LADAKH VACATIONS

Ladakh

Ladakh or the’LittleTibet of India’ is also known by many other names like ‘The Last Shangrila’, Moonscape’ 'roof of the world' and not to forget ‘the land of passes’ (La-pass; Dakh-land). Bordered by two of the highest mountain ranges in the world , the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram, the region of Ladakh is the highest cold desert on earth. The astonishingly beautiful Ladakh is also the land of many lakes and springs. Incredible as it may appear, but the cold desert of Ladakh was once covered by an extensive lake system. As of now, Ladakh receives very little rainfall and most of its water needs are fulfilled by the winter snowfall.

The people and the lifestyle of Ladakh are distinctly different from the rest of India. Ladakh’s inhabitant have a striking resemblance to the people of Tibet and Central Asia in almost everything from their dressing to their physique. This is so because immigrants from Tibet settled in Ladakh perhaps a millennium or so ago and became an intrinsic part of the region overshadowing even the native Dards(the Indo-Aryan race from Indus).

Ladakh as a tourist spot offers a variety of opportunities to its tourists. Monastery, great Himalayan Treks, Mountain expeditions, Mountain Biking, river Rafting, Tribal destinations, Jeep Safaris, festival and Camel Safaris are the major ones. To reach Ladakh, the nearest airport is Leh which is connected to Delhi, Chandigarh and Srinagar and Jammu by Indian Airlines/Alliance Air and to Delhi by Jet Airways. Both airlines operate flights on this route throughout the year and increase the frequency during tourist season. A flight to Leh is the most beautiful flight above the Himalayas. For more adventurous tourists, a journey by road from Srinagar to Leh (434 km), or Manali to Leh(473km) are also alternative options.

Tourist Attractions

The Hemis Monastery
The largest monastery of Ladakh, the Hemis monastery was founded by Ladakhi Dharma King Sengye Namgyal in the 17th century. The monastery is known for its king size painting of the Buddha which is put on public display after every eleven years. The Hemis monastery is a huge attraction during the Hemis Festival, an annual festival named after the monastery. Normally held on the tenth and eleventh day of the fifth Tibetan month, the festival does not merely celebrates the victory of Guru Padmasambhava over the evil forces, but is also an important event reminding the local people of their heritage. Tourists visit this annual festival in such a large number that a considerable amount of income is generated from it for the benefit of the monastery.

The Leh Palace
The imposing Leh Palace ('Lechen Palkhar') is an important monument from historical perspective. Built by the renowned ruler of Ladakh Sengye Namgyal, this nine storeyed building is an evidence of the great Tibetan architecture. The palace that still belongs to the royal family rises from the edge of the hill and provides an extensive view of the town. The palace has a musuem with some painted or embroidered scrolls (better known as thangkas) and a few paintings.There is also the Tsemo Gompa (monastery), the enormous red structure built in 1430 by the Namgyal rulers. The monastery has some frescos, Buddhist scriptures, idols and a massive statue of the Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha). The palace is worth visiting for a splendid view of Ladakh.

The Stok Palace Museum
The current residence of the royal family, the Stok palace was constructed in 1825 by King Tsespal Tondup Namgyal, the last ruler of independent Ladakh. Around 14 Kms from Leh, this elegant four-storey Palace houses a museum with an amazing collection of fabulous period costumes, jewellery and heirlooms of the royal family. Other than these, the object of interest include exquisite ‘thangkas’, historical objects like coins, seals, armour, weapons, precious jade and porcelain. However, outstanding among all these is the Gyalmo peraks, the ancient headdress which is still worn on important occasions. This enchanting palace and its museum are favourite tourist spots for both monument lovers as well as lover of artifacts from a bygone era.

The Shey Palace and the Shey Gompa
The erstwhile capital of Ladakh, Shey lies 15 kms southeast of Leh. The Shey Palace was built by Deldon Namgyal in 1645 as a summer palace for the kings of Ladakh. Though the Shey Palace is smaller than the Leh palace, it is still worth paying a visit because of its stupendous architecture. Numerous Chortens(stupas) of varying shapes and sizes surround the palace and enhance its beauty. A year later the same king built the Shey gompa in remembrance of his father Sengye Namgyal in the adjoining area. A 12 meter high statue of Buddha adorns the Gompa. This is the biggest metal statue in entire Ladakh region and until the installation of 15 metre tall Buddha in the Thiksey Gompa, was even the largest Buddha statue. The walls in the lower storey of the gompa depicts the paintings of Buddha with various hand gestures - that of preaching, teaching, blessing and "earth witness". A library of old books is also found in the lower half of this two storeyed gompa.The Shey Palace and the gompa are beautiful and impressive structure and a must see for all the visitors..

The Hemis Monastery
The largest monastery of Ladakh, the Hemis monastery was founded by Ladakhi Dharma King Sengye Namgyal in the 17th century. The monastery is known for its king size painting of the Buddha which is put on public display after every eleven years. The Hemis monastery is a huge attraction during the Hemis Festival, an annual festival named after the monastery. Normally held on the tenth and eleventh day of the fifth Tibetan month, the festival does not merely celebrates the victory of Guru Padmasambhava over the evil forces, but is also an important event reminding the local people of their heritage. Tourists visit this annual festival in such a large number that a considerable amount of income is generated from it for the benefit of the monastery.

Adventure Tourism
Ladakh beckons the more adventurous tourists for a memorable trip in its difficult terrain.Trekking is one very popular choice among the tourists. It involves undertaking a short or a long walk up and down the mountain range to enjoy the natural beauty, visit villages in the remote and secluded areas, walking or camping in wilderness etc. However, it requires the tourists to be physically fit and strong. Cold waves, snow and falling temperature can pose obstacles for the trekkers and as such the trekkers should be prepared to face these difficulties. Major treks in the Ladakh region are ten day Markha valley trek, eleven day Lamayuru-Padum trek and the Stok-Khangri trek.

River rafting provides adventurous tourists yet another enjoyable experience. River rafting can be undertaken on the Indus and its major tributaries. For novice rafters the Indus has an easy stretch upto Karu. However a more difficult expedition can be undertaken only by trained rafters. Mountain climbing is also an exciting option, and the perfect period for climbing stretches from June to September. The rest of the year, rainfall disrupts the climbing activity. The most important climbing regions are the Nun-Kun Massif in the Great Himalayan Range and the Stok-khangri Massif in the Zanskar mountains.