Ladakh is the most remote region of India. Often celebrated as a last outpost of Tibetan civilization, it is north of the Himalaya, on what is known geographically as the Tibetan Plateau. It is often described in travel literature as a mysterious, inaccessible frontier--a "Little Tibet."
Since 1974 it has been open to outside visitors. It does bear a close cultural as well as geographical resemblance to old Tibet--a Tibet which, though still alive in the hearts of countless Tibetans both inside and outside their country, has physically ceased to exist since the Chinese occupation. Along with Sikkim and Bhutan, and remote parts of Nepal, Ladakh is one of the last places where Tibetan Buddhism* continues to be practiced--uninterrupted for over 1000 years (Janet Rizvi, Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia, 2).
* (All four Tibetan Buddhist lineages - Ngingmapa, Kugandpa, Saskaypa, and Gelugpa - are still practiced in Ladakh.)
An autonomous region of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and Buddhist culture which was established as early as the 2nd century. This has aptly been given the appellation "Little Tibet", as it has strongly been influenced by the culture of Tibet.
Situated in the lap of the great Himalayas at an altitude ranging from 9,000 ft (2,750 m) at Kargil to 25,170 ft (7,672 m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram, Ladakh is bordered by Pakistan in the northwest, Chinese province of Sinking in the north and Tibet in the east. Leh is its capital city that lies at an altitude of 3,500 meters and is famous for its fascinating culture and Buddhist monasteries.
Topographical Highlights
Ladakh means "land of high passes". It is a region in the state of Jammu and Kashmir of Northern India sandwiched between the Karakoram mountain range to the north and the Himalayas to the south.is India’s highest plateau (much of it being over 3,000 m), spanning the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges and the upper Indus River valley.
It is one of the most sparsely populated regions in India. Historically, Ladakh consists of a number of distinct areas, including the fairly populous main Indus valley, the more remote Zanskar (in the south) and Nubra valleys (to the north over Khardung La ), the almost deserted Aksai Chin (under Chinese rule) and Kargil and Suru Valley areas in the west (Kargil being the second most important town in Ladakh). Before partition, Baltistan (now under Pakistani rule) was one of the districts of Ladakh. Skardu was the winter capital of Ladakh while Leh was the summer capital.
The mountain ranges in this region were formed over a period of 45 million years by the folding of the Indian plate into the stationary landmass of Asia. The drift continues and causing frequent earthquakes in the Himalayan region.. The peaks in the Ladakh range are at a medium altitude close to the Zoji-la (5,000-5,500 metres, 16,000 - 18,050 ft), and increase towards south-east, reaching a climax in the twin summits of Nun-Kun (7000 m, 23,000 ft).
FLORA and FAUNA
There are hardly any trees and vegetation in sight in much of Ladakh, except for the few narrow valleys, where wild roses, willow groves and some herbs could be seen. However, above that, due to the rapid decrease in temperature, vegetation becomes stunted and sparse. The fauna of Ladakh have much in common with that of Central Asia generally, and especially those of the Tibetan Plateau. An exception to this are the birds, many of which migrate from the warmer parts of India to spend the summer in Ladakh. For such an arid area, Ladakh has a great diversity of birds — a total of 225 species have been recorded.
Climate
The aridity of Ladakh is due to its location in the rain shadow area of the Great Himalayas, as well as because of its elevation and the radiation of heat from the bare soil. The most striking physical feature of Ladakh, however, is the parallelism of its mountain ranges. In Ladakh, large rivers and their tributaries have carved deep gorges far below their steep banks. However, their water is not of much use, as the terraced fields lie high above the gorges. The region is extremely dry, with rainfall as low as 10 cm each year. The Suru valley receives comparatively higher degree of humidity in the form of heavy winter snowfall due to the cohesion of the snow-covered wall of the Greater Himalayas, and vegetation here is more luxuriant than in Eastern Ladakh. The upper Suru Valley, in particular, has extensive alpine pastures, which attract large flocks of the Bakarwal herdsmen from the Jammu hills every summer.
Places to visit
Ladakh is a beautiful blend of nature, culture and adventure. It is a paradise for nature lovers, culture travelers and adventure seekers. It has enchanting beautiful snow-capped peaks, lush valleys, spectacular waterfalls, and thrilling trekking routes.
It has a number of famous palaces, monasteries and gompas which include the 17th century Leh Palace, Stok Palace, Thiksey Monastery, Likir Monastery, Hemis Gompa, Namgyal Tsemo Gompa and Shanti Stupa.
Ladakh is known for its untouched natural beauty, fascinating colorful culture, amazing Buddhist monasteries and thrilling trekking and hiking trails.
When to Visit
The best time to visit Ladakh is during the summer months (June-August), as winter temperatures may plummet to minus 20 degree Celsius even in Leh. The main trekking season in Ladakh is from the beginning of June to the end of September. During these months the days become hot in low valleys, warm in higher elevations and the nights are cool. From late September to late October the days stay pleasantly warm but get shorter and nights become progressively colder.
How to Reach
The most convenient way to reach Leh Ladakh is through a flight. Flying over the dramatic expanse of the Himalayas with breathtaking mountain views promises to be a truly unforgettable experience.
Before the use of aircrafts, Ladakh could only be reached by road. The main land approach to Ladakh is the 434 km Srinagar-Leh highway, with Kargil en route. For the most part, this road follows the historic trade route, thus giving travellers a glimpse of villages that are historically and culturally important. The most dramatic part of the road journey to Kargil is the ascent up the Zoji La pass (14,000 ft) in the Great Himalayan Range that serves as the gateway to Ladakh. More recently, the Manali-Leh road, crossing several high passes including Tanglang La (18,200 ft), has started serving as a second artery of commuting between Ladakh and the rest of India. To the north lie the Saser La and Karakoram passes, gateways to Central Asia from where trading caravans used to come for many centuries.
Tourism & Adventure
Thanks to the growing mystique of the Himalayas and a burgeoning interest in adventure tourism worldwide, there has been a steady increase in the number of tourists to the Western flank of Ladakh, which comprises several river valleys.
Chief among these are the spectacular valleys of Suru and Zanskar, nestling along the foothills of the main range of the Greater Himalayas; the smaller lateral valleys of Dras and Wakha-Mulbek, as also of Chiktan (still in the restricted zone) constitute important subsidaries. Drained and formed by the southeastern tributaries of the high Indus, these valleys constitute the district of Kargil.
Itinerary
The itinerary of the average tourist to Ladakh begins with a tour of Leh, the ancient capital and principal township of Ladakh. It invariably includes visits to a selection of monasteries located along a stretch of the Central Indus Valley, between the spectacular monastery of Lamayuru in the west and the prestigious establishment of Hemis in the east. Some take to trekking along the lateral valleys, especially in Markha, but few venture out of the confines of the central Indus valley, which represents Ladakh's heartland.
Several outfits in India and abroad organize long treks and tours in the region. There are a select few companies specializing in organizing mountaineering expeditions to the Nun-Kun region and the Zanskar Mountains.
People
The inhabitants of Ladakh are distinct from other parts of India. The faces and physique of Ladakhis, and the clothes they wear are more akin to those of Tibet and central Asia. In eastern and central Ladakh, today’s population seems to be mostly of Tibetan origin. Further west, in and around Kargil, there is much in the people’s appearance that suggests a mixed origin. The Ladakhi people are a hospitable, smiling, hardy lot, friendly and open.
Buddhism reached Tibet from India via Ladakh, and there are ancient Buddhist rock engravings all over the region, even in areas like Drass and the lower Suru Valley which today are inhabited by an exclusively Muslim population.
Islam came from the west. A peaceful penetration, its success was guaranteed by the early conversion of the sub-rulers of Dras, Kargil and the Suru Valley.
These valleys sustain an exclusively agrarian population of about 80,000 people who cultivate the land available along the course of the drainage system, wherever sources for artificial irrigation are available. The majority of the population is Muslim. Descendants of missionaries of Kashmir who introduced Islam, locally called Aghas, still hold sway over the population, perpetuating the faith even as ancient folk traditions with Buddhist and animistic undertones are palpably present. Many folk traditions, particularly those connected with the agricultural cycle, are still followed with subdued reverence.
Villages in Ladakh
In such an inhospitable climate and desert land, a village must centre around a stream. The streams here come from the glaciers of the higher reaches and form parts of rivers most of which eventually flow into the Indus. Wherever a stream roams through a broadening valley, it is possible to lay a series of terraced fields, which can be irrigated in turn by directing the water supply into small artificial water courses.
Tourist Information
The main centres of tourist information in Ladakh are the J&K Tourist Offices at Leh & Kargil; the Kargil office also has a branch at padum (Zanskar). These offices help tourists prepare detailed itineraries to suite different pockets, preferences and time-frames. Tourists going on climbing expeditions, hard trekking, white water rafting etc. are advised to keep the nearest Tourist Office informed of their travel plan and routes:-
Leh
Dy. Director Tourism, Leh-(Ladakh) 194101
Tel: 01982-252297, 252095
Kargil
Tourist Officer, Kargil (Ladakh) 194103
Tel: 01985-232721, 232266 Fax: 01985-232266
or Contact the J&K Tourist Offices at :-
New Delhi
Room No 14/15 Front Wing,
Hotel Janpath,
New Delhi-110001
E-mail: delhi@jktourism.org.
Mumbai
25, North Wing, World Trade Centre,
Cuffee Parade, Colaba, Tel: 22189040.
Fax: 22186172.
Kolkata
12, Chowringhee,
Tel: 22285791. Fax: 22281950.
Chennai
II Floor, 36/36-A
North usman Road,
Tel/Fax: 044-28235958
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