Location
: Jammu
& Kashmir, India.
Area: 97,000 sq kms out of which nearly 38,000 sq. kms are under
Chinese Occupation since 1962.
Population: Approx. 2.40 lakh in the 2 districts of Leh &
Kargil.
Altitude: Leh 3505 m, Kargil 2750 m
Ladakh - The Moon Country
Ladakh
- which used to be called 'Western Tibet' or 'Little Tibet' has a peculiar
fascination for western tourists. The largest of the 10 provinces of
Jammu
and Kashmir, Ladakh is bordered by the Karakoram chain of mountains in the north
and the Himalayas in the south. Ladakh, the land of toothed peaks and barren
landscape is at once appealing and awe-inspiring. Hidden behind this harsh and
forbidding façade is an ancient civilization and captivating people.
With its unmoved character and spell-binding natural beauty Ladakh attracts
the more intense and adventurous of travelers. The overwhelming wilderness and
magic can only belong to this great land of towering mountains and Buddhist
simplicity.
Ladakh is cold and dry. Described as the 'roof of the world', Ladakh, where
people live in heights ranging from 2,500m to 4,500m above the sea level is
no destination for people with weak hearts. The pink granite of the sheer
mountains, many of them snow-capped, contrasting with the deep blue sky,
holds an exotic allure for the tourist. A visit to this Shangri-la is
definitely a most unforgettable experience of one's life time.
Arriving At Ladakh
By Flight : From June to September, 3 to 5 flights
Delhi-Leh. Reservation should be made well in advance. It is a most
beautiful flight above the Himalayas.
By Roadways : The Manali-Leh road is open in summer. A
long but magnificent (2 days) one. Buses run on this road.
The
Major Fascinating Sights At Ladakh
Monasteries : Buddhism is the dominant religion in Ladakh
and the monasteries play an important social role. For instance, the lamas
are involved in organizing the education, medical facilities and other such
social activities. Each monastery is distinct from the others and attractive
in its unique way, and it may belong to the Mahayana sect or the Hinayana
sect of Buddhism. Most of these monasteries or gompas are precariously
perched on lone rocks or craggy mountain faces. The head lama is called the
kushak meaning reincarnation. Valuable works of art like tangkhas, masks,
musical instruments of a typical kind and various precious figurines can be
found in the gompas.
The Hemis monastery : The Hemis monastery is the largest
monastery in Ladakh. At any given time, there are at least a 150 lamas
living in it. Hemis is especially renowned for a huge painting of the
Buddha, which is displayed to the poublic once in 11 years.
The Thikse monastery : The Thikse monastery, near Leh, is
considered to be an architectural wonder. The Shey monastery has a huge
gold-plated copper statue of the Buddha. Alchi, Likir and Lamayuru are
amongst the oldest gompas of Ladakh. Alchi was built 1,000 years back and
Likir dates as far back as the 11th century.
