Location : Leh is
located in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the extreme north of India.
Tourist Attractions : Buddhist Monasteries, the Leh
Palace.
Best Buys : Tibetan handicraft items.
Best Hangouts : The Monasteries
Best Activity : Trekking, Mountaineering, Camping, Water
Rafting.
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Jammu, Leh, Kargil,
Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam.
When to Visit : June To End September
About Leh
Ladakh, a part of Jammu & Kashmir State in north of India consisting of
two districts Leh and Kargil. At a distance of 434 kms from Srinagar and 474
kms from Manali, Leh is situated on the banks of the river Indus, at a
height of 11,000 feet.
The land of majestic mountains, Leh is a complete beauty in itself. Leh has
quite a few amazing places to offer its tourists. The most striking sight of
Leh is the group of women, traditionally attired, selling fruits, vegetables
and household
articles,
spinning and knitting, and exchanging gentle banter between themselves and
with passers-by.
Leh airport is Ladakh's only link with the outside world for the seven
months of the year. Leh is one most frequented destinations for the trekkers
in India. Rumbak and Markha offer exciting treks, while Stok Kangri is the
best for a climb. One can also go for boating and river running on the
Indus.
Major Tourist Attractions in Leh
Leh Palace
Built in the mid of 16th century by King Singe Namgyal, this palace is a
distinguished monument and a historical building and is still owned by the
royal family. This palace has nine storeys. One part of the palace is
occupied by the museum. It is an imposing structure, though in ruins now,
situated on a hill and commands a grand view of the Leh town. The building
in grand Tibetan architecture is said to have inspired the famous Potala of
Lahasa, built half a century later.
The Tsemo Gompa
The Tsemo Gompa or Red Gompa is situated at the north of the city. The left
side of its entrance has the portrait of Tashi Namgyal. It has a colossal
2-storey high image of Maitreya, flanked by Avalokitesvara and Manjusri
figures.
Soma Gompa
The new Soma Gompa is a new monastery situated at old village. It was built
in 1957 to commemorate the 2,500th birth-day of Buddha.
Hemis Gompa
Hemis Gompa is located at a distance of 40 km south of Leh, along a road
crossing the Indus. Among the innumerable thankas (paintings on cloth),
there is one which is supposed to be the biggest of its kind in existence.
The exposition of this tankhas takes place once in eleven years. Every year,
in June, a fair (' Mela of Hemis Gompa') takes place at Hemis which is a
colourful occasion for the mask dances.
Tiksey
About 25km south of Leh, Tiksey is considered as one of the most imposing
monastery in Ladakh. It is a 12-storey monastery painted in red and white
and ochre. It has 10 temples surrounded by typical tapering walls. The
complex contains numerous stupas, wall paintings, tankas, statues, large
pillar engraved with Buddha teachings and swords. The interior of new temple
dominated by a giant 15 meters high Buddha figure.
Getting There
Air : Leh - Leh is the main airport for this area. Direct flights
link it to Delhi, Chandigarh, Srinagar and Jammu. Kargil, Suru and Zanskar
valleys - Srinagar and Leh airports are both convenient.
Road : Leh - Srinagar-Leh road is the main route with an over night
halt at Kargil. The road is open between mid June and November. Ordinary and
deluxe buses of the J&K state road transport corporation regularly ply
on this route. Taxis can also be hired at Srinagar for this trip.
Accommodation
Leh offers a variety of accommodations to suit almost every pocket or
preference. Most hotels are family- run establishments and, as such, the
services are more personalised than professional. Hotels are classified into
A, B, C and Economy category while Guest Houses fall under Upper, Medium and
Economy class.
There are also some Government run Tourist Bungalows located mainly along
the Srinagar-Leh road. These offer the best value in the medium range.
