Ladakh - Wikitravel (original) (raw)

Ladakh is a mountainous region and a Union Territory in the north India and in the area known as the Trans-Himalaya, (the lands beyond the Himalaya: Tibet, Xinjiang and northern Pakistan). It's slightly smaller than Scotland, the settled population lives between 2700m and 4500m, and nomadic encampments can be found even higher. The people are a mixture of Buddhist and Muslim 50% of each. Buddhists are the majority in the east close to the China border and a slight majority overall while Muslims are having the majority in the north and west. Travelers are likely to see more of the Buddhists as the majority of the tourist attractions are in the east and directly related to Tibetan Buddhist culture.

Regions[edit]

Ladakh is known for its natural beauty

Cities[edit]

Leh - The main town, very picturesque. Majority of population is Buddhist. An excellent base for exploring Ladakh. Good hotels, guest houses and restaurants. Key to accessing the Nubra Valley via Khardong-lha world highest road.
Choglamsar - a village with a large Tibetan community, almost close enough to Leh to be a suburb.
Kargil - second largest town and the key to accessing the Zanskar area; a necessary stop along the way from Leh to Srinagar and the Vale of Kashmir. A mostly Muslim town with blossoming apricot orchards in the summertime.

Understand[edit]

Farming in Suru Valley, Ladakh

Ladakh was an independent kingdom for nine centuries, but it was very strongly influenced by Tibet and the neighboring Muslim region. Linguistically Ladakhi is very closely related to Tibetan. Tibet has always been where Ladakhi Buddhists would go for higher religious education, which since the incorporation of Tibet into China has meant the Ladakhis have made the much shorter trip to the Tibetan monasteries in India. The architecture of Ladakh is almost identical to that of Tibet, both of residential buildings and of the monasteries. The class structure, or more precisely the lack of a sharply defined class structure, is common to Tibet and Ladakh and is in sharp contrast to the rest of India. Related to this is the relatively high status, freedom, and outspokenness of Buddhist women in Ladakh and Tibet.

Importantly, a set of cultural practices that keep the population from growing to be more than the land can support, and to prevent a farm from being divided up and thus being unable to support a family, is common to both cultures:

Monasteries: these would take large numbers of the monks and nuns and thus keep the population at a stable level.
Polyandry: a practice where one woman marries all the brothers of a family to prevent the family's land from being divided, was common in both Ladakh and Tibet until well into the 20th century.
Primogeniture: a system where the inheritance after a man's death (primarily the land) would pass to his oldest son in order to keep farms large enough to support a family.
Khangbu: the little house to which the father and mother would retire once their eldest son married and took over the management of the farm, inheriting the main house along with it.

However, Tibet was far from the only influence on Ladakh. Where Tibet was largely closed off to outside influence, Ladakh was a nation where the caravan trade played an important role. Traders from the neighboring Muslim lands (both Kashmir and East Turkistan, now the Xinjiang province of China) were a common sight in Leh's bazaar until the 20th century. The folk music is based on the styles of the Muslim parts of the Western Himalayas; likewise, polo was imported from these lands and enjoys popularity to this day with Ladakhis regardless of faith.

Over the last couple of decades, the relationship between Buddhists and Muslims in Ladakh has deteriorated - possibly due to the complex roles of the communities as minorities relative to each other. Buddhists are a majority in Ladakh. Whatever the reason, it has never erupted into the kind of violence seen elsewhere in India at times, but it still may take the sheen out of a place that seems remarkably idyllic, when a new friend says something that's hard not to hear as bigoted.

Geography[edit]

The confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers.

The Indus Valley is the Ladakhi heartland, with the highest population density, and large amounts of agricultural land. Running parallel, roughly north-east south-west with it are a series of valleys and mountain ranges. North of the Indus valley is the Ladakh range, on the other side of which is the Shayok, and Nubra valleys. South of the Indus is the Stok range, clearly visible from Leh. On the other side is the Markha valley, a popular trekking destination. Farther south-west is a series of minor ranges and then uninhabited valleys we come to Zangskar, with the Kargyak and the Stod rivers joining at Padum, to form the Zangskar river which bucks the trend and flows north through a narrow gorge to join the Indus. To the south of Zangskar is the Grand Himal range marking the southern limit of Ladakh.

To the east of this series of ranges is the Changtang, a high plateau home to nomads. It is known as Kharnak in the west, Samad Rokchen in the north east and Korzok in the south east. Not a true plateau, it has a chaotic assortment of minor mountains ranges not much higher than the wide valleys between them. With no drainage leading out of this area, there are a number of beautiful salt water lakes that make popular destinations for tourists.

Fauna[edit]

The animals of Ladakh have much in common with the animals of Central Asia generally, and especially those of the Tibetan Plateau.

Birds[edit]

An exception to this, are the birds, many of which migrate from the warmer parts of India to spend the Summer in Ladakh. Birds are also, rather predictably, the easiest form of wildlife for tourists to see, and the only thing tourists who don't leave the paved roads, and villages, can be sure to see. For such an arid area, Ladakh may surprise you with the variety of birds, a total of 225 species have been recorded.

The Indian redstart, and Hoopoe, both summer in Ladakh and are very common. Surprisingly, the Brown-headed Gull is seen in summer on the Indus, and on some lakes of the Changthang. Other migratory water birds, include the Brahimini duck, Ruddy Sheldrake, and the Barhead goose.

The Black Necked Crane is famous due to its extreme rarity. It is found only in Ladakh and Tibet. Other specifically high altitude birds are the Tibetan Raven, Red-Billed Chough**,** Snow-cock**, and** Chukor**.**

There are two main raptors in Ladakh. The Lammergeier, a vulture, is relatively common here. It's unusual in that its head has feathers, unlike most vultures. The Golden Eagle, is also found in Ladakh, is closely related and outwardly the same as found in North America.Himalayan vulture, The Himalayan vulture or Himalayan griffon vulture is an Old World vulture native to the Himalayas and the adjoining Tibetan Plateau.

Ungulates[edit]

Hunting by British, so called, "sportsmen" during colonial rule, and more recently unofficially by the Indian army, has taken its toll on the wildlife population. In recent years however things have been improving due to greater popular awareness of the value of wildlife, an awareness that has spread as far as reaching some members of the army.

The Ibex is found in high craggy terrain, it still numbers several thousand in Ladakh, and trekkers often spot them.

The Bharal, or Blue Sheep, is even more common, ranging in the Himalayas from Ladakh east as far as Sikkim. Its unusual in that it is neither a true sheep nor true goat, but has characteristics of both.

The Shapo, or Urial, is a goat, found at lower elevations, mostly in river valleys, and therefore is often directly in competition with domesticated animals. They are now rare, numbering about one thousand.

The Argali, or Nayan, is a relative of the Marco Polo Sheep of the Pamirs. They are impressive animals with huge horizontal curving horns. They are extremely rare in Ladakh, numbering only a couple hundred, however they do have a wide range throughout mountainous areas of the Chinese Provinces of Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu.

The Chiru, or Tibetan Antelope, (known in Ladakhi as Tsos) is also endangered. It has traditionally been hunted for its wool, which must be pulled out by hand, a process done after the animal is killed. The wool obtained from the Chiru is called Shahtoosh, and is valued in South Asia for its lightweight and warmth, but more than anything else, as a status symbol. Early in the 20th century the Chiru was seen in herds numbering in the thousands, surviving on remarkably sparse vegetation, they are sadly very rare now. The owning or trading in Shahtoosh is now illegal in most countries.

The Kyang, or Tibetan Wild Ass, is one animal that visitors can expect to see from the comfort of a vehicle, if they take a Jeep tour on the Changthang. They favor the rolling grasslands of this area, and with their natural curiosity makes them fairly easy to spot, despite the relatively low numbers, about 1500 individuals. They often seem to be drawn by their curiosity toward a jeep, or trekkers, only to be overcome with shyness and run away. The tendency to repeat this a number of times is most endearing.

Predators[edit]

None of the predators of Ladakh are a safety concern to trekkers, it is people who are a danger to these animals.

The Snow Leopard, is justifiably famous. It once ranged throughout the Himalaya, Tibet, and as far as the Sayan mountains on the Mongolian, Russian border; and in elevation from 1800m to 5400m. They are extremely shy, and very hard to spot, and as such not well known, it is believed there are about 200 in Ladakh. While tourists are unlikely to see the cats themselves, during winter sightings of the footprints and other marks are not uncommon. Tourists that want to see Snow Leopards should visit during the winter, as at this time the cats descend to lower altitudes, and are more active as prey is harder to find, befriending one of the biologists who come to Ladakh to study Snow Leopards would also help. The best location to spot Snow Leopards is the Hemis National Park, especially in the vicinity of Rumbak village.

Other cats in Ladakh are even rarer than the Snow leopard, if not as impressive, the Eurasian Lynx, numbering only a few individuals, and the Pallas's cat, who looks outwardly like a house cat.

The Tibetan Wolf is the greatest threat to the livestock of the Ladakhies and as such is the most persecuted, there are only about 300 wolves left in Ladakh. They look unremarkable, and outwardly the same as wolves seen in Europe and the Americas.

There are also a few Brown Bears in the Suru valley and the area around Dras. They are not a threat to trekkers

Small Animals[edit]

Marmots are common; you can even sometimes see them from the road, although they don't look different enough to the marmots common to other mountainous areas of the world to be of much interest.

There are also plenty of voles, hares, and several types of Pika.

Talk[edit]

The language of Ladakh is Ladakhi, a Tibetan dialect with written Ladakhi being the same as Tibetan. Tibetans can learn Ladakhi easily but Tibetan is difficult to speak for Ladakhis. Spoken Ladakhi is closer to the Tibetan spoken in Western Tibet. Ladakhi language is a shared culture platform which brings the Muslims and Buddhists together as one people of this Himalayan region.

Ladakhis usually know Hindi and often English, but in villages without road access neither can be expected. A high-quality Ladakhi phrasebook, Getting Started in Ladakhi, by Melong Publications, is available in Leh and well worth getting. Not only will any attempts you make to speak the language be appreciated, but it will also be useful.

Get in[edit]

Buses run directly to Leh from either Manali or Srinagar. Enroute to Leh one can stop in a number of places, most will get off in Keylong, the administrative center for Lahaul. Overlooking Keylong is the Kardang monastery. This is the choice that most travelers will want to take due to the tense security situation in Kashmir, however, the road is only open from June to mid-October due to snowfall. There are shared taxis from Manali which start early in the morning and reach Leh early the next morning. Tourist buses from HPTDC and the local HRTC buses, stop overnight in Keylong. There are also minibusses and shared cabs that make an overnight stop in Sarchu - this comes with a high incidence of altitude sickness, since Sarchu (also dubbed "The Vomit Hilton") lies more than seven hundred meters higher than Leh, at 4253m. Coming from Srinagar there are a few interesting places to stop en route : Kargil at 2693m (where the buses stop, the best choice for altitude acclimatization), (Lamayuru and Alchi that also offer accommodation). The opening and final closing of both roads, but no major events in between, are announced on the the official Leh website. Srinagar-Leh news updates are found here, Manali-Leh here

Daily flights to Leh are run by Air India, Spicejet, Indigo, Vistara from Delhi, Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh and elsewhere. These are, however, subject to inclement weather and may be cancelled at any time, keep your schedule flexible. Altitude sickness is also a worry given the altitude.

You can ride into Leh between June and mid-October (when the roads are open) on a motorcycle too.

Bikers usually follow either of the 2 routes

1. Delhi -> Jammu -> Patni Top -> Srinagar -> Kargil -> Leh

2. Delhi -> Chandigarh -> Manali -> Sarchu -> Pangong lake -> Leh

Get around[edit]

By bus[edit]

Ladakhi buses run from Leh to the surrounding villages. They are often overcrowded and generally disorganized and poorly run. Daily buses or minibusses run to Alchi, Basgo, Dha-Hanu, Likir, Nimmu, and Saspul; twice daily to Chemray, Hemis, Matho, Stok, and Tak Tok; hourly or more often to Choglamsar, Phyang, Shey, Spituk, Stakna, Thiksay.

By taxi[edit]

You will find in Leh a number of local taxis, that will take you to the surrounding monasteries much faster and more comfortably than Public transport. Rates are fairly steep compared to elsewhere in India.

By truck[edit]

Trucks often stop for hitchhikers, who are usually expected to pay half the bus fare, bargaining may be necessary. They are slower than the buses and sometimes stop for long periods to unload cargo.

By motorcycle[edit]

In Leh there are a number of shops that will rent motorbikes, mostly the Royal Enfield, still made in India today (350 and 500cc model). Rents are fairly cheap, and if you are used to old bikes and left-hand side driving, it is certainly a great way to move around if short of time, and far cheaper than local taxis. Be sure to check your rented bike before you leave so that you don't end up getting stranded in the middle of nowhere. As always in India, drive carefully, as other drivers often lack caution.

Things to note

1. In most sections of the journey, the roads are in a bad condition but in certain conditions, the roads are literally non-existent. Bottom line is that BRO (Border Roads Organisation) has done a good job, with whatever little resources that are available, in making these difficult terrains accessible to vehicular traffic.

2. Though there are many mechanics in Leh who deal with many bikes, the availability of spares is limited. So before you leave please be sure to get your bike serviced (also get all cables checked/ changed, set chain, get oils topped up, brakes inspected, etc.) and also carry all necessary spares (cables, chain link, bulbs, etc.)

3. Make sure to carry the originals of all your bike's documents.

4. Glaciers tend to melt as the day progresses and flow (at some places across roads). So be sure to plan to reach and cross these glacier melts commonly known as _Nala_s (for example Pagal Nala, Khooni Nala, Whiskey Nala, Brandy Nala etc.) during the earlier part of the day when the flow is low and the depth of the water is still easily passable.

5. When you encounter a Military convoy, always pull over and let them pass. It might be a good idea to find out from the locals as to when the convoy goes uphill and downhill and try to time your trip accordingly.

By bicycle[edit]

The scenery would be magnificent at the pace of a bicycle, however, one would need to be well prepared with full camping equipment. There is a bit less than 1000km of paved roads in Ladakh. The Manali-Leh-Srinagar road makes up about half of that, the remainder spurring off it. As such it's not possible to string together a loop, and the only route that would avoid backtracking would be to follow the Manali-Leh-Srinagar road. You would need to check the current situation and think carefully to decide if traveling in Kashmir at bicycle pace is more of a risk than you want to take.

In addition to the paved roads there are some trekking routes that would be possible to ride a lightly loaded sturdy mountain bike on, perhaps hiring a horse and handler to take your baggage. Padam to Darcha, via Shingo La (pass) would be a good route for this, though you would still need to push your bike over the pass itself. Ask trekkers in Ladakh for more options.

By foot[edit]

For the traveler with a number of months it is possible to trek from one end of Ladakh to the other, or even from places in Himachal Pradesh . A large number of trails and the limited number of roads allows you to string together routes that have road access often enough to restock supplies, but almost entirely avoid walking on motor roads. See below in the Do section for more info.

NOTE:

If you plan to drive/ ride into the Ladakh region in your own car/ bike,

1. Carry enough spares and all the required tools.

2. Try and learn basic vehicle maintenance before you start on the trip.

3. Carry spare fuel. (There is a 380km stretch on the Leh - Manali highway which has no petrol pumps/gas station) 4. You will need to get permits to visit certain places (for example, Khardung La)

See[edit]

The main tourist sites relate to Tibetan Buddhism, and to the stunning landscape.

Ladakh is not only home to some of the most beautiful and serene monasteries you'll ever see, but it also a land of rich natural beauty - and it's this natural beauty that hits you so hard because it's a barren beauty. Many travelers find themselves at a loss to understand how something so barren can yet be so beautiful. Be respectful, these are holy places and active monks in most of them.

Must-see sites include "Moon-land-view" (the area around Lamayuru) on the Leh-Kargil highway;

Many places in Ladakh need an inner line permit which is available for free in DC's office in Ladakh. A travel agent can also arrange the permit for INR100 per person within an hour on any working day. Starting May-2014, no inner line permits are required for Indian tourists to visit popular tourist places like Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, and Tso-Moriri Lake. However, they do need to fill up an application form easily available with taxi drivers and also in shops.

There are some regular tourist circuits starting from Leh which entail driving 200-400km round-trip out of Ladakh.

1.) Pangong Lake (Leh-Karu-Chang La-Tangtse-Pangong Tso, 158km, 5-6h one way): This is a popular trip to Pangong Tso Lake and can be done by taxi/bike. Most people do it as a day trip starting early in the morning and come back in the evening. However, there are arrangements for the stay near the lake in Lukung & Spangmik and one can stay overnight either in tents or at several guesthouses to enjoy this place at a slower pace. Takthok and Chemeray/Chemeday monasteries can be covered en-route by taking 3-5km detours. The river being is so beautiful that you can spend an entire length of your day here.

2.) Nubra Valley (Valley of Flowers) (Leh-Khardung La-Diskit, 118km, 4-5h one way): This is another popular trip but difficult to do in one day. Nubra Valley may not be as beautiful as is touted to be and is the second favourite for tourists as a trip out of Leh. Some people return from Khardung La (18,380 ft), which is claimed to be the highest motorable pass in the world. It provides excellent views of Ladakh Range as well as Karakoram Range on the other side. Accommodation is available along the way and in Nubra Valley at various places. The places to visit in Nubra Valley are Diskit(regional hub with a nice monastery), Hunder (9km from Diskit, white sand dunes, camel ride, several mid to high range camping options), Sumur (monastery, camping), Panamik(hot sulfur spring, avoidable) and the recently opened Turtuk(inhabited by Balti people, was part of Pakistan up-till 1972, 5km from Pakistan border, wonderful scenery and comfortable homestays). Nubra valley lies 140 kilometers from Leh town. It is nestled on the renowned Silk Route and is often visited by tourists for its stunning vistas. This valley is nestled amidst the Leh-Ladakh and the Pangong River that flows through it. Although the valley has got nothing much to explore, the camel ride here is an interesting one.

3.) Tso-Moriri Lake (Leh-Upshi-Tso Kar-Tso Moriri, 211km, 7-8h one way): This is another trip which covers two smaller lakes Tso Kar and Tso Moriri. There is accommodation available in Korzok(Tso Moriri) but camping near the lake is not allowed. Those who want can head out to Manali (444km) doing a night halt at Sarchu or Pang.

Nomad tents outside of Korzok village, Tso Moriri

Aside from the various guesthouses in town, it is also possible to find lodging with the nomads who camp about 4 kilometers up the road from Korzok. Do not expect any frills or English, but instead some of the most generous hosts you'll ever encounter. This is an opportunity not only to learn about an endangered way of life, but also provide some much needed economic support to those who do not otherwise benefit from the tourism in Korzok itself. Expect to offer around 500 rupees for two people- gifts of fruit, tea, medicine, etc. are always welcome as well. Ask in town how to reach the nomad area. Once you reach the grassy plain, seek out a young English-speaking herder named Tashi Tsering (བཀྲ་ཤིས་ཚེ་རིང་ in Tibetan script) if none in your party speak Ladakhi, Tibetan, or Hindi.

4.) Sham Valley (Leh-Lamayuru, 109km or up-till Alchi only, 66km): This is an easier drive along Indus river towards Kargil and one can also see the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar on the way. The places to visit en-route are Hall of Fame war museum, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Magnetic Hill, Basgo ruins, Likir Monastery, Alchi Monastery (oldest Buddhist monastery of Ladakh region founded in 11th century AD, wonderful architecture and extensive collections of thangkas) and Lamayuru Monastery.

5.) Various monasteries-around Leh: There are few big monasteries around Leh and can be covered in one day. Most important of them are Shey(previous capital of Ladakh), Thiksey (beautiful location and architecture), Hemis(most important monastery or entire Ladakh region). Others are Spituk, Phyang, Stakna, Matho (stunning location) and Stok Palace & Museum (current residence of the deposed king of Ladakh).

One needs to acclimatize to the altitude in Leh (3500m) before heading out as AMS (acute mountain sickness or altitude sickness) can ruin the entire trip.

The Hemis Monastery: This is the largest monastery of Ladakh. Tourists can find at least 150 lamas living in the monastery, at any point of time throughout the year. Hemis is famous for a huge painting of Buddha, which is brought to the public or displayed to the public only once in 11 years of the time period.

Padum Valley: Padum is located at an altitude of 3505m from the sea level. It is the capital of the ancient Zanskar and presently administrative headquarter of the Zanskar region. The podium has a population of around 1500-1600. Padum is a very scarcely inhabited valley in the Zanskar. Padum is one of the famous trekking destinations for trekking lovers, Zanskar.

Zanskar Valley: Zanskar is one of the remotest regions of the Ladakh. Zanskar is spread in around 300km of area, which is only accessible through high passes. This valley is higher than any other valley in the Ladakh region and located in the inner Himalaya. Here the rainfall is very less and the climates are very harsh.

Parang La Trek:

Parang La Trek is one of the most challenging and adventures trekking trail. This trek is located on an isolated route far into the mountains with many rivers to be crossed.

Kang Yatse This trek is located in the southeast part of the leg, in the Markha valley. This valley is a dream for every trekker and everyone wish to trek the Markha Valley for at least once.

Do[edit]

Volunteer: There are numerous NGOs in Ladakh, mostly centered on Leh, many of which take foreigners as volunteers if you can commit to a stay of a few months.
Meditate: There is a meditation center in Choglamsar, with an office in Leh, that offers meditation courses and retreats for various levels of experience.
Festivals: In late June and early July, the whole Ladakh region comes alive with festivals. Some are held at the local cricket and polo club in Leh, while others are held at the monasteries. Reserve a place well in advance as they get very crowded. Some of the festivals are only held every 12 years, (such as one at Hemis) and at that time the monastery will display its greatest treasure, such as a huge thangka (a religious icon painted or embroidered on cloth). Festival Calendar till 2014.
Trek: Ladakh is an excellent trekking area for experienced trekkers. The infrastructure is nowhere near as developed as in Nepal, necessitating greater preparedness on the part of the trekker. Most trekkers go with a guide and some pack horses, which is easy to organize, and if arranged in Leh quite affordable. It is possible to trek independently, but this should not be undertaken lightly and without much consultation with locals. People do go missing and die on those trails!
Indus River Rafting Enjoy fascinating beauty of nature while rafting in Indus river. The difficulty level varies as per different sections in the river but generally, rapids of Grade I and Grade II and at some places of Grade III will give you tremendous pumping of your adrenalin.

Below are a few selected routes:

The Baby Trek[edit]

Duration: 2-3 days

Season: Year round

Get In: The trail starts at Likir, there are a few buses from Leh daily.

DescriptionLadakh's one "tea house trek" is, despite the name, hard work because of the steep and frequent ascents and descents. Its highest point is 3750 m (unusually low for Ladakh); it passes through frequent villages, allowing the traveler to sleep in guest houses or peoples' homes every night, it is a good introduction to trekking in Ladakh, and way to acclimatize to the altitude. The main attraction of this trek is the large villages of beautiful well-made houses, among good agricultural land; the mountains and views from the passes are relatively unimpressive.

RouteLikir village - Phobe La (3580 m)- Sumdo village - Chagatse La (3630 m) - Yangthang village - Tsermangchen La (3750 m) - Hemis Shukpachen village - Mebtak La (3720 m) - Ang village - Tingmosgam village.

The Markha Valley Trek :This trek is among the easily accessible and popular trek in Ladakh. This trek also leads to a large diversity of landscapes. Markha Valley is surrounded by the high altitude mountain Kangyatse which is at the height of 6400 meters from the sea level. Tourists will pass through colorful villages and beautiful valley where they can experience the enjoy the tradition and culture of Leh Ladakh.

Maps[edit]

Ladakh (mauve color) as seen in the map of Indian-administered Kashmir

General traveling maps showing the roads and tourist sites are commonly available in India and abroad.

The best quality trekking maps are nowhere near the quality of maps covering trekking areas of Europe or North America. High-quality maps of the border regions of India/Pakistan/China are technically illegal in India for security reasons, your map may be confiscated if you allow security personnel to see it. (Despite very high-quality maps of Indian J&K and the LoC being available from the Survey of Pakistan in Islamabad!)

Survey of India produces a very out of date (the early 1980s) trekking map of J&K; it's cheap, and could be useful for planning a route with an experienced guide.
US Army Map Service. (1:250,000) - produces out of date (the 1950s and 60s) topographic maps of whole India, easily available on the Internet.
Soviet Military Topographic Maps (1:200,000 & 1:100,000) - maps produced in the 1970's and 1980's which are now easily available on the internet but expensive. They provide good information but all the labels are in Cyrillic script limiting their use.
Artou (1:300,000) - based on satellite imagery. Until recently the best available, it is satisfactory for pre-trek route planning, but not good for navigation. A pirated version is available in Leh.
Trekking Map of Ladakh by Sonam Tsetan (approx scale 1:600000) is very accurate for what it shows: the trails, village names, and watercourses. It lacks topography but has the most accurate place names of all the maps, making it a very useful planning tool. It's available in Leh for about INR200.
Leomann (1:200,000) - may have better scale than the Artou, but it actually contains less information and is less accurate; however, the series does cover a lot more of Ladakh and elsewhere in the Himalayas.
Ladakh Zanskar Trekking Map Series by Editions Olizane (1:150,000) - recently introduced, an excellent topographic map, with lots of detail.

Eat[edit]

Ladakhi food has much in common with Tibetan food, the most prominent foods being: Thukpa, noodle soup; and Tsampa, known in Ladakhi as Ngamphe, roasted barley flour, eatable without cooking it makes useful if dull trekking food.

A dish that is strictly Ladakhi is skyu, a heavy pasta dish with root vegetables.

You are likely to be served rice, dal (lentils) with veggies even in villages without road access, and it's standard in Leh.

In Leh town you can taste a vast range of cuisines- which include North Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, Italian and even Korean. Bakeries are plenty in Leh town. Strangely they all claim to be German Bakeries. They serve seasonal fruit pies, tarts, brownies and a variety of bread.

Drink[edit]

The drinking age in Ladakh is 18.

Tea it is traditionally made with strong black tea usually from Pemagul tea leaves, butter, and salt, it is mixed in a large churn and known as "gurgur cha", due to the sound of mixing it. Similar to tea traditionally drunk elsewhere in Central Asia, it's more like soup than tea elsewhere, it can be refreshing and invigorating if you can get use to it. Sweet tea (cha ngarmo) is common now, made Indian style with lots of milk and sugar.
Beer (chang) is traditionally made from barley; it has a yeasty taste slightly similar to sake.

Stay safe[edit]

Ladakh is one of the safest parts of India, and the most basic precautions are enough to keep you and your possessions safe. The locals are very friendly and humble. Most of the region is dotted with military cantonments every 50-80km, but mainly because of its strategic position on the international border between India and China. The army plays major part in rescue and aid efforts and that is why you will require to produce identification documents or written permission from local authorities before entering some remote places..

Stay healthy[edit]

Carry any and every medication (for specific health problems) that you may need. Ensure that you are physically fit if you intend to ride or trek in the Ladakh region.

Leh is above 3500m (over 11,000 ft) and other parts of Ladakh are higher yet. There is a risk of altitude sickness due to the rapid shift in altitude.

Get out[edit]

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!