Leh Holiday Tour Package
As one strategies Leh for the first time, through the sloping seep of dust and pebbles that divide if from the floor of the Indus Valley, one will have little difficulty imagining how the old trans -Himalayan traders ought to have felt as they plodded in on the caravan routes from Yarkhand and Tibet: a combination of relief at having crossed the mountains in 1 piece, and anticipation of the soothing spell in one of central Asia's most scenic and atmospheric towns.
Prime Points of interest of Leh Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is really a land like no other. Bounded by two in the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalayas as well as the Karakoram, it lies athwart two other, the Ladakh range as well as the Zanskar array. a lot more..
Zanskar
About 20-km south of Rangdum stands the Pazila watershed throughout which lies Zanskar, the most isolated of all of the trans Himalayan Valleys. The Panzela Leading (four,401 m) will be the picturesque tableland adorned with two small alpine lakes and surrounded by snow-covered peaks.
Hemis Festival Tour of Leh Ladakh Region
Thanks towards the Hemis Setchu festival - one from the couple of held in summer season, once the passes are open up - Hemis, 45-km southeast of Leh, may be the most famous Gompa in Ladakh.
Sankar Gompa
Sankar Gompa, 3-km north from the city centre, is amongst one of the most available monasteries in central Ladakh - therefore its limited going to several hours for vacationers
The Shanti Stupa
A relatively new addition to the rocky skyline around Leh will be the Shanti Stupa above Changspa village, 3km west with the bazaar. Inaugurated in 1983 through the Dalai Lama,
Alchi
Driving previous on the nearby Srinagar-Leh highway, you would by no means guess that this is among the most significant historical internet sites in Asia.
Baltoro Glacier
The Baltoro glacier is located around the southern slopes in the central Karakoram Variety in the Baltistan area of Jammu and Kashmir. The location of Boltoro is in an enormous arena hemmed by large peaks.
Baralacha Pass
On the long Manali -Leh highway and supplying a route throughout the Baralacha range is the renowned Baralacha Pass. It truly is located at a spectacular sixteen,400 ft over sea level. The move itself is 8-km lengthy, and is actually the pass "where numerous roads meet".
Biafo Glacier
The Biafo glacier is situated around the south-facing slopes in the Karakoram Array in the Baltistan region of Ladakh. It features a length of about 60-km and descends from the big glacial trough.
Dah-Hanu
Dah and Hanu are locations around the far side from the great Indus River around the far side of Leh. Surrounded through the excellent Hindu - Kush mountains and peopled by a hardy but gentle individuals who have a bank of strange legends to relate for that weary traveller's ears.
Dosmoche
An ancient custom started by the kings of Ladakh, Docmoche is still celebrated every single yr in February with great pomp and fervour. The courtyard from the chapel under the gates in the Leh in the Leh Palace comes alive with the songs of drums along with the thumping actions in the masked Lamas from diverse monasteries performing the sacred dance-drama.
Hemis Festival
One of probably the most well-known monastic choices in Ladakh, the festival of them is symbolises the centuries-old traditions with the Kar-gyur-pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
Hemis Substantial Altitude Wildlife Sanctuary
The Hemis Higher Altitude Nationwide Park consists of the catchments of two valleys, which drain into the River Indus. It really is named after the popular monastery -- Hemis, and sprawls over 600-sq-km inside the Markha And Rumbak valleys.
Karakoram Pass
The Karakoram Pass lies on one from the best trade routes inside the globe for Yarkand in Central Asia.
Khardong La & Digar La Move
The Khardong La move is situated at an incredible elevation of more than 5,800 m (18,680 ft). It lies around the route between Leh and also the Shyok and Nubra valleys
Lakes in Ladakh
The Tso Morari Lake is one of the largest lakes in Ladakh region and it is almost like an inland sea. At an altitude of almost 4,500 meters, the Pangong Tso is only 8-km wide at its broadest but is an amazing 134-km long. Kyaghr lake will be the halting area for trekkers moving from your Kiangdum camping ground towards the Tsomorari Lake.
Lamayuru
If one sight could be said to sum up Ladakh, it would have to be Lamayuru Gompa, 130-km west of Leh. Hemmed in by a moonscape of scree covered mountains, the white washed medieval monastery towers previously mentioned a scruffy cluster of tumbledown mud brick houses through the top of a near vertical, weirdly eroded cliff.
Likkir
6-km towards the north with the main Leh-Srinagar highway, shortly before the village of Saspol, the significant and wealthy Gompa of Likkir, home to around 1 hundred monks, is renowned for its enormous yellow statue of the Buddha to come which towers above the terraced fields and village below.
Losar
Losar may be the most elaborate of all the socio -religious events of Ladakh. It involves the entire population from the area. Interestingly, the rites and rituals are a mixture of Buddhist and the pre Buddhist Bon religious practices.
Matho
Matho, 27-km south of Leh, straddles a spur at the mouth of an idyllic side valley. Though no less interesting or scenically situated than its neighbours, the Gompa sees comparatively couple of visitors.
Matho Nagrang
Around the 15th day in the 1st Tibetan month, a 2-day festival is held at the Matho Monastery - the only Saskyapa monastic establishment in Ladakh.
Monastic Festivals
The monastic festivals are the events that provide the average Ladakhi with the spice of life. No other festival can match them in religious and entertainment value. These festivals are held to commemorate the founding of a monastery, the birthday of its patron saint or major events within the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism.
Mulbekh
West of Lamayuru, the main highway crawls to the top of Fatu-la (4,091m), the best pass between Leh and Srinagar, and then ascends Namika-la ("Sky Pillar"), so called because from the jagged pinnacle of rock that looms above it towards the south.
Namgyal Tsemo Gompa
The moment one is acclimatized to the altitude, the stiff early morning hike up to Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, the monastery perched precariously on the shaly crag behind Leh palace, is a fantastic way to start the day.
Nubra Glacier
The Nubra glacier is located around the southern slopes with the Karakoram Array within the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir. It's a big glacier situated in an enormous amphitheater that is ringed by towering peaks.
Padum
Once the capital with the historic kingdom of Zanskar, Padum (three,505 m) is the present day administrative headquarters of the area. With a population of nearly 1,500, Padum can be described as the most populous settlement of Zanskar, otherwise a very scarcely inhabited valley.
Panamic
Right after a cleansing trip to the hot springs, where two rooms every single have a deep tub filled with piping hot sulphurous water, where's little to do in Panamic other than walk. A dot on the mountainside throughout the river, Ensa Gompa makes an obvious excursion.
Pangong Tso
Pangong Tso, 154-km towards the southeast of Leh, is one of the largest salt-water lakes in Asia, a long narrow strip of water stretching from Ladakh east into Tibet. Only a quarter of the 130-km-long lake is in Ladakh, as well as the Indian army, who experienced bitter losses along its shores inside the war against China in 1962, guard their side from the frontier.
Phyang
A mere 24-km west of Leh, Phyang Gompa looms large at the head of a secluded facet valley that tapers north into the rugged Ladakh range from your Srinagar highway.
Phyang Tsedup
Phyang is one of the two Dringungpa Monasteries in Ladakh. This monastery 17-km west of Leh, holds its festival in July/august. Like other monastic festivals, sacred dance-dramas or 'chhams' form the core of this festival.
Rhidzong
A wealthy monastery, presided over by Shas Rinpoche and linked to Sumur within the Nubra, the atmospheric Rhidzong is a relatively new Gompa dating from your 17th century.
River Rafting
While water levels are substantial, between the end of June and late August, Leh's far more entrepreneurial travel agents operate rafting trips around the river Indus
Sankoo
A picturesque expanse surrounded by colorful rocky mountains, Sankoo is an upcoming township with a small bazaar and quite a few villages around. Dense plantations of Poplers, Willows, Myricarea and wild Roses fill the bowl shaped valley, giving it the ambience of a man-made forest tucked within the mountain ramparts.
Shey
Shey, 15-km southeast of Leh and the moment the capital of Ladakh is now all but deserted, the royal family having been forced to abandon it with the Dogras midway through the last century.
Siachen Glacier
The Siachen glacier lies within the extreme north-central part of Jammu and Kashmir near the border of India and Tibet. With a length of about 72-km, Siachen is acknowledged as the largest glacier in the globe outside the Polar Regions.
Sind Valley
Considered by several to be one of the most beautiful of Kashmir's side valleys, the Sind is also the access route to the Zoji la move.
Sindhu Darshan Festival
The Sindhu Darshan or Sindhu Festival aims at projecting the Indus as a symbol of India's unity and communal harmony. Whilst promoting tourism to this location, this festival is also a symbolic salute to the brave soldier of India.
Siser La Or Saser La
Siser La is a substantial mountain pass in northern Ladakh in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It lies on one with the greatest trade routes in the world for Yarkand in Central Asia.
Spitok
By contrast, the 15th century monastery, which tumbles down the sides of a steep knoll to a tight cluster of farmhouses and well-watered fields, is altogether more picturesque.
Stok
Just beyond the Tibetan refugee camp at Choglamsar, a aspect highway turns left off the highway to cross the Indus on an iron bridge plastered with prayer flags, and then continues up in direction of a huge TV mast.
The monastery of Stongdey lies 18-km to the north of Padum, on the road leading to Zangla. An old foundation associated with the Tibetan Yogi, Marpa, Stongdey is now the second largest monastic establishment of Zanskar
Sumur
Soon after passing Khalsar, the road crosses the confluence of the Shyok and Nubra to a patch of green sloping from the river to the base of precipitous mountains. Sumur is home to the Nubbra valley's most important monastery,
Suru Valley
The Suru Valley is formed by the catchment are of the SuruRiver, which rises from the Panzella glacier.
The Leh Palace
Lording it over the old town from the top of a craggy granite ridge is the derelict palace of the 16th century ruler Sengge Namgyal.
The Nubra Valley
The 18,640 feet high Khardung La pass forms the divide between the Nubra Valley and Leh. After crossing the Khardung La, one descends to a place called "Khalsar", situated on the left bank of the Shyok River.
Tikse
Ladakh's most photographed and architecturally impressive Gompa is at Tikse, 19-km southeast of Leh. Founded in the 15th century, its whitewashed Chortens and cubic monks quarters rise in ranks up the sides of a craggy sun bleached bluff.
Tulimpati La
The Tulimpati La is located in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kahsmir. This pass opens up the route from the Nubra Valley of Ladakh towards the Karakoram Pass.
Zozi La
Zoji La is a famous pass over the main Himalayan range on the Srinagar-Leh highway. As a matter of fact, this pass has often been termed as the gateway to Ladakh.
Buddhism In Ladakh
Although the Islamic influence extends out of the Kashmir valley as far as Kargil in Ladakh, the predominant religion is overwhelmingly the Tibetan, Lamaist form of Buddhism.
Chemrey
Clinging like a swallow's nest to the sides of a shaly conical hill, the magnificent Gompa of Chemrey sees very few visitors because of its location - tucked up the side valley that runs from Karu, below Hemis, to the Chang-la pass into Pangong.
Chong Kumdan Glacier
The Chong Kumdan glacier is situated on the lower slopes of the Karakoram Range. It is located in a trough that is surrounded by high peaks on all sides. The melt-water from this glacier flows into the Shyok River, which in turn joins the Indus River. The Chong Kumdan glacier had blocked the flow of the Shyok River several times in the past. Thus the Gapshan Lake was formed which drained away once the ice dam gave way. This glacier can be approached via Skardu in Ladakh.
Dances Of Ladakh
Ladakhi Dances are very colorful and majestic. The slow and gentle movements of these dances are very well complemented by the richness of jewelled 'Peraks', Silver ornaments and rich music.
Diskit And Hundur
The caramel brown hillside above the old town supports Diskit's picturesque Gompa, built in 1420 by Changzem Tserab Zangpo, a disciple of Tsong-kha-pa.
Galdan Namchot
This socio-religious event is celebrated to observe the birthday and the Buddhahood of Tsongkhapa- the Tibetan saint-scholar who founded the Gelukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism during the 14th century. The Gelukpa School later developed as the dominant monastic order in Central Tibet.
Gasherbrum Glacier
The Gasherbrum glacier is located on the southern slopes of the Karakoram Range in the Baltistan area of Ladakh. It lies at the base of the Gasherbrum peak and has a length of about 26-km. The melt-water from this glacier joins the Shyok river system. Glaciers in hanging valleys open into the main glacier. No vegetation grows in this tract due to the extreme conditions of cold. This glacier can be approached via Skardu in Ladakh.
Gu-Stor
Gu-Stor literally means 'Sacrifice of the 29th day'. It is traditional to the monasteries of the reformist Geluk-pa order of Tibetan Buddhism. This two-day long festival is held mainly in the Spituk, Thiksay (also spelt as Thiksey) and Karsha (Zanskar) monasteries, at different times every year. s
Hispur Glacier
Situated on the southern slopes of the Karakoram Range in the Baltistan area of Ladakh is Hispar Glacier.
Lah Palace
Lording it over the old town from the top of a craggy granite ridge is the derelict palace of the 16th century ruler Sengge Namgyal. A scaled down version of the Potala in Lhasa, it is a textbook example of medieval Tibetan architecture, with gigantic sloping buttressed walls and projecting wooden balconies that tower nine storeys above the surrounding houses.
Rakaposhi Glacier
Rakaposhi glacier is located on the lower slopes of the Karakoram Range in the Gilgit area of Ladakh. It is tenanted on the north-facing slopes of the Rakaposhi massif. The Rakaposhi glacier feeds an eastern tributary of the Hunza River, which in turn flows into the Indus River. The Rakaposhi glacier lies in a trough whose bottom gently slopes towards the north and northwest. Boulders and rocks are strewn all over the surface. This glacier can be approached via Gilgit in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Rupshu
Located east of Zanskar, the restricted area of Rupshu is Ladakh's easternmost and most elevated region, blending into western Tibet's high plains. In fact, topographically, but not politically, Rupshu is an integral part of the Chang Tang, Tibet's 600-mile-wide, 15,000-foot high northern steppes, of which it is the westernmost extremity.
Saltoro Glacier
The Saltoro glacier is located on the southern slopes of the Karakoram Range in Ladakh. Situated in a cirque of the Saltoro massif, this glacier feeds one of the two main streams of the Saltoro River, which in turn drains into the Shyok River.
Shyok Valley & Indus Valley
Indus is a large valley formed by the main channel of the Indus River as it flows across Ladakh. The Shyok Valley is the valley of the Shyok River -- the river of death. This is a "Yarkandi" (Central Asian) name, probably given by the Central Asian traders
Stok Guru Tse Chu
Stok Guru Tse Chu is yet another festival of oracles, and is held in Stok, the present seat of royal residence in between the months of
February and March.
Thak Thok Gompa
Clustered around a lumpy outcrop of eroded rocks, 4-km up the valley from Chemrey, the small Gompa of Thak Thok (pronounced Tak Tak and meaning "top of the rocks") is the sole representative in Ladakh of the ancient Nyingmapa order.
Yuru Kabgyat
This 2-day festival is celebrated during July, in the spectacularly situated monastery of Lamayuru, about 127-km west of Leh.
Zangla
Lying deep in the northern arm of Zanskar at the end of the 35-km long rough road from Padum, Zangla was being ruled by a titular king till his death in 1989. The old castle now in ruins except from a small chapel, occupies a hill, overlooking the desertic valley below.
Zongkhul
A spectacular cave monastery of Zanskar, Zongkhul falls on the Padum-Kishtwar trekking trail, just before the ascent of Omasi-la Pass begins.
Significance - LehM
Capital Of Ladakh.
Historical
Leh only became regional capital in the 17th century, when Sengge Namgyal shifted his court here from Shey, 15-km southeast, to be closer to the head of the Khardung La-Karakoram corridor into China. The move paid off: with in a generation, the town had blossomed into one of the busiest markets on the Silk Road. During the 1920s and 1930s, the broad bazaar that broad bazaar that still forms its heart received more than a dozen pony- and camel-trains each day.
Leh's prosperity, managed mainly by the Sunni Muslim merchants whose descendants live in its labyrinthine old quarter, came to an abrupt end with the closure of the Chinese border in the 1950's. One after the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, when India rediscovered the hitherto forgotten capital's strategic value, did its fortunes begin to look up. Today, Khaki-clad Jawans (soldiers) and their families from the nearby military and air force bases are the mainstay of the local economy in winter, when foreign visitors are few and far between.
Welcoming Tourists
Undoubtedly the most radical shake-up, however, ensued from the Indian government's decision in 1974 to open Ladakh to foreign tourists. From the start, Leh bore the brunt of the annual invasion, as busloads of backpackers poured up the road Srinagar. Twenty or so years on, though the main approach is now via Himachal Pradesh rather than Kashmir, the summer influx shows no sign of abating.
Leh is doubled in size and is a far cry from the sleepy Himalayan town of the early 1970's. During July and August tourists stroll shoulder to shoulder down its main street, most of whose old style outfitters and provision stores have been squeezed out by Kashmiri handicraft shops, art emporiums and Tibetan restaurants.