India Travel Information

Ladakh, is a place where, the forces of nature conspired to render a magical realist landscape ..... a landscape of extremes ..... desert and blue waters,... burning sun and freezing winds,... glaciers and sand dunes ..... a primeval battleground of the titanic forces which gave birth to the Himalayas.
Ladakh, the land of jagged peaks and barren landscape is alluring and awe-inspiring. Hidden behind this harsh and forbidding fade is an ancient civilization and captivating people. Beyond the old frontiers lies the land of wilderness with its unaltered character and overwhelming natural beauty beckoning the more intense and adventurous of travelers. This awesome wildness and magic belongs to that great land of towering mountains and Buddhist simplicity-Ladakh.
A land of freezing winds and burning hot sunlight, Ladakh is a cold desert lying in the rain shadow of the Great Himalayas and other smaller ranges. Little rain and snow reaches this dry area, where natural forces have created a fantastic landscape. Surrounded by rugged mountains this land is completely different from the green landscape of many parts of the Himalayas. Bounded by two of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the Karokaram, it is a land which has no match.
Ladakh means "land of high passes". The many distinctive features of Ladakh are its uplands, craggy, barren cliffs and plateaus. Governed by a climate that provides about 50mm of rainfall each year, Ladakh is cold and dry. One, therefore, will be faced with a long and bitter winter of frozen landscape but yet very beautiful, and a short, hot summer when the precious glaciers melt. Ladakh is the land of endless discovery with snow-capped mountains of great Himalayan, Karakoram and Zanskar ranges.
Ladakh is a predominantly Buddhist area, with a religious tradition going back almost two thousand years. The signs of Buddhism are everywhere. Chortens, symbolic of the basic teaching, dot the landscape. Every village has its monastery, every path and pass its cairn of prayer stones. But interestingly enough, there are also substantial numbers of Muslims, and in the capital, Leh, small pockets of Hindus, Christians and Sikhs; and remarkably all these religious groups co-exist peacefully.

Some of the Attractions of Ladakh.......
The Ladakh Festival organized on a large scale is now a regular tourist event on the tourist calendar. There are several schemes to promote tourism to the Ladakh region. These include opening up of inner line areas such as the beautiful Pangong Tso lake on the Indo-China border, Baima, whose villagers trace their descent to the early Aryan settlers and Nubra Valley which is situated near the strategic Siachen glacier on the Indo-Pak border. Along with the Ladakh festival, adventure tourism will figure prominently in the tourism package. A white water river rafting expedition along the 26-kilometer stretch from Fhey to Nimo along the mighty Indus River is a thrilling experience. It the highest point where river rafting is possible in the world. The high altitude and mountains make it an ideal spot for paragliding, mountaineering, trekking and even skiing. The Ladakhis are keen sportsmen and archery contests are frequently arranged at the village level, which draws all aspiring marksmen. Another popular game, polo, is played with great gusto reminiscent of the Mongol horsemen. The no holds-barred, robust game is far removed from the watered down version seen in today's polo circuits.

How To Get There??

» By Air -
The nearest airport is Leh. There are flights from Delhi, Chandigarh and Srinagar.

» By Road -
It is a two-day journey from Srinagar to Leh (434 kilometers) with an overnight halt at Kargil. The road is open from June to October. There is also a road from Manali to Leh via Key long open from June-October.

A Paradise on Earth....
Cradled in the lap of the majestic Himalayas, Kashmir is the arguably most beautiful place in the world. The beauty of Kashmir surpasses all imagination and anticipation. It is indeed, not without reason that the Moguls called Kashmir the terrestrial paradise of the earth. It is one of the world's natural beauty spots, located at the crossroads of the ancient silk road, where the Moguls built their lakeside summer palaces to escape the heat of the plains.
Kashmir offers the most spectacular sceneries, owing to the breathtaking views of towering mountains, with their white peaks beautifully contrasting with the greens, golds and browns of the valleys and meadows in between. One can breathe the fresh mountain air and indulge in the pleasures of this magical wonderland.


Kashmir Valley...
The Kashmir valley region is famous for it picturesque natural beauty and among other things is known for its Dal Lake that reflects the surrounding snow-capped mountain peaks. Among the most interesting attractions in the region are the Mogul Gardens, the floating vegetable and flower markets and the unique experience of staying on a houseboat. The Valley is known for its fresh apples and the intricate embroidery stitching that is done on the traditional warm kurtas, for both, men and women.
Kashmir is very popular for its golf courses. Tours and travel to Kashmir can be a beautiful experience for those who spend time viewing the floating vegetable and flower markets. These take place in secluded tree-lined canals.
The Dal Lake is perhaps the most important and picturesque tourist destination in Kashmir. It is very popular for its shikara rides and houseboats.
As far as handicrafts are concerned, Kashmir is very popular for its carpets and wall hangings. Kashmir is known for its pashmina and cashmere scarves. Kashmir in the ancient times was the seat of Buddhism. Besides Buddhism many faiths have taken birth and have flourished in the Kashmir region.
Kashmir has a rich cultural heritage. The ancient work of art, Rajatarangini, is an account of the rulers who have ruled the region over a period of 4000 years.
Among the important pilgrimages in Kashmir are Amreshwar, popularly known as Amaranth, Sureshwar, Tripreshwar, Hareshwar, Jeshteshwar, Shivbuteshwar and Sharda Saritshilla.
The Kashmir valley is known for its fresh apples and the intricate embroidery stitching that is done on the traditional warm kurtas, for both, men and women known as phirans. The Kashmir valley has been known since the ancient times as the valley of flowers. A Mughal emperor used the phrase, paradise on earth, to describe the Kashmir valley. The valley is known for its tall chinar trees and snow capped peaks. The famous Mughal Gardens are located on the banks of the Dal Lake and are a must visit for any one who visits Kashmir. The Dal Lake in the Kashmir valley is of course known for its floating houseboats. Tours and travel packages to the Kashmir Valley region offer special options for those interested in staying on the houseboats.
Few popular destinations in Kashmir include Srinagar, the state capital, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonmarg. You can enjoy the pale green paddy fields raised upon the hill, rushing, snow-fed streams in the high meadows and the encircling snow-capped mountains, which provide a perfect setting for a valley that's vibrantly alive.
Kashmir is a wonderful state with a combination of history, mythology and legends. In the17th century, a Mogul Ruler, Jehangir, son of Akbar, during his visit to Kashmir, wrote; "If there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here!" Maybe this is the last place of the paradise?