Ladakh (meaning "land of high mountain passes") is a mountainous region in North India. Leh, the main city is situated at 3500m above sea level nestled in the great Himalayan, Karakoram, Zanskar and Ladakh ranges. Ladakh is known for remote mountain beauty, studded with monasteries and stupas. Ladakh is often referred as "Little Tibet" due to its geographical proximity and strong links to Tibetan culture.
Capital: Leh
Altitude: altitude ranges from 2750m at Kargil to 7672m at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram
Languages: Ladakhi, Zanskari, Tibetan, English and Hindi
The predominant language is Ladakhi, it is closely related to Tibetan though is not mutually intelligible with it. A Ladakhi phrasebook "Getting Started in Ladakhi" by Melong publication is available in bookstores.
Religion: Buddhist (77.3%), Muslim (13.8%), Hindu (8.6%)
Climate: Ladakh is a rain shadow region of the Himalayas, the annual average rainfall in Leh is 100 mm. In summer, temperature reaches 25°C and it drops down to -15°C in winter.
The high passes are closed during winter due to heavy snowfall.
Delhi-Leh flights operate daily. Flights are very reliable in summer, while in winter they are sometimes cancelled in case of heavy snowfall. There are 8 flights per day in each direction. Flight tickets can become very expensive during the peak season. All airlines are equivalent (Air India, GoFirst, SpiceJet, Vistara, IndiGo) so you may select the cheapest ticket that you can find.
If you opt to come or leave Ladakh by road, you can take either the Manali or Srinagar Highway. The roads are closed in winter and they usually open in May. The 2-day road trip can be done by bus or by taxi.
Leh is at 3500m above sea level so acclimatization can get difficult because of high altitude. It is advisable to spend at least two days to acclimatize before you set out for your adventures. Drink plenty of water or other fluids such as soup, tea and juice.
