50 Interesting Facts About Leh Ladakh

Facts About Leh Ladakh: Leh is a district in Ladakh, the central part of the northern border of India. Leh was the capital city of the Himalayan state of Ladakh. The Leh Palace of the old Ladakh dynasty is still located here. Covering an area of 45,110 sq km, it is the second largest district in the country (after Kutch in Gujarat).

To the north of the district are the Kharmang and Ghanche districts of the Indian-held Gilgit-Baltistan province of Pakistan and the Kashgar and Hotan subdivisions of Xinjiang, which are connected by the historic Karakoram Pass. To its east is Aksai Chin, part of Ladakh itself, which is illegally controlled by China And Tibet, to the west of Kargil district, to the south by Lahul and Spiti. The district headquarters are in Leh. It is located between 32 and 36 degrees north latitude and 75 to 80 degrees east longitude.

Until July 1, 1979, the whole of Ladakh was under Leigh rule until the creation of Leigh administrative districts in Kargil. This division has been fueled by religious conflicts between Buddhists and Muslims since the end of the twentieth century.

50 Amazing Facts About Leh Ladakh

It is only the highest desert in the world. Winter’s snowfall is only source of water in this high altitude desert.
Leh Ladakh situated & bounded by the two of world’s powerful mountain ranges one Himalaya & other one is Karakorum.
You can also experience & enjoy the thrilling adventures sports like paragliding, river rafting, bike riding, trekking, camping & more.
The Ladakhi yaks are not only one of the valuable animals of the newly made union territory but also a mouth-watering delicacy for them.
True! Although a lot of people are familiar now Pangong lake has been featured in Bollywood as well. This has increased its popularity amongst other travelers as well.
Hemis Gompa, Thiksey Gompa and Shey Palace are some of the monasteries you will see here. Tourist like you communicate with monks over their for more info about Buddhism.
Cuisines of Ladakh are popular for their uniqueness and mouth-watering taste. One of their great tastes is Mokthuk. It is a combination of momos that are sautéed in different soups.
One of the best places to visit in Ladakh- Hemis National Park is also the place where you get the most snow leopards in the world. It is a protected area where this species is thriving.
In Nubra Valley you will see the rare species of twin humped camels. It is only place in India where Bactrain camel species found over single humped. & one of the core attraction for tourist.
Indian Amy in 1982 built 30 m long world’s highest bridge named “Bailey bridge ” between suru & dras rivers in the Himalaya mountains. Bridge made up of lattice steel & famous for military applications.
Zanskar Valley in Ladakh not only provides treks but other adventure spots too. One of the best adventure activities to enjoy in Leh Ladakh is white water rafting and which is enjoyed by people in the Zanskar River.

Interesting Facts About Leh Ladakh

Another very interesting thing about Ladakh is that the ITBP which is Indo-Tibetan Border Police organizes a national hockey championship every year during the winter season. It is enjoyed by the members thoroughly.
According to facts, the last village of Ladakh is named Turtuk. It is the endpoint until where tourism is allowed by the Indian Army. Post that point, the entire region is sensitive and no tourists are allowed to go.
One of the finest attractions of Leh Ladakh is the Leh Palace. It was built in the 17th century by king Namgyal. It is a 9-story building and the way Leh Ladakh is called the roof of India, Leh Palace is termed as the roof of Leh.
The Karzoo region of Ladakh has the highest-altitude natural ice-hockey rink in the world. It was developed and used in the 70s for the first time. Since then it is one of the prime locations of Leh-Ladakh for travelers during winters.
The state of Jammu Kashmir is the Northern most state of India, and Leh-Ladakh is the highest plateau region in the very state. It is over 3,000 m and extends from the Himalayas to the Kunlun Ranges including the upper Indus River valley!
Did you know the fact that Dras a small village is the coldest place in India that’s habited by people and it is also known as the second coldest place inhabited by people in the entire world? The temperature here can go as low as -45 degrees Celsius.
A lot of adventure activities take place in Ladakh and one of them is trekking. Although there are several places to enjoy this sport one amongst the avid trekkers is popular and that’s Stok Kangri. Trekkers ensure that they do not miss out on this trail.
While the highest settlement is at 4,400 m at Pensi-la, extremities are crossed further when it comes to agricultural fields. On the Tso Moriri Lake at Korzok where the altitude is 4,600 meters, you'll be witness to the highest fields in the world. One magnificent sight!
Great Siachin Glacier is the highest battleground in the world & our Indian military base located at the top of it. It is most sensitive point when the temperature fall down below -210C! & still our army protecting border from enemies over their 24×7. This is really admirable.

Fascinating Facts About Leh Ladakh

One of the finest attractions of Ladakh in Nubra Valley is the 32m tall Maitreya Buddha Jampa. This statue is one of the best attractions of Diskit Monastery in the village that goes by the same name as the monastery. People visit here and enjoy their time clicking pictures around the statue.
Desert lands with extremely low temperatures are called cold deserts like Antarctica, which is the largest cold desert in the world. Ladakh in India is a cold desert that lies in the Great Himalayas on the eastern side of Jammu and Kashmir. It is also known as Khapa-chan, which means snow land.
Although BRO (Border Road Organization) works really hard to keep the roads of Ladakh in the best condition but not every section is. There are a few patches that throw a lot of challenges even to the avid bikers and drivers. These challenging roads are the reason why travelers wish for a road trip to Ladakh.
The Bactrian camel better known as the Two-Humped Camel is a large, even-toed ungulate native of the place. And Ladakh is the only place in India where twin humped camels are found. Their contrasting feature than the regular single-humped dromedary camels make them a major attraction in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh.
The Khardung La Pass in Ladakh which is at an elevation of 5,359 meters is claimed to be the highest motorable road in the world. For all the motorbike lovers who crave a road trip every chance they get, this is the one you need to conquer! With stunning beauty and challenging roads ahead, the trip is worth taking.
The Karzoo Ice Hockey Rink in Ladakh is the world’s highest natural ice hockey rink. This rink comes to life during winters when the subzero temperatures are superior throughout the day. Winter sports are popular on a wide scale on this naturally built rink. Whereas the history of this sport in Ladakh dates back to the early 70s.
Not many places in the entire world are fascinating and interesting. But Leh-Ladakh is both and that too at the same time. One of the best places to visit in Ladakh is Lamayuru. When you reach here it feels as if you have landed on the moon. The white sheet of snow perfectly replicates the moon’s surface and looks absolutely amazing.

Important Facts About Leh Ladakh

Do you know that if you blow conch or seashells in Ladakh, you can call as many as 120 lamas at once? As an interesting response to the conch call, these lamas assemble every day at the Karsha Monastery for lunch! If a monk has to call his fellow monks for the morning prayer, he would simply blow a conch signifying the start for the prayer time.
Every state has something special that lures people. It can food, drinks, natural beauty, visiting spots, or any other things. When it comes to Ladakh, you get all of these and many more in abundance. One of the highlights of Ladakh is Chhang. It is the local alcohol that is formulated there and savored by them. If you can and get a chance; do try it out.
The blue and mystifying Pangong Lake gets its name from the Tibetian dictionary which translates to high grassland lake. Located at an altitude of 4,350 meters in the Himalayas, it is the world's highest saltwater lake. It is 162Kms long out of which 70% is in China and 30% is in India! This Enhorheic lake completely freezes in winters despite its salty water.
Right between the Suru River and Dras River, the Bailey bridge was constructed in 1982 by the Indian Army in the rough Himalayan Ranges. This 30 meters long bridge is the highest bridge in the world at a height of 5,602 meters above sea level. It is a temporary bridge made up of lattice steel by prefabricated parts. Such bridges have great application in Military.
One of the best things about Leh- Ladakh is the diversity of Fauna. There are various places like the Tso Moriri, Leh, or Nubra where you get to see a lot of different species of fauna. But the place is also thriving with several species of Flora. One of the finest places in Ladakh is Hemis National Park for witnessing the variety of flora that’s on offer for tourists to watch.
Mouth watering Ladakh Cuisine is famous & you must try whenever you visit over there. Thukpa delicious dish made up of noodles soup with boiled vegetables, chunks of chicken, pork etc. is most favorite dish of people. Signature dish is Butter Tea made up of butter, tea leaves, water & salt. Its pink in color & has unique taste & fragrance. Momos are another dish that you can try.
If you are avid bike rider & then Leh Ladakh is only place meant for you. As you know till now that Leh Ladakh has highest motorable “Khardungla Pass” bike riders like you travel every year on their favourite bikes like Royal Enfield Bullet & more. You can explore leh ladakh by hiring or renting a bike here. The best season or say time is between March to June because during this all passes are open.
Under the age of 25 usually (not a compulsion), women practice the art of Kung-Fu in the Drukpa nunnery in Ladakh. These self-empowered women encourage many other women to participate in the same and especially encourages nuns to train in Kung-Fu. Not only that but further for those interested are taught at par with monks of the land to seek enlightenment. BBC also went on to make a documentary on their life.

Shocking Facts About Leh Ladakh

Ladakh also very famous & well known for its festival called as Land Of Colorful Festivals. People here strongly follow Buddhism which you can see in their fairs & festivals. Winter is season of festival here. Dance, drama, Lamas robed in colorful garments wearing mask perform mimes etc are some of acts they perform to celebrate it. Losar, Ladakh, Hemis Tsechu, Sindhu Darshan are name of their events & festivals.
Apart from every other thing, the people of Ladakh follow an interesting calendar. True, the newly made union territory is a part of India but they don’t follow the calendar the rest of the country follows. They have 12 months each having 30 days for 2 years consecutively. The third-year then has 13 months. The months don’t have a name here and only a number. The days of the week are named after the sun, moon, and 5-visible planets.
A large portion of the area between the Suru Valley and Zanskar Valley which is surrounded by the Himalayas and Zanskar Ranges is rough and largely inhabited. The main area that is inhabited is Rangdum. But after crossing Rangdum, at the height of 4,400 m at Pensi-la which is also the gateway to Zanskar, is India's Highest Settlement! A life at such a height has to be difficult and yet the most peaceful when amidst a beauty like Leh-Ladakh.
Ladakh is a cold desert that in the Great Himalayas with extremely low temperatures with very less vegetation. Most of Ladakh is brown and rugged which is very different from the usual hill stations that are always lush green. But even after being a dessert, Ladakh is home to over 225 Species of Birds. Some uncommon birds such as finches, robins, redstarts, and Hoopoe are found here in abundance. This increases the charm and natural beauty of the place by many folds.
One of the most famous sightseeing places in Leh Ladakh is the Leh Palace. This grand palace was built by King Senegge Namgyal in 17th century AD. A royal palace with a huge collection of treasures such as Jewellery, ornaments, ceremonial dresses and crowns which are still intact and kept in the museum of the palace has been converted into one of the restored sights of Archaeological survey of India. Where Leh-Ladakh is called the 'Roof of Earth', this 9 storeyed palace is the 'Roof Of Leh'.
Irrespective of the harsh conditions, January is quite a popular month for all the adventure travelers for the Chadar -Trek on the frozen Zanskar river in Leh. It usually starts late-December, early January and batches go on till February. The trek is the hardest one in India and also in the top 10 Hardest treks in the world. For all the hikers it is a dream to achieve! The Chadar trek is a once in a lifetime opportunity which if you can, you should not miss. The temperature remains sub-zero almost the entire month.
With a minimum of 2 festivals each month, Leh Ladakh is truly the land of festivals. These festivals are all about traditional dancing, singing, and colorful masks. A very strong influence of Buddhism and Tibetian culture can be seen in their festivals. No matter what time of the year you choose to visit the place, you can be part of the festivities. From dance, drama, and processions, the festivals are rich and unique. Some of the most famous festivals are Losar festival, Ladakh festival, Hemis Tsechu festival, Sindhu Darshan festival.
Situated at an altitude of 4,500 meters, the Indian Astronomical Observatory at Hanle is the second-highest optical telescope in the world. Far away from the polluted urban cities and on such high altitude, the place had to be on top of the list of the best places for stargazing in India. The air is so dry and clear that the brightness of the Milky Way is spectacular. You could even photograph from the famous Pangong Lake and see the spectacular view in the reflection of the lake and in the brightest night sky lit solely by the light of stars. Tha village of Nubra is quite famous for the same too.
The Magnetic Hill is a wide open stretch of a road, surrounded by tall and rocky mountains on the route from Leh to Kargil. If you want to believe that it is a mystery then try this - If you leave your car in neutral gear with the ignition turned off on the Magnetic Hill’s downward slope, it looks as if the car is going uphill. It's as if a very powerful magnetic device is pulling the vehicle uphill. Whereas the locals have an answer to it. The locals say that is just an optical illusion in a way that the path that looks like an uphill road is actually a slant running downhill, but due to the natural formation of the mountains, the horizon is distracted and our minds and eyes consider it to be an uphill stretched road.
Although it's a part of India, some things such as the calendar system are nothing like the rest of the country. People of Ladakh follow Tibetan calendar. Their year consists of 12 months each of 30 days for two consecutive years and the third year consists of 13 months. The extra month is added in between on the day considered auspicious. The months are not even names, just numbered. Whereas days of the week are named after the sun, the moon and five visible planets. Also, another weird thing is the fact that some days of the week are omitted during a month which is considered inauspicious and the word Chad (cut off) appears on the calendar. The Tibetan New Year begins with the rising of the new moon in February or March depending on when the extra month is added. Now, this is one confusing and inconsistent system which seems really interesting.

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