LADAKH
Ladakh is situated 256kms from Srinager and 364 kms from Jammu in the north Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. It’s bordered on the northwest with Pakistan; the north with the Chinese province of Sinkiang; and the east with Tibet. Leh is the capital of Ladakh and ensures a truly memorable experience for its natural splendour and charm. Ladakh is also a place full of natural delights as it includes four main ranges - the great Himalayan, Ladakh, Zanskar and the Karakoram. Centuries old monasteries in almost every village throughout Ladakh rightly points to the Buddhist cuture that Ladakh has been preserving from a long time. A tour to Ladakh offers the facilities of Trekking, Mountaineering, Camping and Water Rafting. More so, tourists get to see a number of Buddhist Monasteries throughout Ladakh.
Climate & the best time to visit
Ladakh, for being located at quite a high altitude, experiences a very cold climate. In summer, the temperature here hardly goes past 27 deg C. In winter, it is recorded from 15 degrees to -20 degrees.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Ladakh is between May and September.
Attractions in the City
The Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Gompa of Ladakh is located at a distance of approximately 18 km from the town of Leh. One of the most fine-looking monasteries of Ladakh, it belongs to the Gelukpa Order of Buddhism. The fine-looking monastery has a huge gold-plated copper statue of Lord Buddha. Thiksey is one of the most commonly visited and most photogenic monasteries in Ladakh. The 12-storey monastery complex contains numerous stupas, statues, wall paintings, swords and a large pillar engraved with the Buddha's teachings apart from the sacred shrines and other precious objects to be seen.
The Hemis Monastery
The Hemis Monastery at Ladakh is positioned at a distance of approximately 47 km from Leh, on the west bank of the Indus River. The largest and the wealthiest monastery of Ladakh, Hemis Gompa, is the annual Hemis festival, honouring the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhav. And must to be remembered is a sacred mask dance that is performed at the monastery every year. The dance takes place on 9th and 10th day of the fifth month according to Tibetan calendar.
Sankar Gompa
Sankar Gompa of Ladakh is placed at a distance of approximately 3 km from the town of Leh. Belonging to Gelukpa Sect, it is also the official residence of The Kushok Bakul, Ladakh's head of this wing. There is a "Wheel of Life", held by Yama, on the left wall of the entrance verandah. The images include those of Sakyamuni (the Historical Buddha), White Guardian and Amchi (the Buddha of Medicine). The Sankar Monastery of Ladakh also dwells a temple, devoted to the deity Dukar.
Hemis Wildlife Sanctuary
It is named after the famous monastery, Hemis, and sprawls over 600-sq-km in the Rumbak and Markha valleys. The conditions are very miserable and isolated in this park. The land is rocky and the thin soil cover supports a poor vegetative growth. Dry alpine pastures are present in protected locations. Grass growth is comparatively rapid during the summer season after the melting of the snow.
Ladakh lakes
The lakes of Ladakh are different from the classic lakes. Tso Morari, the largest of the Ladakh lakes more or less looks like an inland sea. Bend at an altitude of 4,500 meters, Pangong Tso Lake is only 8-km wide at its broadest but is 134-km long. Trekkers and mountaineers have identified the banks of Kyaghar Lake, another attractive lake of the place an ideal place for resting.
Other Places to Visit
Zanskar
Zanskar is located at a distance of approximately 20 km to the south of Rangdum. Zanskar remains unreachable for nearly 8 months in a year. This is because heavy snowfall leads to closing of all the right of entry passes. One of the few existing cultural images of Zanska, Tibetr stands within the mountain fortifications of the lost Shangri-La.
The Hemis Monastery
The Hemis Monastery at Ladakh is positioned at a distance of approximately 47 km from Leh, on the west bank of the Indus River. The largest and the wealthiest monastery of Ladakh, Hemis Gompa, is the annual Hemis festival, honouring the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhav. And must to be remembered is a sacred mask dance that is performed at the monastery every year. The dance takes place on 9th and 10th day of the fifth month according to Tibetan calendar.
Sani
The village of Sani is sited as a distance of approximately 6 km to the west of the Padum valley, on the way to Kargil. The main tourist attraction of Sani in Ladakh is its monastery. Sani monastery has a fairy tale attached to it, which goes that its initial establishment is associated with Kanishka. Sani is also well-known because of the connection of this place with Naropa, the Indian yogi from Vikramsila. It is believed that he sat under the Kanika Stupa for meditation purposes.
Phugthal
The Phugtal Gompa of Ladakh is located in the Zanskar region, on the entrance of a huge cave. The monastery boasts of a number of chapels inside its compound. The tributory of Lungnak River adds a lot of color to its landscape.
How to reach Ladakh
By Air
Leh, the main town of Ladakh, has an airport that receives flights from almost every part of India throughout the year.
By Rail
The nearest railway station from Leh Ladakh is Jammu, about 690 km away. Jammu is well connected with rest of the states through trains.
By Road
Ladakh connects two different routes. One is the Leh - Srinagar highway open between mid June and November and other is the pleasing Manali-Leh highway
|
|
|
