The scenic beauty of this northern center is incomparable. But these desert lands hold a mystical aura which is hard to miss. This mysterious atmosphere surrounding the city make the experience of visiting Leh much more interesting. Here are some interesting things to know about Leh, Ladakh,
There is a hill in Leh, Ladakh that defies the fundamental principles of Physics. Gravity pulls the things towards the center of the earth,but here when parked at a fixed point the vehicles are pulled upwards making it either an illusion or a wonder of nature.
This is a thousand-year-old sect with Gyalwang Drukpa being its leader. A large group of ladies, mostly under the age of 25, can be seen practicing Kung-Fu in the Drukpa nunnery in Ladakh. It is referred to as the home to a self-empowered branch of feminist Buddhism that not only promote Kung-Fu among the nuns but they also trained regularly and a lot of them have achieved black belts. The nuns are taught how to drive, and lead prayer. They are also made able to perform basic skills that include plumbing, typing, cycling, and fluency in English language.
The Bactrian camel or famously known as the Two- Humped Camel is a large, even-toed hoofed native of this region. This rare specie of camels is only found in Ladakh and no other place in India. Their contradictory characteristic than the regular single-humped camels make them a leading attraction in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh.
The blue and magical Pangong Lake's name originates from the Tibetian dictionary which means high grassland lake. It is located almost 4,350 meters above the sea level in the Himalayas. It is the world's highest saltwater lake. Pangong lake is also a famous attraction as it changes colour. It is known to shift between different hues blue, green, grey and sometimes even red! It is 162 kilometres long. Seventy percent of its length flows through China and thirty percent through India. Interestingly, despite being a salty lake it completely freezes in the winters. This lake is also a famous shooting location for Bollywood movies. It has been featured in many blockbuster movies and has since become an even more famous tourist spot.
At least 2 festivals are held in Leh each month. Leh, Ladakh is genuinely the land of festivals. These festivals include traditional dancing, singing, and people covering their faces in colourful masks. A very strong refection of Buddhism and Tibetian culture can be observed during their festivals. It does not matter what time of the year you choose to visit Leh, you can enjoy or even be part of the festivities. The festivals show case everything from dance, drama, and processions. This makes the festivals rich and unique. Some of the most famous festivals include Losar festival and Hemis festival. The year begins with Losar festival as it is held in the celebration of the new year of the lunisolar Tibetian calender. Another very famous festival is the Hemis festival. It takes place at the Hemis monastery. It is held in the celebration of the birth anniversary of their spiritual leader, Padmasambhava.
The Northern most state of India is the state of Jammu Kashmir. So, it makes Leh, Ladakh the highest plateau region in the state of Jammu Kashmir. The plateau is over 3,000 meters and extends from the Himalayas to the Kunlun Ranges and it also includes the upper Indus River valley. It is so high in altitude that it feels as if you can touch the clouds with your bare hands from up there!
Regardless of the severe weather conditions, as the temperature remains below zero almost the entire month, January is the most popular month for all the keen travellers for the Chadar-Trek. It takes place on the Zanskar river, which is frozen during this time, in Leh. It usually starts late-December, early January and few lots even go on till February. The trek is considered the hardest one in India. It is also featured in the top 10 Hardest treks in the world. For all the hikers, the Chadar-Trek is once in a lifetime opportunity and a dream that the hikers not only from India, but from all over the world hope to achieve.
The most famous historic site is probably the Leh Palace Of The 17th Century AD. It is one of the most well known sites in Leh Ladakh. King Senegge Namgyal built this magnificent palace in 17th century AD. It is a royal palace with massive collections of treasures which include jewellery, ornaments, ceremonial dresses and crowns which are intact to this day and are kept in the museum of the palace. It has made into one of the most famous restored sites of Archaeological survey of India. Where Leh, Ladakh is known as the &;Roof of Earth;, this grand and magnificent nine storeyed palace is named the & Roof Of Leh..
Situated at 4,500 meters above sea level, the Indian Astronomical Observatory locates at Hanle is the second-highest optical telescope in the world. It is far away from the polluted urban cities and on such high altitude, that it gives crystal view of the various constellations of the Milky Way. Thise place is on top of the list of the best places for stargazing in India. The atmosphere is so clear that you could even photograph from the famous Pangong Lake and see the magical view in the reflection of the lake and in the brilliant night sky lit entirely by the light of stars.
