Ladakh is a sparsely populated region in Jammu and Kashmir, India, known for its Tibetan culture, cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes. Key attractions include the Leh Palace, Pangong Lake, Zanskar Valley, Magnetic Hill, and Shanti Stupa, each offering unique experiences. Major festivals like Hemis and the Ladakh Festival attract both locals and tourists, making Ladakh a popular travel destination.

2. ABOUT LADAKH :
• LADAKH IS A REGION IN INDIAN STATE OF JAMMU AND
KASHMIR THAT CURRENTLY EXTENDS FROM
THE KUNLUN MOUNTAIN RANGE TO THE MAIN
GREAT HIMALAYAS TO THE SOUTH.
• IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SPARSELY POPULATED REGIONS
IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR AND ITS CULTURE AND HISTORY
ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO THAT OF TIBET.
• THE LARGEST TOWN IN LADAKH IS LEH FOLLOWED
BY KARGIL

3. CUISINE :
• LADAKHI FOOD HAS MUCH IN COMMON WITH TIBETAN FOOD
THE MOST PROMINENT FOODS BEING THUKPA AND TSAMPA
KNOWN IN LADAKHI AS NGAMPE (ROASTED BARLEY
FLOUR).
• A DISH THAT IS STRICTLY LADAKHI IS SKYU, A HEAVY PASTA
DISH WITH ROOT VEGETABLES.
• MOST OF THE SURPLUS BARLEY THAT IS PRODUCED IS
FERMENTED INTO CHANG, AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE
DRUNK ESPECIALLY ON FESTIVE OCCASIONS.

4. FESTIVALS :
• ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST POPULAR IS THE HEMIS FESTIVAL. IT IS CELEBRATED IN JUNE
TO COMMEMORATE THE BIRTH OF GURU PADMASAMBHAVA.
• IN SEPTEMBER, THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR TOURISM DEPARTMENT WITH THE HELP OF LOCAL
AUTHORITIES ORGANIZE THE LADAKH FESTIVAL. THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR
ORGANIZES THE SINDHU DARSHAN FESTIVAL AT LEH IN MAY–JUNE. IT IS CELEBRATED ON THE
FULL MOON DAY (GURU POORNIMA).

5. ADORNED BY THE GREAT HIMALAYAS,
LADAKH RESIDES IN THE LAP OF JAMMU
AND KASHMIR. THE PLACE OFFERS
EXQUISITE BEAUTY AND TRACES OF RICH
TIBETAN CULTURE, UNIQUELY MATCHED
WITH RUGGED TRAILS AND ROLLICK
ADVENTURES. WRAP YOURSELF IN THE
FRESH FROSTY WEATHER WITH A VISIT TO
THESE FIVE MOST LOVED DESTINATIONS IN
LADAKH :
TOP FIVE PLACES TO VISIT IN LADAKH :

6. 1. LEH PALACE - BUILT BY KING SENGGE NAMGYAL, THIS 17TH CENTURY
PALACE IS A NINE-STOREY BUILDING THAT OFFERS A PANORAMIC VIEW
OF THE CAPITAL CITY OF LADAKH, LEH. YOU CAN DELVE IN ITS RICH
ROYAL HERITAGE WITH A TRIP TO THE MUSEUM SHOWCASING ANTIQUE
JEWELLERY, ORNAMENTS, ATTIRES AND THE GRAND CEREMONIAL
CROWNS.
2. PANGONG LAKE - REMEMBER THE LAST SCENE FROM AAMIR KHAN’S
2009 BLOCKBUSTER 3 IDIOTS? THAT’S RIGHT, PANGONG LAKE IS THE
LOCATION WHERE THE SCENE WAS FILMED. SITUATED IN THE
HIMALAYAS AT A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 14,270 FT., THIS LAKE EXTENDS
FROM INDIA TO CHINA. A FIVE HOURS DRIVE FROM LEH, THE ROUTE TO
THE LAKE MAKES FOR AN ADVENTUROUS ROAD TRIP WITH ITS
DRAMATIC MOUNTAIN COURSE.

7. 3. ZANSKAR VALLEY - THIS IS AN IDEAL DESTINATION
FOR ADVENTURE-TRAVEL ENTHUSIASTS. TAKE A
RAFTING TRIP ON THE WILD ZANSKER RIVER FROM
PADUM TO SANGAM FOR A HIGH ADRENALINE
EXPERIENCE.
4. MAGNETIC HILL - UP FOR A TASTE OF MYSTERY? THIS
HILL LOCATED NEAR LEH IN LADAKH, FOLLOWS THE
NATIONAL HIGHWAY THROUGH THE LEH-KARGIL-BALTIK
ROUTE. IT IS A GRAVITY HILL THAT CREATES AN
ILLUSION OF AN UPHILL ROAD, WHEN THE WAY IS
ACTUALLY GOING DOWNHILL. IT WILL BE A FUN RIDE
FOR THOSE LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

8. 5. SHANTI STUPA - SHANTI STUPA IS A
BUDDHIST WHITE-DOMED STUPA THAT WAS
BUILT IN 1991. ON A HILLTOP IN CHANSPA IN
LEH DISTRICT, THE STUPA IS SITUATED AT A
HEIGHT OF 4267M. VISIT THE PLACE FOR ITS
UNIQUE TIBETAN STYLE ARCHITECTURE,
BUDDHIST RELIGIOUS IMPORTANCE AND A
BREATHTAKING VIEW OF SNOW-CLAD
MOUNTAINS.

9. LADAKH TOURISM IS AS MUCH APPRECIATED BY INDIANS AS BY
TOURISTS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES. PLAN YOUR TRIP WITH
THOMAS COOK, A WELL-KNOWN TRAVEL AGENCY KNOWN FOR
ITS TOP-NOTCH SERVICES IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM. THEY
WILL MANAGE EVERYTHING FROM YOUR TICKETS AND HOTEL
BOOKING TO COMPLETE TOUR PACKAGES.