Leh
Leh, the capital of Ladakh is spreading rapidly in all
directions. Leh is situated in a fertile side valley of
the Indus river. Since the 17th century Leh has been the
capital of the Ladakh region. Leh and Indus Valley are
earlier capitals of the region. The centre is about 10
km from the river. It developed as an important trading
post and market and attracted a wide variety of
merchants from Yarkand, Kashgar, Kashmir, Tibet and
northern India. Tea, salt, household articles, wool and
semi-precious stones were all sold and bought in the
city which became a hub for the business traveler to
South Asia. While Leh has come a long way from the time
when most of the activities took place on its main
street, it still retains its pleasant traditional
quality. Due to tourism, there are various hotels and
guest houses in the city. Tourism has certainly had the
impacts on the society of Leh. Leh is at an altitude of
3,521 meter. The best season to visit Leh is from May to
November.
Kargil
Kargil is situated at an altitude of 204 kms from
Srinagar in the west and 234 kms from Leh in the east.
Kargil is the second largest urban centre of Ladakh and
headquarters of the Kargil district. Kargil is situated
in Suru Valley where the Suru river flows and meets the
Indus at a place called Marul. A quite town now, Kargil
once served as an important trade and transit centre in
the Pan-Asian trade network that leads to Kashmir,
Balitistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Tibet. Even
after 1949, when the central Asian trade was ceased and
trade was not taking place any more through the old
caravan route, the goods like silk, brocade, carpets,
felts, tea, poppy, ivory were available in the local
market. Kargil is the second largest town in Ladakh
after Leh and it is like an mid way point on the long
journey from Srinagar to Leh. Kargil is
also the main take off point for excursions and trekking
into the Suru Valley and to the area of Zanskar Valley
with their exciting opportunities for mountaineering,
camping, river rafting and trekking trails into Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu and the Indus Valley.
Suru Valley
The Suru Valley is one of the most beautiful areas of
Ladakh and a rather recent addition to the tourism map
of Ladakh. This valley runs for 140 km beyond Kargil to
the Penzi la pass which is the entry point into the
Zanskar Valley. The hills of Suru Valley are cultivated
intensively than anywhere else in Ladakh. Enough snow
and water during the winters and fertile land makes it
possible to yield two crops annually. The valleys are
especially picturesque in spring when the apple, apricot
and mulberry trees are all in bloom and in autumn when
they are laden with fruits. At Thangbu, a little
village, the traveler gets a first glimpse of the
spectacular Nun (7135 m) – Kun(7935m) massif. Pahikhar,
about 12 kms. away is the base for treks to Kashmir and
Kishtwar. The road goes past the glaciers of the Nun-Kun
massif to descend to Rangdum gompa with a little stream
forming a moat around it, looks like an ancient fort
protecting the valley. Only the basic accommodation is
available at most of the tourist spots of Suru Valley.
The 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 main attraction of the Nubra
valley is Bactarian Camels (double hump Camel). These
camels can be seen around sand dunes. Other attractions
include Deskit, Samstanling monasteries and Khardung la
Pass (18,380 feet.) above sea level. For tourists its
ideal to spend here two to three nights. The people of
Nubra Valley are friendly and hospitable. The Nubra
Valley is indeed a precious treasures of Ladakh where
people still living in the complete isolation for most
of the year from rest of the world in the heart of the
great Himalayas.
Zanskar
Zanskar valley is considered as one of the most
adventurous and a fascinating one. Zanskar can be
reached by road and by trek in summer. If you go by
road, it takes two days to reach to Padum.Leh-kargil
(235kms) and kargil-zanskar (230kms) Approximately 465
Kms. Zanskar valley is situated south west of Leh and
south East of Kargil. The road from Leh to kargil is
well built with mettle road and from half way between
Kargil and Zanskar, the terrain is quite rough and full
of magnificent flora & fauna sights.
The landscapes are wonderful with different shapes and
colors of the mountains, rocks and boulders. One can
also have the opportunity to see the large glacier on
the way. You can also rest and enjoy the cool breeze of
this exotic region. Its unique high passes and the
valleys, crystal clear streams and green meadows are
very attractive, especially to nature lovers. There are
many trekking routes within zanskar itself.
Tso Moriri Lake
The Leh – Manali road leads through an area which is
inhabited only by the nomadic Chang-pa herdsmen famous
for Pashmina Goats. The Tso Moriri lake is located in
the middle of the higher plateau of Rupso region at a
height of around 20,000 feet. The surrounding dusty
mountain provide an ideal background for the lake. The
water of the lake is bright and blue and the this lake
provides an ideal breeding ground for the variety or
water birds – some of them are the great crested grebe,
brown headed gull, brahminy duck & bar headed goose. Not
far from the location is a picturesque village of Karzok
where around one hundred families stay. On the top of
the village there is a monastery which belongs to yellow
sect. The best time to visit Tso Moriri Lake is from
July to September.
Pangong Lake
Pangong Lake, 154km distance to the southeast of Leh, is
single among the prime sea water lakes in Asia, an
extended slight slip of water stretching from Ladakh
east region into Tibet.
Pangong Lake at Darbuk town close to Tangtse dale places
a series of battle cenotaphs by way of regimental
insignias in tribute of the defense force who missing
their breathes for the duration of the Indo-China battle
of 1962. A number of the armed forces ditch and bunkers
are motionless in operation. Village dwellers can be
observed here in company with their huge droves of
Pashmina sheep and long-tailed yaks.
The quiet Pangong Lake is not now a visitor's heaven but
a geologist's field also. Tourists can take pleasure in
the loneliness for a daytime or two, whiz their cameras
to capturing the black-necked Siberian winch
approximately the Made marshes which are the lone
propagation land for these wandering birds. On occasion,
they are observed brimming in the breezy bright water of
the Pangong Lake. |