To explore this place, the assistance of the Ladakh travel guide will be helpful. On the other hand, to get close to the real beauty of the place, it is important to have a brief knowledge about the climate, attractions, cuisines, shopping centres, lakes and monasteries.

Ladakh is undoubtedly the favorite choice of nature lovers and tourists looking for an exciting adventure. Ladakh buzzes with tourists as it ticks all the right boxes - themes such as religion, adventure, and nature; the perfect mix of local attractions and a local population that is eager to welcome you. Apart from this, the place is also blessed with exotic wildlife. During the peak season from May to August, the serenity of the place attracts tourists from all round the globe. Located in the northern states of India, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh stretches on the Karakoram mountain range and Himalayas. The towns, lakes, snowy peaks, monasteries, passes and wildlife are some of the major attractions of the place. Further, the picturesque beauty adds a mesmerizing backdrop to the trip to Ladakh.

Reaching Ladakh:


To reach Ladakh, there are direct flights from Srinagar, Delhi, and Chandigarh to Leh airport. Road travel from Srinagar takes two days to reach Ladakh with an overnight stay at Kargil. The approximate distance from Srinagar is 434 kilometres. Travelling via road to Leh from Srinagar, you’ll see attractions like Spituk Gompa and passes like Fotu La and Namika La that exhibit the serenity of the place. Apart from this, Ladakh could also be reached from Manali crossing Baralacha La and Rohtang passes. This requires a night’s stay at Sarchu Serai. On next day, passes like Lachulung La and Tanglang La are traveled on the way to Leh via Upshi. Moreover, on the way to Ladakh by road ( http://www.lehladakhindia.com/ladakh-by-road ), one can also explore various old monasteries and structures of Buddha.

Monasteries:
Ladakh has ancient monasteries that belong to either of the Buddhist sects, Hinayana or Mahayana. The Hemis Monastery is the most famous in Ladakh and is also the largest amongst the popular monasteries of Ladakh. During the annual Hemis festival that takes place during the months of June-July, the place is full of tourists from all across the globe. This festival is of great significance as this denotes the celebration of the birthday of Guru Padmasambhava. To explore the cultural heritage of Ladakh, this is the best time to visit. The Hemis Monastery becomes the converging point of the locals and the tourists to enjoy the celebration with great feasts.

Lakes:

Ladakh - the cold desert - has a lot to offer and admire because of it’s natural setting. The Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and the trekking passes, together with the beautiful lakes, make this place a heavenly bliss to explore. The lakes also reflect the colors of nature as every new hour of the day passes. You can spend the entire day gazing at the emerald green color or the velvet blue color of the lakes. The best time to visit and experience the serene beauty of the lakes is in the months of May to July. The three lakes, Tsomoriri, Pangong Tso, and Tsokar, are frozen during the harsh winters. The ice is so solid that the lakes could be considered as highways.

Shopping:

Ladakh also offers excellent options for shopping. The shawls, stones and other woolen garments made of Pashmina are must-buy articles. Handmade gloves, sweaters, caps and socks are also an attractive feature for the shoppers. Apart from this, Tibetan handicraft such as Buddhist masks, prayer wheels and Thangka paintings can also be bought. Traditional Ladakhi turquoise jewelry is very popular with the tourists. As a delicious souvenir of Apricots could also be bought from this market.

Cuisines:

The local Ladkahi food is undeniably scrumptious, but, along with it, there are options of international cuisines available. The well-furnish food joints and restaurants offer a good selection of cuisines including Tibetan, Korean, Chinese, Kashmiri, Indian, Italian and German. Further, to accompany the meat dishes, are various vegetables such as beans, potatoes, beetroots and pumpkins which are prepared in varieties of different ways.

For more information about destinations, lakes, monasteries and attractions visit - http://www.lehladakhindia.com The author of this article - Neelam Talreja - is a travel writer with a keen interest in writing about incredible destinations. Her observations are detailed as all articles are written after thorough research.