Leh

Leh is a small district that is situated in the Jammu and Kashmir state of India. The city of Leh has a very long history and is an important trading centre of the state. Legend has it that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati went to Mount Kailash via this region only.

In the recent past, Leh has become a disputed territory between India, China and Pakistan. After the partition of India by the Britishers, the Sino-Indian war happened at this place during 1962 and this is followed by the war of Kargil 1999 between India and Pakistan.

Today there has been a significant development in the relationships between the three countries. Today with the construction of Manali-Leh highway, this city can be easily accessed by the rest of the country. Many Kashmiri traders come to different states like Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, etc. to do trade.

Reaching Leh

The city of Leh is located at a very high altitude and thus the roads are the best ways to reach this place. There are two main roads that take us to Leh, one is from Manali and other is from Srinagar. Both routes are time consuming and involve a number of military checkpoints.

There are a number of buses that are operated by the Srinagar Transport Authority. The buses operate from Manali, Shimla, Solan, Ladakh, Rajouri and other places. There are many private deluxe buses also. Jeeps are another way by which you can reach Leh.

Planes fly all around the year but all the flight reach the Srinagar and from there you can take a jeep or a car in order to reach Leh.

Railways have a very limited connectivity. The nearest railway station is at Udhampur.

Attractions in Leh

Leh is a popular tourist destination in India. Many newlywed couples come here to enjoy their honeymoon. This historic place has a number of attractions such as:

Palace of King of Ladakh is one of the oldest monuments of Leh. This palace was built during 17th century. This monument is now undergoing massive restoration work. The palace offers you the stunning views of the surrounding areas.

There are a number of Buddhist temples that are situated here such as Namgyal Tsemo Gompa which is situated nearby to the palace of the king of Ladakh. This temple was built during 15th century. Another popular Buddhist temple is Soma Gompa which is located on the corner of Mini Bazar. A Shanti Stupa that was built by the Japanese Buddhist groups can also be visited.

Pangpang Tso is a beautiful high altitude lake that is surrounded by tall peaks on all sides. This lake lies on the indo-china border. It takes four hours to reach this lake via road from Leh.