Ladakh

	Ladakh is bound by mountains and made up of  mountains. Sheer  walls of rock and ice
	divide the Indus valley from Tibet Kashmir and Himachal Predesh and human habitation
	is stricted to narrow strips of greenery clinging to the river that  drain down from
	mountain  glaciers. This  rugged  region is home  to  one of  the last undistributed 
	Tantric Budhist population on earth, protected from colonial interference, rampaging
	Mughals  and  ravages  of  cultural   Revolution   by  sheer  force   of  geography.

	From November to may, Ladakh is almost completely cut off from  outside  world. Even 
	in summer, getting here involves crossing  the  highest mountain passes in the world 
	or hair raising flight that weaves between the  peaks. Isolation  has  preserved  an 
	almost medieval way of life, dictated  by the  changing  seasons. However  change is 
	coming to this mountain shangrila. Tourism and Hydroelectric  power are flooding the
	region with money and globel  warming  is  altering  rainfall  patterns, threatening 
	farming cycles and Ladakh's traditional mud brick architecture.

	Unlike the rest  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir, Ladakh  has  seen  little  violence  since 
	Independence.

	Most Ladakhis are  Buddhist with smaller communities  of Shia  and Sunni  Muslims in 
	Leh and the valley's surrounding Zanskar and Kargil.

	Some of the tourist places around

	1. Leh Palace
	2. 15th century Tsemo Gompa
	3. Shanti Stupa 

	Activities

	From  July  to  October, Ladakh  and  Zanskar  offer some  fantastic  high  altitude 
	trekking routes.

	Mountaineering: Ladakh is paradise for white water rafting and kayaking.

	From July to September rafter and Kayakers can enjoy  epic white water and Indus and 
	Zanskar rivers.


	How to reach here and around

	By Air

	Leh receives year round flights from Delhi, Srinagar and Jammu. 
	

	By Train

	Last station is Jammu and can be reached by Jammu Tawi (time 14 hrs), Jaipur Express
	(10 1/2 hr), Jammu Tawi Indore Malwa Express (10 1/2 hr), Jhelum Express (12 1/4 hrs
	, Shalimar  Express  (13 1/4 hrs), Rajdhani Express (12 1/4 hrs) or Shalimar Express 
	(13 1/4 hrs).
 
	From Jammu one can take Bus or taxi to reach Srinager and then Leh.
		
	By Road

	Jammu and Srinagar is connected through  narrow  mountain road often full of lorries
	and military convoys takes 12 hrs  few  stops  for food. Some  long  distance  state 
	Roadways buses from  Delhi, Chandigarh and  Amritsar  to Jammu continues to Srinagar.
	
 	Buses and share Jeep run from Srinagar to Leh from May to November and from Manali 
	to Leh from July to Mid October.