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.