Ladakh - “small tibet” in India.

Some of its names:

Since the India government took open-door policy for foreign visitor in the 1970s, Ladakh has been called by some new names: “The ascetic’s kingdom”, “The land of Lamas”, “The land on the moon”, “The world’s house root”, “Heaven on the earth”.

Ladakh is also known as “The land of Gompas (monasteries)”. In history, this area belongs to the nation Tibetan and has a lot of Buddhist monasteries. Therefore, Ladakh is called “small Tibet”.

There are many of famous Buddhist monasteries here and Buddhism has deeply impacted to inhabitants. Every family in Ladakh lets their sons ordain to become a Lama. The young boys are sent to monasteries at the age 5 or 6 to get education and training as the monks and then they will spend their whole life for study and research Buddhism…Just like that, people apply for their all generations.

Climate

The best time to visit Ladakh is summer, between June and October. At that time the temperature fluctuates at 16-30 degree Celsius. From November, snow will cover everywhere and temperature can decrease under 35 degree Celsius.

Transport:

You can visit Ladakh by plane and by land:

By plane: There are many flights which belong to many agencies as Air India, Jet Airways. These flights arrive Leh_ the biggest town in Ladakh. On the other hand, you can go to Delhi (everyday), Jammu (Monday and Friday), Srinagar (Wednesday). The amount of flights normally increases on June and July. The Kushok airport in Leh is about 8 km from the central. There are many taxi stations for prepayment at the airport and the taxi of trade union will take customers to the central.

1. Take a bus from Delhi to Srinagar (832 km), then transfer to Sonamarg, about 90km. From here you can start the journey of passing the Zoji La mountain- pass, Dras and Kargil town, Namika and Fatu La mountains. This is the main traffic road of Ladakh, it operates from April to October or December every year.

2. You also can take a bus from Delhi to Manali (477km), then you get the new way from Manali to Leh of Himachal Pradesh. The high way will pass the four mountain-passes, Rohtang la, Baralacha la, Lungalacha la and Taglang la. This road just works between May and November, when the snow totally melts.

In the Ladakh’s capital, there are some bus services from Leh to the villages every year. Ladakh is the area with complex and interlacing mountain trails. Very few roads among them are built and just led to some areas which belong to some valleys and villages.

Destination (point of arrival):

There are some famous tourist points in Ladakh: Kargil, Nubra and Indus valleys, Leh palace and Thikse, Hemis, Shey, Dhankar, Lamayuru, Likir, Alchi và Ridzong monasteries. Besides, you also can visit the Peace Tower in Changspa, where it is considered a really heaven between some large mountains.

Ladakh’s terrain is totally appropriate for people who love risky travelling. The roads to bendy mountains, hidden inside mountain are good paths for risky drivers. When approaching higher, you can stop to enjoy the impressive beauty of the large valleys spreading below with very blue sky.

The Leh market is also an interesting destination. There are many unique things here and you can buy everything which made by woolen, fabric, carpet, small wheel for praying, silk scarf, lantern, keeping jewelry box and even many kinds of spices or hot bread, and so on.

Ladakh is really a land with fantastic beauty. People here are gentle and righteous together with mysterious fascination hidden inside. It’s really a wonderful place for discovering.

Warning for health:

Because its high mountain terrain that is higher than sea level, the oxy concentration is low. You will get a bit heavier in breath than normal which is called Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), which normally occurs at the height over 3000m above sea level. At times, some common symptoms will arise, including headache, dizziness, nausea, short breath and swoon.

You had better spend time for acclimatization of the high mountain’s land before discovering the higher place. Remember to support enough water for your body because the body will be dehydrated rapidly at the high land. You also should keep some expedients to help keeping water long in body as taking garlic and vegetables. In the case of need, you can go to a local hospital in Leh.

Residence:

There are over 94 hotels which are different from space, luxury or coziness or you also can live together with the locals just like homestay.

Food and drinks:

There are many same points between Ldakh’s food and Tibetan’s food. Normally the food has light spice and much butter to help keeping water in body and against dry weather. Some prominent food including thukpa (noodles) and stampa which called ngampe (roasted oat) in Ladakh. Stampa is a food without being cooked, appropriate for mountain-climber.

Just like other lands of Central Asia, Ladakh people consider tea a traditional drink which is cooked together with butter and salt. It is mixed in a big can calledgurgur cha. However cha ngarmo (sweet tea) is one of the most popular drinking in India nowadays with sugar and milk. Mostly barley is used for food, the remaining one will be made to ferment, which is called chang, a condensed alcohol drinking, normally used in festivities.

Unthawed snow at the top of mountain.

Thikse monastery

Bus station in Leh

Some of stalls in the Leh market.

Small and pretty hotel in Leh

Kulcha pie mixed milk tea

Thenthuk is a cool-bread with a lot of vegetables