Leh

Leh is the largest town on the Ladakh Plateau and it had been an important stop for caravans travelling on the silk route from China. Nowadays, part of the city is an important military base, while the other part is a tourist destination. Leh's old town is largely preserved and untouched by tourism.

Points of interest

The Chamba Temple, or Chamba Monastery.
The Chenresi Monastery.
The Cho Khang Gompa (Cho Khang Monastery) is an interesting monastery in Leh.
The Datun Sahib is a large meswak tree in the main bazaar of Leh. It was seeded in 1516.
The ruined Fort and the Gon-khang (Temple of the Guardian Divinities) were constructed at the end of the 17th century, at the summit of the Namgyal Peak (Victory Peak) overlooking the palace and the town.
During the winter months, locals craft ice stupas that slowly melt during the dry summer to provide water for drinking and irrigation.
The Jama Masjid (Jama Mosque).
Most people come to Leh to visit the deserted Leh Palace that offers superb views of the Zanskar Mountains from its roof. If you are lucky, a friendly monk might show you the central prayer room. The palace was built in the 1630s. The building has 9 floors. The upper floors were occupied by the royal family, while the stables and storerooms were located at the ground floor. The palace was abandoned in the 19th century, when Kashmiri forces besieged the city.
Manikhang is the old part of Leh. It is the area between the main bazaar and the historic Stalam path that leads up to the royal palace. There are 4 large stupas that demarcate historic Leh.
Leh features a colourful market.
The Buddhist Namgyal Tsemo Gompa (Namgyal Tsemo Monastery) was established by King Tashi Namgyal in the 1560s, although the building itself had already been built in 1430. The temple houses a huge golden statue of Maitreya Buddha, as well as numerous ancient manuscripts and frescoes. The monastery is located in the vicinity of the Tsemo Castle.
The Sankar Gompa (Sankar Monastery) comprises a number of buildings, located on a hillside above Leh. Climbing the steps takes about half an hour.
Sankar Labrang is a 2-storey building, located in Leh's Manikhang district. It is the home of the monk caretaker of the White Maitreya Temple.
The Buddhist Shanti Stupa was built between 1984 and 1991. It features a white dome and it holds relics of the Buddha at its base. Its location at an altitude of 3,609 m (11,841 ft) provides excellent views over the surrounding area. The Shanti Stuoa is located in Chanspa, 5 km (3.1 mi) from Leh. It faces the Leh Palace and can be reached by road, or by climbing 555 steps up the steep hillside.
The Victory Tower.
The War Museum.
Byams Khang Dkar Po (The White Maitreya Temple), is colloquially known as the Street Maitreya. The temple was built in the 1420s.
The Zorawar Fort was completed in 1836. The building was restored in 2006 and converted into a museum. Its collection includes artefacts from the Dogra dynasty (9th-19th centuries), as well as coins and postage stamps.

Around Leh

The Gurdwara Pathar Sahib is a Sikh gurdwara that was originally built 1517. It fell into disrepair and all but forgotten, when in the 1970s, a road was constructed through the area and a large boulder was uncovered. Attempts to remove the boulder were unsuccesful. According to religious beliefs, because it been rolled down the hill by a demon in an attmpt to kill Guru Nanak, who was meditating there. The extant temple was then constructed around the boulder. The site is located about 25 km from Leh.
The Hemis Gompa is located some 45 km from Leh.
The Tikse Gompa is 17 km from Leh.
The town of Shey, 15 km east of modern Leh, was the ancient seat of the Ladakhi kings.

The annual Ladakh Marathon is thought to be the highest marathon in the world, as its course runs through an area that reaches from 3,505 to 5,370 m (11,500 to 17,618 ft) in height. The Sindhu Darshan Festival is held every year in June, on the full moon day of Guru Purnima.

Between June and September it is easy to fly to Leh, but during the winter months, it all depends on the weather. Flights are available from Delhi, Jangmur and Srinagar and the final 30-minute approach to Leh, in between the mountains, is regarded as one of the most spectacular flights in the world. It is also possible to get there by bus or taxi.

There are several hotels and restaurants in Leh. The city is located in a small, but scenic valley, north of the Indus valley and about 615 km north of Delhi. Leh has been the capital of the Ladakh region since Medieval times.

Hotels in Leh

Images

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