Cities

Leh

Leh, the capital of Ladakh is amongst the favoured tourist destinations in India. It is nestled in the mountains north of Indus river. Located at a height of 3,505 meters, Leh once served as a trading center of Central Asia. Since ages it has been the center of Tibeto-Buddhist Culture with its gompas fascinating the Buddhists worldwide. Leh is far-famed for the best hikes in India. Leh is a beautiful place for spending vacations. Tourists were permitted to visit Leh only from 1974 onwards.

Best Time to Visit

Leh experiences dry hot summers and dry cold winters. The temperature dips to as low as 0 degree Celsius during the winters. From the beginning of the month of June till the end of September, the weather conditions remain pleasant. This is the best time of the year for spending holidays in Leh.

Getting There

Leh is well-connected by air, rail and roadways as well. The airport is 8 kilometers away from the city. Regular flights link Leh to Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar and Chandigarh. Jammu is the closest railhead which is 620 kilometers away from Leh. Express trains link Jammu to all the major parts of the country. The main route to reach Leh by road is the Srinagar-Leh route which remains open from June to October. Leh-Manali route is open only from July till September.

Places to See

The number of tourists visiting Leh has constantly risen. Today, Leh has doubled in size from what it was earlier. Leh is packed with several attractions to lure its visitors. Leh Palace, built in the 17th century, is the major attraction for visitors. The Victory Tower situated above the palace is yet another place of interest.

Then there is Namgyal Tsemo Gompa in the Old Quarter. This breathtakingly beautiful gompa houses a three-storey high image of Lord Buddha. Yet another must-see is the Sankar monastery. It is known for the beaded statue of the deity Avalokitesvara with a thousand arms and heads.

Food and Accommodation

Leh has a plenty of eating joints serving different cuisine. Kashmiri and Tibetan cuisine are the most popular ones here. Hotels lining the Fort Road offer lip-smacking western cuisine. Bakery and sweetmeats in Leh are equally flavourful. Leh also has some well-stocked bars where you can spend evenings at a leisurely pace.

There is no shortage of hotels in Leh. There are budget hotels to suit the needs of those tourists who are looking for affordable deals. Mid-range to top-end lodges are all available in Leh.