Tour India

NORTH INDIA

CENTRAL ZONE

MADHYA PRADESH
CHHATTISGARH

WEST INDIA

SOUTH INDIA

EAST INDIA

CULTURE

LEH

Population: Approx. 2.40 lakh in the 2 districts of Leh & Kargil.

Languages: Ladakhi including Balti / Purgi, Shina or Dardic, Urdu / Hindi.

Ethnic composition: Mongoloid/Tibetan, Dardic and assorted Indo-Aryan elements.

Altitude: Leh 3505 m, Kargil 2750 m

Temperature:	Maximum	Minimum
Summer	25 °C	8 °C
Winter	(-) 5 °C	(-) 20°C

Rain-fall : 15cm, 6" (annual average)

Clothing :Cotton & light woollens in summer and heavy woollens including down-filled wind proof upper garments in winter.

Historical Background

The Ladakh mountainscape

For nearly 900 years, from the middle of the 10t h century, Ladakh was an independent kingdom, its ruling dynasties descending from the kings of old Tibet. The kingdom attained its greatest geographical extent and glory in the early 17th century under the famous king Singge Namgyal, whose domain extended across Spiti and western Tibet right up to the Mayum-la, beyond the sacred sites of Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.

Gradually, perhaps partly due to the fact that it was politically stable, Ladakh became recognized as the best trade route between the Punjab and Central Asia. For centuries it was traversed by caravans carrying textiles, spices, raw silk, carpets, dyestuffs, narcotics, etc. to the Central Asian towns of Yarkand and Khotan. On this long route, Leh was the midway stop, and developed into a bustling entrepot, its bazars thronged with merchants from distant countries.

The famous pashmina (better known as cashmere) also came down from the high-altitude plateaux of eastern Ladakh and western Tibet, through Leh, to Srinagar, where skilled artisans transformed it into shawls known the world over for their softness and warmth.

Like the land itself, the people of Ladakh are generally quite different from those of the rest of India. The faces and physique of the Ladakhis, and the clothes they wear, are more akin to those ofTibet and Central Asia than of India. The original population may have been Dards, an Indo-Aryan race down from the Indus and the Gilgit area.

But immigration from Tibet, perhaps a millennium or so ago, largely overwhelmed the culture of the Dards and obliterated their racial characteristics. In eastern and central Ladakh, today's population seems to be mostly of Tibetan origin. Further w est, in and around Kargil, the people's appearance suggests a mixed origin.

The exception to this generalisation is the Arghons, a community of Muslims in Leh, originated as a result of marriages between local women and Kashmiri or Central Asian merchants. They exhibit a marked dominance of the Indo-Aryan trait in their physique and appearance, though culturally they are not different from the rest of the Ladakhis.

Ladakh was the conduit through which Buddhism reached Tibet from India and in the process it got deeply entrenched in the region from the very beginning. There are ancient Buddhist rock engravings all over the region, even in the areas like Dras and the lower Suru Valley which today are inhabited by an exclusively Muslim population. The divide between Muslim and Buddhist Ladakh passes through Mulbekh (on the Kargil-Leh road) and between the villages of Parkachik and Rangdum in the Suru Valley, though there are pockets of Muslim population further east, in Padum (Zanskar), in Nubra Valley and in and around Leh. The approach to a Buddhist village is invariably marked by mani walls which are long, chest-high structures faced with engraved stones bearing Buddhist mantra, and by chorten (commemorative cairns)

Many villages are crowned with a Gompa or monastery, which may be anything from an imposing complex of temples, prayer halls and monks' dwellings, to a tiny her itage housing a single image and home to a solitary lama.

Islam too came from the west. A peaceful penetration of mainly the Shia sect spearheaded by Islamic missionaries, its success can be attributed to the early conversion of the chieftains of Dras, Kargil and the Suru Valley. In these areas, mani walls and chorten are replaced by mosques, small unpretentious buildings, or Imambaras, which are imposing structures with a quaint blend of Islamic and Tibetan styles, surmounted by domes of metal sheet that gleam cheerfully in the sun. There are also pockets of Sunni Muslims among which the Dards of Drass and the Arghons of Leh are the largest groups.

Leh Town and around

Leh town offers a number of sightseeing options for the visitors. A historic town that served as the royal capital of the Old Kingdom, it is dominated by the nine-storey palace built by King Singge Namgyal in the grand tradition of Tibetan architecture, it is said to have inspired the famous Potala in Lhasa which was built about half a century later.

Monasteries & Monuments

Sightseeing of the historic monuments and major Buddhist gompas (monasteries) are the main attractions of Ladakh. The Indus Valley, particularly from Upshidown to Khalatse, whichis the region's historic heartland, is dotted with all the major sites connected. The important sistes of Leh include: Stock Palace, Shep Palace Monsatery. Other famous monasteries include: Thiksey, Hemis, Chemday, Takthok, Spituk, Likhir, Alchi,Lamayuru. For details see "Heritage" page.

The New Tour Circuits

Certain areas of Ladakh, which were formerly closed to foreigners on account of their sensitive strategic position or proximity to international borders, have recently been opened.

Leh Palace, known as “Lechen Palkhar was build Dharmaraja Singey Namgyal in 1600 AD. It has 9 storeys and history says that its completion took three years. In the Leh valley, there is Samkar Monastery which was founded by Skyabrje Bakula Rinpoche. In the center of Leh City is the new monastery called “Chowkhang”. The Ladakh Buddhist Association found it in 1957 AD. Inside there is a sacred image of the Buddha Shakya Muni that was brought from Tibet.

New Areas

Government of India, Ministry of Home affairs has declared some more areas of Ladakh open for International Tourism. These areas are among the outstanding features of Himalayan panorama. It is yet another destination for the global tourist. These areas are relatively more distinct for cultural and adventure tourism. While declaring the new areas of Khaltse, Nubra & Nyomo Sub-division, Govt. of India however restricted the movement of traffic flow on different tour circuits. The period for visiting these areas should not exceed 7-days. These circuits are:-

Drogpas the Aryans

Drogpa area have been outlined in the tour circuits. Out of 5 Drogpa Villages in India two are open for foreign tourists. The greatest attraction in these area are the villages of Dha and Bema which are entirely populated by last remnants of the Dards in the District. Dards are considered as last race of Aryans confined to Indus valley. These villages have considerable anthropological and ethnographic importance. There is a very good road leading right upto Dropa village and tourists can stay over night in some private guest houses or at some identified camping site at Khaltsi Dhomkhar, Skurbucan, Achinathang.

Wild Life

Changthang also has an abundance of exotic wildlife, Skyang, the Tibetan wild ass and Snow leopard are found here. Wild asses are generally found grazing near Tsokar Lake pastures and they are seen moving in flocks. Rare and exotic birds like Bar Headed Goose, the migratory birds black Necked Crane, the great crested Grebe, the Tibetan Crane and the Brhame ducks are also found in Changthang.

Bactrian camel safari can be done in the silvered colour sand dune of Nubra Valley of which the double hump camels are the residents.

Travel Agencies & Tour operators

A number of tour operators and travel agents offer their services to the tourists. These include local operators as well as representatives of national - level travel agencies. Visitors are advised to look for the operator with the best service record because their inclusion in the list does not confer any official recognition upon them or any recommendation. For a detailed list of these firms see " Reach Us page"

Acclimatization and altitude sickness

Ladakh is a high altitude cold desert with a low level of atmospheric oxygen. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary that visitors reaching Leh from the plains of India by air, give themselves sufficient time for acclimatization before engaging in any physical activity. The rarefied atmosphere may cause high altitude ailments like Acute Mountain Sickness, necessitating instant evacuation of visitors who are unable to get acclimatized.

Anyone travelling to altitudes above 10,000 ft (2,700 m) is liable to suffer from acute mountain sickness (AMS) unless properly acclimatized. The most common symptoms of acute mountain sickness are headache, disturbed sleep and loss of appetite, nausea, coughing, irregular breathing, breathlessness, lassitude and lack of concentration. If you are reaching Leh by air, it is important to take complete rest for the first 24 hours after arrival. Any kind of physical exertion is to be avoided. Smoking and drinking should also be avoided till you are fully acclimatized. The symptoms of acute mountain sickness generally develop during the first 36 hours, and not immediately upon arrival. Your body should get used to the lower oxygen level of Ladakh after 2 or 3 days if you have taken complete rest for the first 24 hours and as much rest as possible during the next 12 hours.

High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) and High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACO) are very serious forms of acute mountain sickness. These are life-threatening ailments and warrant immediate medical attention.

As a preventive measure, Tab Dismox 250 mg should be taken at the rate of 1 tablet twice a day for 3 days, atleast 2 days before coming to Ladakh or any high altitude area.

Healthcare & Medical Assistance

The main centre for health care in Leh is the SNM Hospital, which is well equipped and staffed by specialists to handle all problems. Elsewhere in the region, there are sub-district hospitals at block headquarters and medical dispensaries in major villages, which are staffed by qualified doctors. In addition, services of the following private clinics and associated facilities are also available in Leh:-

Clinics, Opticians & Chemists

Kunfan Osting Clinic, Tele 53699; Consultant: Dr. Tsering Norboo, Physician;
Soway Clinic: Consultant: Dr. Tsering Norboo, Surgeon Specialist
Siachen Chemist: Consultant: Dr. Nurboo Tsering: Tele No. Res.: 53229/ 52758, 52329
Ladakh Medicate Chemists and Druggists: Consultant: Dr. Nurboo Tsering.
Indus Clinic, Choglamsar: S. Dawa Lonpo / Dr. Stanzin Punchok
Nurboo Optical, Chemdey Labrang, Near I.T.B.F Headquarters.
Alamdar X- Ray, Balkhang: Consultant: Dr. P.T Angchok.
Dr. Shoukat Ali, Gompa Complex. 1000 hrs to 1600 hrs.Ph 44088
Noble Medical Hall Lingshet Labrang 53865 9AM -10AM and 4PM - 6PM.

Meditation Facilities

The Mahabodhi International Meditation (MIM) Centre situated near Choglamsar, Leh, offers regular courses in various forms of meditation under the supervision of trained teachers. The MIM Centre’s facilities are quite good and the charges are nominal, sufficient to cover the cost of food. The Centre also runs a branch within Leh town at Changspa. Meditation facilities are also available in Hotel Agling Resort on commercial basis in a package covering accommodation and courses.

Foreign Exchange

The State Bank of India and the J&K Bank have branches at various places in Ladakh, with main branches in Leh and Kargil, where foreign exchange facilities are also available. The State Bank of India also operates an extension counter at the Tourist Information Centre located in the Dak Bungalow Complex, Leh. Some hotels in Leh are also licensed to deal in foreign exchange, though these mainly service in-house clients. There is no foreign exchange facility outside these two towns.

Communication

Leh and Kargil towns have worldwide direct dial telephone facility and there are a number of public call offices operating in Leh town for the convenience of the tourists. There is also a General Post Office and a Telegraph Office in Leh.

The State Tourism Department has its own wireless radiophone network linking its offices at Leh, Kargil and Padum, with those at Srinagar, Jammu and Delhi. This facility is mainly used to monitor the movement and welfare of tourists in the State. It is especially useful in ensuring timely rescue arrangements for tourists falling ill or injured in accidents.