Leh is one of the favorite tourist destinations located in the northernmost parts of the country. The capital of the Ladakh district, Leh is towards the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Lapped in the snow-covered fringes of the Himalayas, Leh has been the center of Tibetian-Buddhist culture since ages. It's Gompas have attracted devout Buddhists from all over the world. Besides, it is also a favourite trekking and hiking spot and is known for some of the best hikes and treks in the country.

Ladakh, the largest of the ten provinces of Jammu and Kashmir is bordered by the Karakorm chain of mountains in the north and Himalayas in the south. Ladakh is the land of towering mountains and Buddhist simplicity. It's beautiful terrains and mountains beckons the adventurous tourist for trekking and mountaineering. The land of jagged peaks and barren landscapes, it is at once alluring and awe-inspiring. Hidden behind this harsh and forbidding facade is an ancient civilization with captivating people. The great Indus river flows right through Ladakh. The province is divided into Leh, the capital, Nubra, Zanskar, lower Ladakh and Rupshu.

Zanskar The Land of Religion, it is noted for its high ranges, fine Gompas and hospitable people. It has the largest number of Gompas in Ladakh region outside the Indus Valley. The land was virtually untouched until recently. It is now a popular destination for adventurous treks. The famous peaks of Nun & Kun are in Zanskar. Padum is the the main habitation and subdivisional headquarter. Nearby are two famous Gompas of Stagrimo & Pibithing. A two hour trek from Padum takes one to Karsha Gompa (16th Century).This is the largest and the wealthiest Gompa of this region. Other interesting Gompas of this region are - Sani (6kms from Padum), Stongdey(18kms), Bardan(12kms) and the Phugtal Gompa.

Hemis Gompa at a distance of 45 km south of Leh, Hemis is one of the biggest gompas in Ladakh. Built in 1630, it belongs to the red sect, Brokpa.

The Sankar Gompa is located a couple of kilometers north of the town center. The gompa belongs to the Gelukpa order and has an impression of the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshwara Padmahari or Chenresig.

The Shanti Stupa was built by a Japanese order and was opened by the Dalai Lama in 1985. One can view the exotic locales nearby from here. The stupa is located at a distance of 3 km from the Fort Road.

Leh Palace A miniature version of the Potala in Lhasa, the Leh Palace is one of the major attractions here. The palace was built in the 17th century and is now dilapidated and deserted. It was the home of the royal family until they were exiled to Stok in the 1830s. Above the palace, at the top of the Namgyal hill, is the Victory Tower, built to commemorate Ladakh's victory over the Balti Kashmir armies in the early 16th century.

Nubra Valley Popularly known as the "Ldomra" or the valley of flowers, it is situated at an altitude of about 10000 ft. The major attraction is the world's highest road ('Khardong la' at 18,380 ft). The capital of Nubra, Diskit is 118 km from Leh. It has a beautiful monastery(founded in 1420) on the hilltop just above the village. Seven kms. from Diskit is the village of Hunder which is very famous for double hump camels, found only in Central Asia and Nubra Valley. Other attractions are the villages of Trith, Sumur, Tegar (Samstangling Monastery ) and Panamik (hot springs). Eight kms from Panamik is Ensa Monastery which is 250 years old and accessible only after a trek of 3-4 hours.

How To Get There??
Air : Indian Airlines operates flight from Delhi to Ladakh four times a week. It also has flight arrangements from Chandigarh to Leh. Tourists usually prefer to travel to Leh by air. The flight path will take you directly above the Zanskar valley giving a beautiful look of the most of the other ranges.
Rail : The nearest Rail Head is Jammu 620 Kms. from Leh. Jammu is connected to all parts of india through express trains.
Road :The Manali-Leh road has served as the primary land approach to Ladakh. The traffic starts around mid-June and continues till early October. Himachal Pradesh state road transport corporation and J & K state road transport corporation all operate deluxe and ordinary bus services between Manali and Leh. It takes approximately 19 hours from Manali to Leh depending on weather conditions.