LADAKH

You may ask, “why Ladakh as a topic for this blog?” I would reply, “why not Ladakh?”

 

Those who have not been fortunate enough to have been exposed to this part of the planet must make an endeavour to visit Ladakh. It is a place like no other, provided you shed your 'city culture and notions' for a few days and explore the area around Leh like a true nomad!

 

Ladakh is a region in one of the states of India-Jammu & Kashmir. The word Ladakh means land of high passes. There are many passes in the region, some of them of strategic importance and many of them of historic significance. The region is sandwiched between the 

 Kunlun Mountains in the North and the Great Himalayas to the South.

 

Kunlun itself is one of the longest mountain chains in Asia and stretches over 3000 km.

 

The region is sparsely populated and has a domination of people of Tibetan descent, with Mongoloid features.

 

The region essentially encompasses Baltistan (in Northern Pakistan), Indus Valley (River Indus flows through China, Pakistan and India), Zanskar Range in Kargil district, Lahaul and Spiti (in Himachal Pradesh), Aksai Chin (a high altitude desert between China and India), Ngari (falls in Tibet) and Nubra Valley (North of Leh). However, over time, the definition of Ladakh Region has ceased to be sacrosanct. Various areas have fallen apart in the administrative sense and there are borders to check human traffic. So, as of now, Ladakh would necessarily mean area North of Srinagar and right up to the Siachen Glacier.

Leh, the capital of Ladakh, is a unique town. Situated at an altitude of about 11350 feet above MSL, it is cold desert, dotted with lush green oases.

While in Leh:

(a) Stay in a private guest house

(b) Visit villages surrounding Leh and spend some time with the cheerful locals

If you do these two things, you will have spent your vacations in an entirely unorthodox manner!