ABOUT LADAKH




About Ladakh

Beyond the Kashmir valley on a high plateau bordering western Tibet, lies the breathtakingly diverse beauty of Ladakh, where the spectacular, snow-crowned peaks of the Himalayan, Karakorum and Zanskar ranges tower above both the hunting, lunar landscape of high altitude deserts and the summer gold of rolling grasslands, while stunning gorges carved by icy mountain streams plunge down to remote, little villages, lapped by jewel-green field of barley and overlooked by ancient, hill-top monasteries. Just one hours flight from the bustling Indian Capital of Delhi, Ladakh possesses a remote, other-worldly atmosphere. It is the highest region in India, with elevations rarely below 3000 meters and often above 3500 meters. Ladakh historic capital, Leh is one of the worlds highest permanently inhabited towns and boasts the worlds highest civilian airport. The region also features the highest vehicular road in the world. 
About "Little Tibet"

Ladakh is also far remote, in many cultural aspects, from the rest of India. The region often referred as Little Tibet, is strongly influence by Tibetan cultural, including Tibetan Buddhist Practices. In fact, Ladakh is often said to be more Tibetan than Tibet, because as it part of India, it has not been subjected to the tumultuous changes that have occurred in Chinese dominated Tibet. Some of the most important gompas (Monasteries) in the Tibetan religion are located in Ladakh, where Chorten (dome-shape structures containing Buddhist relics) mark the way to many villages and prayer flags flutter at mountain passes. May of the regions majestic monasteries brightly painted and adorned with prayer wheels, dragons, Buddha statues and vibrant wall murals, also contain impressive libraries important repositories for ancient hand written Tibetan religious texts. The dominant building in Leh, Thiksey Monastery, a towering 12-storey structure painted red, ochre and white, is modelled on the Potala Palace, the former chief residence of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. It contains a vast array of Buddhist art, including the 15-metre (49ft) Maitreya (feature Buddha), the largest statue of its kind in Ladakh. Perched in the hills of the Karakorum ranges, near the banks of the Indus River, Leh was once a major stopover on the legendary Silk route between Xinjiang, (in north-west China), western Asia and the plains of India. 
About "The Land of Many Passes"

Ladakh the land of many passes is crises-crossed by a complex network of mountain trails which even today provides the only link to most of the valleys, villages and high pastures for Ladakhi residents (numbering about 260,000), as well as visitors. Tourism now accounts for more than 50% per cent of Ladakhi income, although only four per cent of the working population is involved in the industry. Most families still own and work their land as they have done for generation; growing crops and keeping livestock, including yaks, cows, dzos (a yak- cow cross breed), sheep and goats. As Himalayas create a rain shadow which denies Ladakh access to monsoonal rain, the lush cultivated fields surrounding village settlements rely solely on irrigation channels which funnel water from springs, streams and rivers fed by melted mountain snowfalls. 
About Economy

In the past villages houses were built with rocks, earth and wood, but new homes now tend to feature concrete frames and stone or adobe (earthen brick) walls. Higher altitude villages grow barley, peas and vegetables, while lower villages also cultivate wheat, alfalfa, mustard for oil, grapes and a greater variety of vegetables as well as apricot, apple, mulberry and walnut trees. Ladakhi food has much in common with Tibetan food, the most popular dishes include Thukpa (noodle soup) and Tsampa known in Ladakhi as ngampe (roasted barley flour) the latter does not have to be cooked and is therefore a convenient food for trekkers. A meal that is strictly Ladakhi is skyu a heavy pasta dish containing root vegetables. As Ladakh moves towards cash based economy, foods from the plains of India are becoming more common. As in other parts of Central Asia, tea in Ladakh is traditionally made with strong green tea, butter and salt. It is mixed in a large churn and known as Gur-gur Cha, after the sounds it makes when mixed. Surplus barley is often fermented to produce chang an alcoholic beverage popular on festive occasions!

About Entertainment 

Monasteries play an important role in the Ladakh festival calendar; all major monasteries (including Indians biggest monastery the Hemis monastery 44km from Leh) stage an annual masked dance festival featuring a lively and colorful depiction of the battle between good and evil. The music (similar to Tibetan music) often features complex religious chanting in Tibetan or Sanskrit. Musical instruments, such as the surna (a type of oboe) and daman (drum) are also an integral part of religious festivals, while monks performed at the Ladakh Festival held in Leh in the month of September, dance to the rhythm of cymbals, flutes and trumpets. Performed adorned in gold and silver ornaments and turquoise encrusted headgear, throng the streets during Ladakhi festival, which also features dances depicting local legends as well as archery competition, a mock marriage and polo matches. Both archery and polo are traditional sports in Ladakh, although ice hockey and cricket now claim more fans!
About Wildlife

Away from human settlements, the barren beauty of the Ladakh landscape also harbours a surprising diversity of wildlife. A total of 225 bird species, including several Tibetan species not found in other part of India have been recorded in Ladakh, which provides a breeding ground of the endangered Black-necked Crane, as well as the majestic Golden Eagle. The 4,400 square kilometre Hemis National Park, the largest national park in Asia, is home to the elegant Asiatic Ibex, Red Fox and Himalayan Marmot. It is also a refuge for number of endangered species, such as the Eurasian Brown Bear and the stunning Snow Leopard, which descends from the mountain in winter in search of prey, including the Bharal (blue sheep) another rare cat, the Eurasian Lynx, pursues smaller herbivores in Ladakh, while the Tibetan Wolf sometimes preys on local livestock. The Tibetan Sand Fox has recently been discovered in this region as well. In summer the high meadows of the Nemaling provides pasture for a verity of grazing animal including yaks, sheep, goats, horses and dzos (a hybrid of yaks and domestic cattle), as well as playful Himalayan marmots and white-tailed hares. The Tibetan Argali or Nyan, the largest wild sheep in the world, (boasting a horn 90-100cm long) can be found on the Tibetan plateau, while the delicate Tibetan gazelle roams the vast range lands in eastern Ladakh, bordering Tibet.