"Leh (3505 m / pop: 28,000), the capital of Ladakh is a veritable kaleidoscope of sights and sounds. A quaint town nestling along the rugged slopes of the Ladakh range, it cradles a cultural legacy shaped at the crossroads of Asia on the Sub-continental Silk Route."
"Leh has many historic monuments, including the 17th century Leh Palace built by King Singe Namgyal on the hill overlooking the town. Higher up the hill called Namyal Tsemo, are the ruins of the earliest fort dating from 16th century."
"The Buddhist monasteries or Gompas constitute major cultural attractions of Ladakh. Out of the over dozen major monasteries situated on or near the Indus, the most famous from the heritage view point is that of Alchi, called Alchi Choskor on account of its ancient wall frescoes and other artistic elements dating from the 11th& 12th centuries, which pre-date the Tibetan style of paintings and art style seen in the other monasteries."
"Ladakh also boasts of high altitude lakes among which. Pangong Lake (a0 kms. from Leh) has the most dramatic setting. Located at an altitude of 14,500 ft / 4,267 M in, It is a long, narrow basin of inland water body, about 5-6 kms wide and about 140 kms long, one - third of which lies in India while the rest lies on the Tibet side of the border."
"Ladakh offers many options for adventure tourism amidst landscape of breathtaking natural beauty. These include jeep safaris, trekking & camping in the wilderness. The most popular activity, however, is rafting on the Indus & Zanskar Rivers which offers options for both amateurs and professionals."
"Kashmir is a destination of many hues and moods. Inspring and summer, the abundant orchards, rippling lakes and salubrious climate beckon all to experience the Valley's numerousdelights. Golfing in the picturesque courses, water-skiing in the lakes and angling for rainbow trout in the mountain streams-these are but some of the many pleasures you could indulge in on a Kashmir holiday."

Ladakh & Beyond ...

Ladakh

is a high altitude trans-Himalayan region, abounding in awesome physical features set in a spectacular environment. For close to a millennium, it was an independent mountain kingdom of strategic importance. Leh, the royal capital, was a major crossroads of Asian trade and migration routes between India, Tibet and Chinese Turkistan. For centuries, Silk Route caravans, pilgrims and missionaries passed through this crossroads, leaving behind a rich heritage of religious, cultural and artistic traditions.

Shielded by high mountain ramparts, Ladakh remains to-date an unspoiled enclave of Tibetan Buddhism, a religious tradition kept alive in the many Buddhist monasteries that dot the spectacular landscape. These monasteries of Ladakh serve as repositories and galleries of exquisite murals, gilded statues, religious icons, scrolls and many more artifacts created and collected through the centuries.In these centuries old living monastic foundations it’s possible to receive the Lama’s blessings, consult the astrologer to presage your future, hear the wail of a horn echoing from the mountains, witness a lifestyle passed down the ages.
Ladakh is also an adventure lover’s dream come true. It offers trekking options ranging from soft, short hikes through villages for amateurs, to long trans-mountain traverses involving weeks of walking & camping in the wilderness. For mountaineering enthusiasts, there are dozens of peaks and climbing sites to choose from. Rive Indus & its dramatic tributaries (Zanskar, Shayok, Suru etc.) provide rafting options, both for amateurs and professionals. Or you can go on exciting Jeep Safaris across some of the highest passes &vast plateaus of the world.

Kashmir

, the other destination that we help you to explore and enjoy, lies contiguous to the west of Ladakh. An exceptionally beautiful Himalayan valley system, Kashmir has been immortalized by the Mughals as the ‘Paradise on Earth’. The Mughal royalty travelled every year from the plains of India to spend the summers in its cool environment. Here they laid out the famous Mughal Gardens, and patronized the development of the exquisite corpus of handicrafts, known as ‘Kashmir Handicrafts’ which include the prized ‘Kashmir Shawl’ and hand-made ‘Kashmir carpet’ among many other exquisite artefact.

Kashmir is a destination of many hues and moods. Inspring and summer, the lush hillsides& gardens, abundant orchards, rippling lakes and salubrious climate beckon all to experience the valley’s delights. Golfing in the picturesque courses, water-skiing on the lakes and angling for rainbow trout in the mountain streams—these are but some of the many pleasures you could indulge in on a Kashmir holiday. Or you can simply drift down the placid waters of lakes in shikaras and live in magnificent Houseboats on the Dal & Nagin Lakes. Or you can go on exhilarating excursions to the heavenly hill stations of Gulmarg, Pahalgam&Sonamarg. And inwinter, when themountainsides are covered with snow, you can go on exciting skiing trips along the rolling slopes of Gulmarg which are now serviced by state-of-the art cable car lift systems.

Copyright © Caravan Travels & Tours Leh, Ladakh - India. All Rights Reserved.