. The valley is named as “the valley of flowers” and it has some of the most beautiful, vibrant and colourful flowers set amidst lush green landscape. This place is popular because of its serene and tranquil ambience.

Pangong lake

Tso moriri Lake

Drive to the beautiful Tsomoriri lake from Leh taking around 6-7 hours is a thrilling and adventurous experience as the last 60 Kilometer journey is on rugged paths. It is beautifully placed in the secluded Rupshu valley. 

Lamayuru Trek

It is the most ancient, royal and interesting located at a distance of 125 kilometers from leh. It is picturesquely enveloped by the rugged, dusty mountains and is beautifully carved out of the badland area. It comes in your way when you move towards Kargil from Leh. Drive on the road towards Lamayuru is an excellent way to explore the scenic snow capped mountains of the region..

Diskit gompa

It is the most ancient and largest gompa located near the Nubra valley. The golden Buddha statue which is 32 meters tall is worth seeing. It is located 120 kilometers away from Leh.

Shanti stupa

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.

Shey monastery

Shey monastery is famous because of the magnificent metal statue of Buddha, the second largest statue in Ladakh. It is located 15 kilometers south of Leh. It was built in the year 1655 by Ladakh’s king Deldan Namgyal. The royal kings of Ladakh used to stay here during summers.

Kargil

The Ladakh district lies near LOC having Kashmir valley towards south and Gilgit-baltistan towards west. It is situated 234 kilometers west of Leh. It is a perfect place for camping at night before moving forward your journey to explore other attractive places around Leh.

Situated at an altitude of 5359 meters, it is the second highest motorable pass in the district of Leh. The drive from Leh towards this pass is a fun-filled experience yet scenic experience. The word Khardungla signifies the “pass of lower castle”.

All throughout Ladakh, during way around it, one dish that you will find at everywhere stall, restaurant, eating joint / corner is Maggi / Noodles or soup.

 
Vegetables such as potatoes, pumpkins, beetroots, and beans are cooked in a variety of different ways and accompany meat dishes. Mutton and chicken are the commonly consumed types of meat in Ladakh.
 
Tourists in Ladakh can try local Ladakhi food, which is nourishing and usually mildly flavored. Favorites include Thukpa, a thick soup with vegetables that provides a complete meal and delicious Momos or steamed dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables, accompanied by a fiery chili sauce.
 
There are also many bakeries in Ladakh where you can buy freshly baked bread and enjoy eating it with locally made Apricot Jam.
 
Restaurants in Ladakh offer many kinds of cuisine including Tibetan, Korean, Chinese, Italian, Indian and Western dishes. Fast foods like sandwich, quiche, burger, puff, etc are available at most eating joints. English breakfast is common amongst most restaurants.
 

Restaurants & Food Joints in Leh-Ladakh

Gesmo Restaurant (Old Fort Road,Leh)

Lamayuru Restaurant (Old Fort Road)

Neha Snacks (Main Market, Leh)

Little Italy Restaurant, Near Main Market Leh

Tibetan Pure Vegetarian Restaurant

Devi Tibetan Restaurant (Near the State Bank of India)

Dreamland (Main market, Leh)

Kokonoor (Main market,Leh)

La Montessori (Main market,Leh)

Mona Lisa (Near the State Bank of India,Leh)

Mughal Durbar (Main market,Leh)

Tibetan Friends Corner (Near the Taxi stand,Leh)

Tibetan Kitchen (Fort Road, Leh)

Wok Tibetan Kitchen (Main market,Leh)

Mountain Climbing

Leh and the surrounding regions in Ladakh is a haven for mountain climbers with its unique charm and natural beauty. You can hire a local guide or sherpa before venturing out to conquer the mountains.

Cycling

Cycling on the rocky trails of this beautiful place is a unique experience which you will remember throughout your life

Kayaking
 

Kayaking in the Zanskar river that gently glides through the beautiful and deep gorges is absolutely fun. The valleys in Zanskar are called as “Grand canyon” by several explorers.

Motor biking

You can hire a bike and hit the road of Leh and explore the surrounding regions. Riding around this region is a truely hair raising experience.

Trekking

Talking about adventure activities in Leh ladakh, you can’t afford to miss trekking on the rocky and arduous slopes of the Himalayan ranges enclosed by thick dense forests and lush green landscapes. 

Ice Skiing

Travellers can enjoy Ice Skiing on the high and long snowy slopes of the Himalayan mountain ranges and make  vacations truely memorable.

Paragliding

Fall free with the cool breeze blowing across your hair, experience the view of the clear sky, the snow capped peaks and the huge green landscape adorned by rivers. This region offers some of the best views for those thinking of paragliding in Leh.

Jeep safari
 

An enthralling jeep safari on the scenic landscape of Ladakh is absolutely fun and exciting. If you have to travel several miles, then the best way is to hire a Jeep which will make your journey relaxing and comfortable.

Hemis

Hemis is 40 kms from Leh & is one of the richest, biggest and most famous monasteries in Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major annual festival held during summer in honour of their Guru Padma Sambhava 's birth anniversary. It was built during the 1630s. Of its many frescoes, the most famous is the Wheel of Life.

Shankar Gompa

The Shankar Gompa (monastery) is famous for its numerous statues of pure gold and a number of interesting paintings. Close by are the Leh Palace and the cottage industries emporium.

Alchi Gompa

Alchi Gompa is 70 Kms from Leh on banks of the Indus. One of its walls features thousands of miniature-sized pictures of the Buddha. Three large sized images made of clay and painted brightly are its focal attraction. This monastery consists of six temples, with seated statues of Buddha and exquisite paintings. Its exquisitely painted walls depict the events of the Buddha 's life, lamas and musicians.

Shey

Shey, about 15 kms from Leh was once the residence of the royal family and is famous for its gilded statue of Buddha that stands at a height of 7.5 meters. A visit to this monastery, however, needs prior permission from the Lama.

Stok

Stok was the Palace of the banished royal family. This is the only inhabited palace in Ladakh. A museum in the palace displays fabulous period costumes and jewellery of the royalty. Interesting historical objects like coins, seals, armour, weapons, precious jade and porcelain can also be found on display. The palace is about 200 years old.

Lamayuru

The oldest holy site in Ladakh, Lamayuru was once a lake. According to legend it was blessed by a lama and the water of the lake receded into the mountains leaving place for the monastery to be built. It is also famous for being a 'free-zone' since not even a criminal can be apprehended in this place. It is mostly in ruins and only the main hall exists today.

Likir

This monastery dates back to the 18th century. Majestically situated, it commands a spectacular view. There is a statue of the Matreya Buddha within the Likir Gompa. The Matreya Buddha is the incarnation of Buddha ready to come into the universe.

Spituk

8 kms from Leh, Spituk stands on top of a hillock overlooking the Indus valley. This 15th century monastery houses a collection of ancient masks, antique arms, and an awe-inspiring image of Kali. The face of the Kali image is kept covered and revealed only at the annual function in January every two years.

Thiksey

A fine example of Ladakhi architecture, Thiksey is one of the largest and most impressive gompas. There are several temples in this gompa containing images, stupas and exquisite wall paintings. It also houses a two - storeyed statue of Buddha which has the main prayer hall around its shoulder. This monastery has an outstanding collection of art in its chambers.