Leh - Ladakh

Leh - The land of Monks and Monasteries

Ladakh (Leh) Places to visit, Jammu & Kashmir - Find the list of Ladakh (Leh) Tourist Places and near by Ladakh (Leh) sightseeing attractions

Leh the erstwhile capital of the kingdom of Ladakh is now a dream destination of many and the Mecca of adventure enthusiasts! Leh, one of the coldest deserts in the world is located at a distance of 434 Kms from Srinagar and 474 Kms from Manali Himachal Pradesh).

At the time of reorganization of districts in 1979 Ladakh was divided into Leh and Kargil and now Leh district is synonymous with Ladakh and vice-versa!

Built by the Buddhist kings of Ladakh in 1553 the Leh Palace was once the world’s highest building. The primary attraction within the Leh city this palace is structurally similar to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Now only the palace prayer room lives up to the sense of former grandeur of Leh Palace.

Leh is a backpacker's haven with numerous trekking trails, valleys, and picturesque lakes. Renowned as the land of monks and monasteries there is lots to see in this amazing piece of land. There are three sub divisions of Leh with 7 different tour circuits identified for international tourists in Leh with breathtaking Himalayan panorama.

 

Places to see in Ladkah

Leh Palace

This almost forgotten monument was built in the 17th century by King Singe ‘Lion’ Namgyal as the nine-storied royal residence. Meander your way through massive buttressed walls and overhanging wooden balconies to soak up some old world charm. Currently, the Leh Palace is being used as the headquarters of the Indian Government's archaeological conservation organisation.

Namgyal Tsemo Gompa

Standing on a hill above the city, behind the Leh Palace is the NamgyalTsemo Gompa—Temple of the Guardian Deities—which houses a three-story high, gold idol of Maitreya Buddha(also known as the Laughing Buddha). Built in 1430, this temple is a part of a fort, and the best time to visit is in the wee hours of the windy morning, during the daily prayers.

Shanti Stupa

Built by a Japanese Buddhist order as part of a global peace drive that constructs Peace Pagodas, this domed stupa was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1985. The pristine white stupa—magnificent even by moonlight—offers spectacular views of the sunrise, sunset and the Zanskar range.

The Monastery Circuit

Dotted along the Indus, you can find a grand number of Buddhist Monasteries; namely Shey, Thiksey, Hemis, Stakna and Matho. Each of these holy sites offers a little something unique for the day-tripper, from castle locations and ancient Buddhas to the largest thangka in the world.   

Stok Palace Museum

Stok Palace has been the official residence of the Ladakhi royal family for the last two hundred years— since they were ousted from Leh and Shey. The only part of the 77-room Palace that is open to tourists has now been converted into a museum which houses a collection of the royal family’s attire, thangka paintings, prayer instruments and crowns.

Nubra Valley
The Nubra Valley, once on the trading route that connected eastern Tibet with Turkistan via the famous Karakoram Pass has been opened recently to the tourists. The Nubra Valley literally means the valley of flowers. Nubra Valley is situated in the north of Leh. The average altitude of the valley is about 10,000 feet above the sea level. The Khardong village, Khalser and Deskit are the main villages of Nubra valley. At first glance, the valley seems parched and dry, but this is prime farming. Once dotted with garlands of camel and yak caravans, this Silk Route glen is also known as the 'Valley of Flowers' of Ladakh, and is amongst the greenest valleys in the region, ideal for your holiday break.

One can understand why anyone would envy this flowering glen. During early summer, Nubra is clad in endless bushes of yellow and pink wild roses, and once the valley is through with the season of roses around August, a carpet of wild lavender lies gently on it

Pangong Lake
Pangong is 40 miles in length and nearly 2-4 miles in width at a height of 4267m above the sea level What strikes the eye in coming first in view of this lake is the lovely colour of its water, espacially towards evening, which is of the richest deep blue, over the whole expanse, at morning time, it is of a lighter a very brilliant colour. The water of the Lake is not that salty as sea water.

Tsomoriri Lake
The Tsomoriri Lake is a beautiful mountain bounded expanse of water, around 240 Kms. from Leh in Rupsho Valley. This lake is situated at an elevation of 4500 mtrs above the sea level. It is like a pearl shape and contains large mineral deposits. It is located at 14,000 ft. near a small village of Korzok. Korzok village is situated on the south west bank of this lake. One important landmark in the Korzok village is the 19th century Korzok Monastery. It houses Shakyamuni Buddha and other statues. Korzok gompa and its inhabitants, the nomadic people are most outstanding feature of this lake area, which raise herds of goats and yaks. The Tsokar (the salt Lake) is around 76 kms. from Tsomoriri. It is also a wonderful lake in this area, offering spectacular views

Shey Palace
Shey is about 15 kilometres from Leh and is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Ladakh. It also happens to have one of the oldest palaces called the Shey palace.

During the summer, the landscape of Ladakh is a contrast between the magnificent mountains and the green meadows of the valleys basking in the sun. The Shey valley was beckoning us

Leh City
Flying into Leh, the cold desert land, over the magnificent Himalayas is a beautiful and scary experience at once. Leh Palace illuminated by huge halogen lamps looks like a bewitching castle on a hilltop set ablaze in the dark nights of the Leh. Drive in the city is as exciting as the wonders it has in its lap with the long isolated winding road that opens up into a sheer expanse of arid flatness in burnt sienna. There is blinding sun at the top and perhaps at the first impression, a visitor is not likely to appreciate the blessings of the land fully.

Bon and Buddhism rule the lifestyle and culture of the people here. The Chortens (Stupas) and enchanting Gompas (Monasteries) adorn the city with their presence. The landscape is breathtakingly beautiful and there is an ominous beauty in the stark surroundings of Ladakh. The Hinayana Buddhist way of life lends a benevolent spirit to the very air of the region

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