Leh Ladakh Tourist - Information on the town of leh

Leh Ladakh Tour

The largest settlement in Ladakh, and the administrative headquarters of Leh district, Leh has been transformed by its growing popularity on tourist circuits. Small, makeshift hotels crowd its lanes, particularly during the four brief months of summer (June-September), when every spare room in town is available for rent. All a tourist might need — travel agents, internet cafés, and souvenir shops — is available in the main town square. Restaurants feature eclectic menus, with everything from soupy thukpas to chilled frappuccinos.

But Leh is no stranger to the bustle of crowds. For centuries, it was a hub for traders from Kashmir and the lower Himalayan towns and those of Central Asia. Pashmina, or cashmere, for which Kashmir is renowned across the world, would traverse Leh on its way to Srinagar, where it was woven.

The town was built in the 14th century by Khri-gstug-Lde though it attained renown and prosperity as the capital of the Namgyal dynasty (1533-1834) when its founder, Tashi Namgyal, declared Leh his capital. Just 6 kms north of the Indus River, Leh retains a distinct otherworldly air, despite the tourists. At over 3,500 m, the town sits at the feet of low hills with greater peaks rising in the not too far distance. The 9-storeyed Leh Palace watches over the town and is its most well-known attraction. It is certainly an attractive and impressive edifice, and was built in 1600 by Senge Namgyal, nephew of the dynasty's founder, and may have been modeled on Lhasa's 13-storeyed Potala Palace.Such 'royal' architecture shares similar feature, across the region, though Leh Palace is the grandest of all. Like most buildings in Ladakh, Leh Palace is built of stone, mud and poplar wood (a rare commodity and thus used minimally in construction). The palace is built along the sides of a low hill and has a fiat terrace — also typical of the rain-shadow region of Ladakh, where the weather is so dry that sloping roofs are unnecessary. Visitors can climb up to the terrace for beautiful views of the town and landscape. A small prayer room inside enshrines an image of Du-kar — a protective goddess usually identified by a white parasol. Leh Palace is now protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and is being restored.

Leh Ladakh Holiday Tours organised by Swan Tours cover another of Leh's historical treasures is the Jama Masjid in the town's main bazaar. Its pure white façade is flecked with shades of green and blue; while carved wooden and stone decorations, arched windows and its elegant dome and minaret create a pleasing air. The mosque was built by Deldan Namgyal in the 1660s, as part of an agreement with the Islamic rulers of Kashmir, who asked for a mosque to be built in return for helping Ladakh fight off a Tibetan attack.

More modern attractions in Leh include the Shanti Stupa and the War Museum. The Shanti Stupa on Changspa hill, facing Leh Palace, is a little outside town. Visitors can drive up, or climb the 500 steps to the peak, where they will find a white and gold stupa, built by Japanese monks in the 1980s — and inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Shanti Stupa is popular with tourists, and particularly worth visiting around sunset, though its panoramic views of Leh town below are beautiful at any time of day. At night, the stupa is illuminated.

The War Museum building looks a bit like a stupa itself, and is maintained by the Indian Army. With fighter jets, tanks and artillery on display, the museum celebrates the strength and heroism of the Indian armed forces with a particular focus on the battlefield of Siachin.

For more information on tour packages to Leh and other tourist destinations in India , contact Swan Tours - one of the leading best tours and travels in India since 1995.

Leh Ladakh Tour packages