LADAKH
Altitude: 9,000m
Also Known As: The Moonland, Little Tibet, The Last Shangri La
Significance: The Remotest Region Of India.
THE LAST SHANGRI LA 
Ladakh is a land like no other. Bounded by two of the world's mightiest
mountain ranges, the Great Himalayas and the Karakoram, it lies athwart
two other, the Ladakh range and the
Zanskar
range .
In geological terms, this is a young land, formed only a few million
years ago by the buckling and folding of the earth's crust as the Indian
sub-continent pushed with irresistible force against the immovable mass of
Asia. Its basic contours, uplifted by these unimaginable tectonic
movements, have been modified over the millennia by the opposite process
of erosion, sculpted into the form one sees today by wind and water.
A Virtually Rainless Area
Today, a high -altitude desert, sheltered from the rain-bearing clouds of
the Indian monsoon by the barrier of the Great Himalayas, Ladakh was once
covered by an extensive lake system, the vestiges of which still exist on
its south -east plateaux of Rupshu and Chushul - in drainage basins with
evocative names like Tso-moriri, Tsokar, and grandest of all, Pangong-tso.
Occasionally, some stray monsoon clouds do find their way over the
Himalaya, and lately this seems to be happening with increasing frequency.
But the main source of water remains the winter snowfall. Drass (also
spelt as Dras), Zanskar and the
Suru
Valley on the Himalaya's northern flank receive heavy snow in
winter; this feeds the glaciers whose melt water, carried down by streams,
irrigates the fields in summer.
For the rest of the region, the snow on the peaks is virtually the only
source of water. As the crops grow, the villagers pray not for rain, but
for sun to melt the glaciers and liberate their water. Usually their
prayers are answered, for the skies are clear and the sun shines for over
300 days in the year.
Leh - Capital of Ladakh
Leh, the capital of Ladakh is situated at a height
of 3505 meters. Leh is a beautiful destination with so many attractions
and is the center of Tibeto-Buddhist Culture for 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.
Weather of The Cold Desert
Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet (2,750m) at Kargil
to 25,170 feet (7,672m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram. Thus summer
temperatures rarely exceed about 270 C in the shade, while in winter they
may plummet to -200 C even in Leh. Surprisingly,
though, the thin air makes the heat of the sun even more intense than at
lower altitudes; 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!
What to Do and See in Ladakh
Ladakh has nonetheless retained a more tranquil side, and is a pleasant
place to unwind after a long bus journey. Attractions in and around the
town itself include the former Palace and
Namgyal
Tsemo Gompa, perched amid strings of prayer flags above the narrow
dusty streets of the Old Quarter. Ladakh is also a good base for longer
day trips out into the Indus Valley. Among the string of picturesque
villages and Gompas within reach by bus are
Shey,
site of a derelict 17th century palace, and the Spectacular
Tikse
Gompa. Untill one has adjusted to the altitude, however, the only
sightseeing one will probably feel up to will be from a guesthouse roof
terrace or garden, from where the snowy summits of the majestic
Stok-Kangri massif (6,120m ).
Ladakh offers great opportunities for undertaking adventure activities
amidst landscapes of breathtaking, rugged beauty. The most popular and
best established among these are trekking, mountaineering and river
rafting.
INFORMATIONS ON LADAKH IN JAMMU - KASHMIR
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