| FACTS
& FIGURES LEH - LADAKH
Leh - Ladakh Population
: 15000
Leh - Ladakh Languages : Ladakhi, Purig, Tibetan, Hindi,
English
Best time to visit Leh - Ladakh : May to October
STD Code for Leh - Ladakh : 01982
LEh - THE BUDDHIST
CAPITAL OF NORTH INDIA
Leh is one of the favorite tourist destinations located
in the northernmost parts of the country. Lapped in
the snow-covered fringes of the Himalayas, Leh has been
the center of Tibeto-Buddhist culture since ages. Its
colorful gompas have attracted the devout Buddhists
from all over the globe. Besides, it is also a favorite
hiking locale and is known for some of the best hikes
in the country.
LEH - LOCATION
The capital of the Ladakh district,
Leh is towards the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
It is perched at a height of 3,505 m above sea level.
The region is watered by the Zanskar River, which flows
into the Indus River just below. The Stok mountain range
lies just south of Leh, while towards the north one
can find the snow-capped Ladakh range. In the winters,
it is freezing cold with temperatures going below 0°C.
LEH - PAST
Leh became the regional capital in the
17th century, when King Sengge Namgyal shifted his court
here from Shey (15 km southeast) to be closer to the
head of the Khardung La-Karakoram corridor into China.
Very soon, the town blossomed into one of the busiest
markets on the Silk Route. Leh's prosperity, managed
mainly by the Sunni Muslim traders, came to an abrupt
end with the closure of the Chinese border in the 1950s.
Only after the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, when
India rediscovered its strategic value, did Leh’s
fortunes begin to look up. Today, khaki-clad soldiers
and their families from the nearby military and air
force bases are the mainstay of the local economy in
winter, when foreign visitors are few. It was in 1974
that Leh was opened up for tourists.
LEH - SITES TO VISIT
A miniature version of the Potala in
Lhasa, the Leh Palace is one of the major attractions
here. The palace was built in the 17th century and is
now dilapidated and deserted. It was the home of the
royal family until they were exiled to Stok in the 1830s.
Above the palace, at the top of the Namgyal hill, is
the Victory Tower, built to commemorate Ladakh’s
victory over the Balti Kashmir armies in the early 16th
century.
The Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, built in 1430, contains a
three-story high Buddha image and ancient manuscripts
and frescoes. The fort above this gompa is ruined, but
the views of Leh from here are breathtakingly beautiful.
The Sankar gompa is located a couple of kilometers
north of the town center. The gompa belongs to the Gelukpa
order and has an impressive impression of the Buddhist
deity Avalokiteshwara Padmahari or Chenresig, with 1,000
arms and an equal number of heads.
The Shanti Stupa was built by a Japanese order and
was opened by the Dalai Lama in 1985. From the top,
one can view the exotic locales nearby. The stupa is
located at a distance of 3 km from the Fort Road.
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb commissioned the mosque
at the head of the Leh Bazaar. The Soma gompa lies near
the mosque.
LEH - SITES NEARBY
Seventy kilometers from Leh, on the
banks of river Indus, is the Alchi gompa dating back
to the 11th century. It is one of the largest and a
famous monastery with a widely renowned collection of
paintings.
At a distance of 45 km south of Leh, Hemis is one of
the biggest gompas in Ladakh. Built in 1630, it belongs
to the red sect, Brokpa. It is also known as Chang Chub
Sam Ling or “the lone place of the compassionate
person.” To commemorate the birth of the renowned
Indian sage, Padmasambhava, the annual Hemis festival
is held in the month of June/July.
Situated on the opposite bank of the Indus across Thikse,
the Matho gompa was established in the first half of
the 16th century and has a valuable collection of old
and beautiful thangkas, some in the form of 'mandalas.'
Its annual festival of oracles in early March is an
important event in the Ladakhi religious calendar.
Until the 16th century, the Shey gompa was the royal
residence. It is located at a distance of 15 km south
of Leh. This Palace Monastery has the largest statue
of Maitreya Buddha (the Buddha to come) in Ladakh. Erected
in the mid-17th century, worked out of gold and gilded
copper sheets with blue hair, it stands 17.5 m high.
At a distance of 8 km from Leh, standing majestically
on top of a hillock overlooking the Indus Valley, lies
the Spituk Gompa. It was built in the 15th century and
houses a collection of ancient masks, antique arms,
icons and thangkas. Higher up the hill is the Mahakal
Temple, containing the shrine of Vajrabhairava.
About 20 km south of Leh, Thikse gompa is an imposing
monastery and one of the finest examples of Ladakhi
architecture. It belongs to the Gelukpa order. The 12-story
monastery complex contains numerous stupas, statues,
thangkas, wall paintings, swords and a large pillar
engraved with the Buddha's teachings.
A few kilometers upstream from Thikse, Stakna is situated
on a 60-meter-high isolated rock. The word Stakna means
“tiger’s nose.” It was built by the
stepbrother of King Sengge Namgyal, as a part of the
Brokpa order.
Built in 1814, the Stok gompa is the site where the
last king of Ladakh died in 1974. The museum here has
a unique collection of royal ornaments, and traditional
clothing, along with exquisite thangkas representing
the life of the Sakya Muni Buddha.
The Lamayuru monastery was founded in the 11th century.
It houses a library, thought to be the oldest in region.
The present monastery dates back to the 16th century
and has the 11-headed image of the Avalokiteshwara Buddha.
Founded in the 11th century, the Likir monastery was
rededicated to the Gelukpa order in the 15th century.
The earlier gompa was destroyed in fire and the present
gompa dates back to the 18th century. It contains huge
clay images of Buddha and various old manuscripts. It
also houses an interesting collection of thangkas, old
religious and domestic costumes and implements.
Belonging to the Brokpa sect, the Phyang gompa was
built in the 16th century. Located at a distance of
16 km from Leh, it houses hundreds of statues, thangkas,
old manuscripts and some old weapons.
The Bagso gompa is located 40 km downstream from Leh,
and was the seat of power of a branch of the Namgyal
family. It is here in ad 1680 that invading Mongol and
Tibetan armies were held in check over a three-year-long
siege. Original 16th-century murals and other arts of
Bagso are worth seeing.
About 45 km from Leh, the Chernry gompa is situated
in a picturesque valley leading to Changia. It was constructed
upon Sengge Namgyal's death in 1645. A large collection
of scriptures with title pages in sterling silver and
the text in gold letters is kept here.
Precariously perched atop a 200-meter-high crag, the
Mulbekh gompa has an imposing rock carving of the future
Buddha. On the other end of the valley is a phallus-shaped
rock with a monastery at its base.
At a distance of 50 km east of Leh, the Thak Thog gompa
is the only monastery belonging to the Nying-ma-pa order.
Gum Rinpoche (Padma Sambhava) is said to have founded
this monastery and the temple where he meditated is
still to be seen here. Tu-Phuk houses the images of
Guru-Tsan-gyet (eight forms of Padma Sambhava), Guru
Takpo Tsahl and the 11-headed Avalokitesvara. The new
monastery is built on ground level and contains the
image of Guru Nang Srith Zilon in a central position.
To its right is an image of Guru Dorje Dolo and on the
left is an image of Guru Padma Gyalpo. There are seats
for the Dalai Lama and Taklung Rinpoche (the incarnate
Lama of the monastery). The monastery stages two festivals
every year. Thak Thog Tse Chu is held from the ninth
to the eleventh day of the sixth Tibetan month. Thak
Thog Wangchogis is held from the 26th to the 29th day
of the ninth Tibetan lunar month.
Nearby, the town of Choglamsar is an important center
for Tibetan Buddhism and the study of Tibetan study
and culture. One can find here a Tibetan library, medical
center, handicraft shops, study center, bookshops, plenty
of restaurants and the Central Institute of Buddhist
Studies.
ACTIVITIES AT LEH
Leh is a trekker’s favorite spot
in North India. The treks from Spituk to the Markha
valley and Lamayuru gompa to Chiling village alongside
the Zanskar River are the most popular treks of the
region. Another trek path is from Likir to Temisgam.
Treks can be completed from the end of June until the
middle of October. Proper acclimatization is necessary
as many of the passes are as high as 5,000 m in altitude.
Many trekking agencies in Leh offer inclusive treks
with a guide, packhorses, food and supplies.
Besides trekking, polo is also a popular pastime in
Leh. During summers, one can play polo on Tuesdays and
Saturdays on the Polo ground. Regular matches and competitions
are held during the Ladakh festival.
Archery competitions are held at the National Archery
Stadium.
From July to September, one might also indulge in rafting
in the Zanskar River.
Buddhist study centers have been set up at both Leh
and Choglamsar. Summer meditation sessions are held
at the Mahabodhi Meditation Center on Changspa Lane.
WHERE TO SHOP AT LEH
Prices are quite high at Leh. The places
for local goods are the Ladakh Art Place in the old
town, the Ecology Center and some shops behind the Main
Bazaar road. During the Ladakh festival there are many
stalls selling local handicrafts and clothes.
HOW TO REACH LEH
There are regular flights from Delhi
to Leh that are run by the Indian Airlines. There are
direct flights once a week from Leh to Srinagar and
twice a week to Jammu. The Delhi flights are overbooked
throughout the year.
There are two overland routes to Leh—the roads
from Srinagar and Manali. The Leh–Srinagar road
is usually open from June to October, while the Leh–Manali
route is open from July to September.
FOOD, SHELTER AND HOTELS
IN LEH
There are a large number of hotels and
guesthouses in Leh and they are mostly open in the peak
season (July–mid-September). Local tourist authorities
decide the price of accommodation. Budget lodging is
available in three main areas: the old town, the newer
areas along the Fort Road, and within the peaceful village
of Changspa. The lodges can be very romantic, being
made of wood. There are many mid-range and top-end lodges
as well.
There is no shortage of eating joints in Leh, and one
can enjoy many different cuisines here. Indian cuisine,
especially Kashmiri, is cheap and delicious. Tibetan
cuisine is also very popular. Western food can be obtained
in the hotels along the Fort Road. Leh is also famous
for its bakeries and their sweetmeats. There are a couple
of bars as well.
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