How to reach Leh Ladakh? By land, it will take three or four days to drive a light vehicle from Delhi to Ladakh via Haryana, Chandigarh, Manali, Keylong, Sarchu, and Leh, as well as Pathankot, Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil, and Leh.
Ladakh at a Glance: One of the highest inhabited plateaus in the world is Ladakh, which is home to numerous passes, snow-capped mountains, and arid terrain. Saser Kangri, the highest mountain in the world, is located in the Karakoram at 2,750 meters above sea level. Winter temperatures can fall below -40°C in certain high-altitude regions, while summer temperatures can reach over 35°C. Because of its distinctive and beautiful culture, Ladakh has been referred to as “Moon Land,” “Magic Land,” and “Mysterious Land.” While O’e sees no no’ho’izon here, he’s only seeing mountain peaks. In the prehistoric period, Adakh formed a great lake. The region has some of the largest and most beautiful lakes, such as Pangong and Tsomoriri.
Permit and Passport: Tourists do not require a license for Leh; however, all foreigners must register themselves at Drass, Rumtse, and Serchu if they are traveling overland. Those traveling by air get the registration done at the airport. Tourists must get a permit for some restricted areas like Tsomoriri, Tsokar, Pangong Lakes, Dhahanu, and Nubra Valley, which can be obtained from the District Magistrate, Leh, through travel agents at Leh.
Climate: Ladakh is the country’s coldest, highest, and driest zone. Ladakh is a generally dry, mountainous country. Much of Ladakh is above 11,000 feet (3,350 m). Therefore, you can expect warm to hot days in the summer and cool nights. In winter, the temp may drop as low as -35°C. There is occasional snowfall in winter caused by “Western Disturbances.” Summer days are generally warm, 25-30°C. Annual rainfall “usually exceeds 10 cm/3.” Though over the past decade, there have been occasional spells of heavy rain.
Ladakhi Language: 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. The Ladakhi language is a shared cultural platform that 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 is well worth getting. Not only will your attempts to speak the language be appreciated, but they will also be helpful.
Ladakhi food: Ladakhi food has much in common with Tibetan food, the most prominent foods being thukpa, noodle soup, and tsumpa, known in Ladakhi as Ngampe, roasted barley flour, edible without cooking, making it useful, if dull, trekking food: a distinct Ladakhi dish, skyu, a heavy pasta dish with root vegetables.
As Ladakh moves toward a less sustainable, cash-based economy, imported Indian foods are becoming more important. You are likely to be served rice and dal (lentils) with veggies even in villages without road access, and it’s standard in Leh.
In Leh town, you can taste its range of cuisine, including North Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, Italian, and even Korean. Bakeries are plentiful in Leh town. Strangely, they all claim to be German bakeries. They serve seasonal fruit pies, tarts, brownies, and various breads.
Flora & Fauna of Ladakh: Ladakh’s flora and fauna are more similar to those of Tibet than the central Himalayas and are a product of the dry climate, cold winters, and short growing season. The animals of Ladakh have much in common with those of Central Asia generally, and especially those of the Tibetan Plateau.
