"Leh = Heaven" a Leh Travel Page by kin79

The peaks of snow mountains on bright mornings part the dense clouds and soar into the skies. Beneath the skies like a world submerged, lies a lost kingdom. Ladakh, the roof of the world opened to tourists only in the last decade. At an awesome altitude, this highland is the bridge between the earth and the sky ! Part fantasy, part reality ....... Ladakh, is where, the forces of nature conspired to render a magical realist landscape ..... a landscape of extremes ..... desert and blue waters ... burning sun and freezing winds,... glaciers and sand dunes ..... a primeval battleground of the titanic forces which gave birth to the Himalayas.

Ladakh is region in India totally isolated from the modern world. An authentic land, it is faithful to ancestral customs where life is characterized by intense spirituality. Even an Indian traveler will probably find no similarities in the land and people between the one he leaves behind and those he encounters in Ladakh. Rich traditions of Mahayana Buddhism still flourish in the purest form in this region, which has often been referred to as Little Tibet. Ladakh has been referred to as the Moonscape Region for its rugged beauty, red rocks, sea deep gorges and barren rocky mountains. Trekking in this region is walking on the roof of the world. You may cross some of the world's highest passes and camp at higher altitude landscapes. It is said that only in Ladakh can a man sitting in the sun with his feet in the shade suffer from sunstroke and frostbite at the same time ! Ladakh lies at an altitude from 9000 ft to 25170 feet. At these heights, you are on the roof of the world ! As the highest elevated and inhabited land in the world, it holds a fascination for many, while for some there is an enchantment of seeing mountains which had been under the sea for million of years. The stark landscape, the bare racked deserts, eroded gullies twisted and wired and stocking shapes by the winds and snow colossal mountains Ladakh is like a forgotten moment in time. It is common in Ladakh to come across villages carved out of veritable mountainside, stupas reaching the sky, monasteries virtually hanging from the cliffs and crags. Their interiors are filled with priceless antiques and art.

Usually if you take a road trip to Leh it would take 2-3 days .... but the flight not only takes you there in an hour but gives u some breathtaking views of the whole Karakoram Mountain Range... Happy Landings !!!

As the first rays of the sun hit the mountains, the monks blow the large copper trumpets from the rooftops of the monasteries. Below the monasteries, ritual articles are laid out, as monks in vestments and masks get ready for dancing in front of a gathering. As events build up, the music gets louder, incense is brought out and a group of monks in ceremonial dress come out to unfurl the large painted scroll. The night is alive with the illumination of shrines and buildings. A typical monastic festival in Ladakh takes place.

A classic trek through the Markha Valley in Ladakh, ending with a stunning climb to the summit of Stok Kangri at 6120 meters (20,196 ft). This adventure begins with a spectacular one-hour flight from Delhi to Leh, the capital of Ladakh. While acclimatizing in Leh you will have an opportunity to visit some of the ancient Buddhist monasteries of the Indus Valley. On the trek you will see first hand how the resourceful Ladakhis are able to live and prosper in this high altitude region. As you cross mountain passes and climb to the summit you will experience breathtaking vistas across the Indus Valley to the peaks of the Karakorum Mountains.