L E H

How to reach there?

Leh is the capital city of Ladakh. Supporting a population of more than a lakh, Leh is situated at the base of the dry and arid Himalayan Ranges. Leh is at the banks of the river Indus which has converted Leh into blooming green place like Egypt, which is the Gift of the Nile. All sorts of farming and fruits have started growing here.

Leh is a big place bustling with activity, mainly, and probably only in the season which lasts from Mid June to Mid October. There are a lot of Festivals in the month of September, mainly 1st to 15th September. Most of the tourists here are foreigners. Tourism is the main source of income here. However, The Field Research Laboratories have converted Leh into a green belt with the waters of Indus, taking the people towards self sufficiency especially during winters, when Ladakh is cut off from rest of India, and even basic food stuff may be inaccessible. However, the Indian Government keeps granaries, where food enough to last for a year is stored and is made available to people at discounted rates. The best time to visit, I would suggest, is 1st to 15th September, during the festival season.

At almost every road bend, there is a huge prayer wheel, where people place their wishes, and rotate the wheel. The scene of the mountains appears as if they are moulded with clay or made of plaster of Paris and coloured. There is a central Taxi stand and a bus stand. The taximen have a union and standard rates are kept for all the excursions. Leh itself has nothing much to offer, but it is a central point for all excursions. For emergencies, there is the well constructed and well equipped Sonam Norboo General Hospital.

There is a church as well in Leh. The Moravian Church, nearby the main market. Also, just near the church is the village of Changspa, from where the road winds upto the hillock where the Ladakh Shanti Stupa is located. The Stupa is very well constructed, and also provides a superb view over Ladakh.