Ladakh Tourism in India
Area : 98,000sq km
Altitude : 2,500m to 7,500m
Population : Approximately 178,000
Religion : 52% Buddhists, 47% Muslims
Annual Rainfall : 50mm
Status : Cold Desert
¤ Ladakh the Region of Higher
Altitude
There’s just no place on earth quite like Ladakh. Starting from
its landscape, sky, shooting stars, silence, wizened faces, rosy
cheeks, dragons and Zen – everything about Ladakh makes it stand
apart, like a jazz crescendo on the lose. This ethereal cold desert
that goes by names such as ‘The Last Shangrila’, Moonscape,
Little Tibet and so many others – all of which ring true, is a
land that seldom fails to baffle or surprise.
¤ The People of Ladakh
The inhabitants of Ladakh are simple smiling people who greet one and
all with the all-encompassing ‘jule’, which could mean
hello, bye, thank-you and please! So if there is a word of Ladhaki
that you must learn, it is – jule.
The stark and rugged landscape is situated amidst multiple-hued
mountains, some smooth enough to rub your cheeks on, others scraggly
as though termites have had a go at them for breakfast.
Miles and stretches of this never-never land, surprised by quaint
little vibrant green hamlets oozing wild roses and lavender, fringe
the life-giving Indus.
¤ Getting There
Ladakh tourism provides with regular means of transportation in the
city of Ladakh. You can get to Ladakh by road or by air. Both the
means of transport are quite fascinating, though one must admit that
the overland route is by far the more interesting alternative.
Alliance Airways operates a daily return flight from Delhi to Leh.
The town is also connected by air to Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar.
Get your tickets booked well in advance, especially from June to
August, as the limited number of flights tend to remain overbooked
during the tourist season.
There are two overland routes to the region – one from Srinagar
(open approximately from June to October) and the other from Manali
(open approximately from July to September). It takes 2 days by the
overland routes to reach Ladakh. A regular bus service operates on the
routes; cabs can also be hired from both Srinagar and Manali for the
journey. Remember that the overland trip will help you acclimatize to
the high altitude. |
