Ladakh Tour

Fact File
» Location from major cities : Srinagar (256 kms), Jammu (364 kms)

» Known For : The unique landscape of Ladakh excites tourists, for which it is also called Moonland. It is also a Buddhist pilgrimage destination and ideal for trekking and mountaineering.

» Climate & the best time to visit : The climatic conditions of Ladakh are very unusual. While the day temperature remains high, there is sharp fall in night temperature. The temperature in summer months ranges from 30 degrees to -3 degrees while in winter it ranges from 15 degrees to -20 degrees. Average annual rainfall is only 50 mm. Ladakh is one place where one can have sun burns during daytime and frost bite at night.

The period between May and September is considered ideal for a trip to Ladakh.


The City
Located in the north Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh attracts tourists for a variety of reasons. It is said that the jagged peaks and barren landscape of Ladakh resembles that of the moon. Call it a coincidence, there are also some similarities in climatic conditions. There are tremendous altitudinal variations ranging from 9000 feet and 25,170 feet. This makes Ladakh one of the favoured destinations for trekking and mountaineering. Ladakh is also called Lama Land as the place holds great significance for Buddhists. The monasteries and Buddhist temples attracts devotees in large numbers.

Attractions in the City
» The Thikse Monastery : Thikse monastery is appreciated for its superb architecture. The beautiful monastery has a huge gold-plated copper statue of Lord Buddha. The monastery is located in picturesque heights and looks most attractive from a distance.

» The Hemis Monastery : Hemis is one of the largest monasteries of Ladakh inhabited by some 150 lamas. It is also an important centre for Buddhist teachings. But the main claim to fame of the Hemis monastery is a huge painting of Lord Buddha which is displayed to public only once in 11 years.

» Sankar Gompa : Located on the outskirts of the city centre, Sankar Gompa is another beautiful monastery of Ladakh known for its architecture. Due to its easy accessibility, the monastery is visited in large numbers.

» Hemis Wildlife Sanctuary : The Hemis High Altitude National Park is one of India's highest wildlife sanctuaries. Covering an area of over 600-sq-km, the sanctuary is home to some animal and bird species that can survive easily in high and difficult terrain.

» Ladakh lakes : The peculiar terrain of Ladakh instills some uniqueness to its lakes The lakes of Ladakh are quite different from the typical lakes. Tso Morari, the largest of the Ladakh lakes almost looks like an inland sea. Flowing at an altitude of 4,500 meters, Pangong Tso lake is only 8-km wide at its broadest but is 134-km long. Trekkers and mountaineers have identified the banks of Kyaghar lake, another attractive lake of the place an ideal place for resting.

Other Places To Visit
» Zanskar : Zanskar is a picturesque little town on the foothills of Ladakh mountains. Zanskar is known for its inter-connected adobe houses and several high-rise chortens. It is also the starting point for many trekking and mountaineering expeditions.

» Sani : Sani is a beautiful village located on the Kargil road. The main attraction here is the castle-like monastery which has been built on level ground. Its origin is associated with Kanishka (Kushan ruler of 2nd century AD) The main building comprises a huge multi-columned central prayer hall having many statues of popular Buddhist divinities.

» Phugthal : This place is known for its huge caves, vertical mountains and gorges. The tributory of Lungnak river adds a lot of colour to its landscape.


How To Reach
» Air : Leh is the nearest landing facility from Ladakh. Direct flights to Leh are available from Delhi, Chandigarh, Srinagar and Jammu.

» Road : There are two routes to Ladakh. One is the Leh - Srinagar highway open between mid June and November. Another option is the picturesque Manali-Leh highway. Apart from buses of Jammu and Kashmir government, private taxis can also be hired for a trip to this fascinating land.