LEH

BEST SEASON: July to September
LANGUAGE SPOKEN: English, Ladakhi, Purig, Tibetan, Hindi
CLOTHING: Summer & Winter- Wollens
STD CODE: 01982

INTRODUCTION

Leh is one of the favorite travel destinations located in the northern most parts of India. Lapped in the snow-covered fringes of the Himalayas, Leh has been the center of Tibeto-Buddhist culture since ages. Devout Buddhists from all over the globe travel to Leh for its colorful gompas.

PLACE TO VISIT

CHOGLAMSAR
The original Choglamsar village is situated on the bank of Indus river. The new Tibetan refugee camp just off the main road from Leh, which is important center for Tibetan Culture, History and Buddhism. Tibetan children village has library, Medical center, Traditional Handicraft shop and study center. Around one Km from TCV towards Hemis the central Institute of Buddhist studies, the study center for Tibetan Buddhism and Ladakhi culture has Tibetan painting and sculpture school, library with good collection of books.

STOK PALACE MUSEUM
Around 14 Kms from Leh, across the Choglamsar bridge. The Stok Palace was built by King Tsespal Tondup Namgyal in 1825. The present Royal family resides at Stok Palace. The Stok Palace Museum has vast collection of thankas, traditional clothing and ornaments from Royal family. The Gurphug monastery is 1 Km from the Palace and this is the branch of Spituk monastery. The festival called "Guru Tsechu" take place on the 9th and 10th days of the first month of Tibetan Lunar Calendar.

PADUM
Once capital of the Zanskar valley, lies on top of a hill at the far end of the Lungnak valley. The majority of its 400 - 500 inhabitants are Muslims who are engaged in trading. At the eastern border of Padum, a suspension bridge cross over the Tserap Lingti Chu. From there a path leads along its right bank, and further along the river Zanskar, towards Tonde and Zangla. To the southwest, slightly above Padum, lies the Monastery of Stagrimo, which can be reached in 15 minutes. The monastery of Stagrimo belongs to the Drukpa Kagyupa order and is presently the home of about 30 monks.

HOW TO REACH

By Air - Airline service operates regular scheduled flights to Leh from Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar. From Jammu there are two flights in week and from Srinagar one in a week.

By Road - The 434-km Srinagar-Leh road, which remains open for traffic from early June to November is the main land route to Ladakh. The most dramatic part of this road journey is the ascent up the 11,500 feet /3,505 m high Zoji-la.

By Rail - Train journey is up to Jammu after that by road to leh.

DISTANCE