Snow-capped mountains, Buddhist monasteries and calm and clear mirror-like lakes form the chief impressions of Leh. Ladakh is known as the 'Land of Passes' and Tibetan Buddhism has profound influence in the region. Gompas and their chhams (traditional dance drama narrations) at Leh are a must see here.
Places to See
The Capital of Ladakh, Leh had a strategic position on the erstwhile Silk Route and enjoyed intimate trade relations with Central Asia. Its highlights include:
- Leh Palace
- Shanti Stupa
- Hall of Fame
- Magnetic Hill
- Gurdwara Shri Patthar Sahib
- Hemis Gompa
- Shey Palace
- Stok Palace and Museum
- Thiksey Gompa
- Alchi Choskor
- Lamayuru Gompa
Shopping
Tibetan and Burmese jewellery pieces, carved yak-horn boxes, exotic brass locks, musical bowls for meditation, prayer wheels, and thangka paintings are some of the most popular lures in the markets of Leh. Handicrafts, warm and soft light-weight Pashmina Shawls, Kashmiri Shawls and Ladakhi rugs are other popular buys here. Dried apricot or khumani of Ladakhi is quite famous while the Leh berry juice is believed to increase stamina and memory power as well as have anti-aging properties. Shatoosh shawls made from the fleece of Tibetan antelopes were very popular in the region once but have now been banned by the Government of India.
Where to Stay
Leh offers plenty of options to spend your days in the city comfortably. From budget hotels in the crowded market areas to clean and quiet luxury hotels bit away from the city, you can easily find a suitable accommodation at Leh. We recommend:
- The Grand Dragon
- Camp Himalayan Saga
- Hotel Caravan Center
- Hotel Omasila
- Hotel Royal Palace
- Hotel Shambha-La
- Lharisa
- Hotel Gawaling International
How to Reach Leh
A popular tourist destination in snow-capped Himalayas, Leh is easily accessibly by flight.
By Road: From June to October, Leh is accessible by road. You can either drive on the Manali-Leh highway, with night halt at Sarchu and visiting Dharchu enroute or drive on the Srinagar-Leh Highway with night halt at Kargil. The drive is of two days and allows you ample opportunity to see divine beauty of the land. The Leh Bus Stand is barely a km away from the city.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Leh is at Kalka, from where you can drive to Manali. From Manali, you have to take a bus or taxi to Leh.
By Air: The easiest way to reach Leh is by taking direct flights from Delhi that take about 65 minutes to reach the town. Delhi to Leh flights are available on a daily basis. Once a week flights to Srinagar and twice a week flights to Jammu are also available from Leh. Weather is unpredictable at Leh, so you can expect a normal held up of 2 to 3 hours, especially in the early morning flight schedules.
