She is mesmeric, yet dangerous! She can be breathtaking one second, and so daunting the next ! A land of magic, mystique?that is Ladhak. A land which is encircled by stark awe-inspiring mountains with the cold desert beyond? Ladhak captivates and touches every being?. The shy smiles that you see on the faces of the people you meet here, just add to her serene and mystic charm. She evokes a magic spell and carries you on an experience of a lifetime?Ladhak is a discovery waiting to happen. Come! Indulge!

History
Ladakh was a kingdom in its own right since the 10th century. Under King Singge Namgyal, Ladakh flourished and rose to fame as a travel junction. Caravans carrying textiles, spices, raw silk, carpets, and narcotics from Amritsar to the Central Asian towns of Yarkand and Khotan would pass by Leh. In fact, Leh was the midway stop, and developed into a bustling commercial settlement.

The famous pashmina shawl (or cashmere) proved to be the undoing of Ladakh. Originating in the high-altitude plateaux of eastern Ladakh and western Tibet, through Leh, to Srinagar, skilled artisans transformed this precious wool into shawls of unbelievable softness and warmth. As Ladakh?s fame grew with the popularity of the pashmina, it also garnered the unwelcome attention of Gulab Singh, the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir. The year 1834 saw the annexation of Ladakh into the newly formed state of Jammu and Kashmir, under British occupation at the time. A century later Ladakh saw itself being partitioned into Baltistan, which became a part of Pakistan, while Ladakh remained in India as part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

How to Reach
Air
There are regular flights to Leh from Delhi and Srinagar, and less frequently from Chandigarh and Jammu. However, as the weather is unpredictable, a two-three hourr hold-up is normal, especially on the early morning departures. Opt for a window seat as there is a visual fiesta awaiting you.

Road
There are two land routes to Ladakh: from Srinagar and from Manali. The J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&K SRTC) operates deluxe and regular buses between Srinagar and Leh, with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis are also available at Srinagar and Leh for the journey.

On the Leh- Manali route, both J&K as well HP Tourism operate deluxe and ordinary buses. The journey takes about 19 hours or two days, with an overnight halt in camps with basic facilities. The road routes are open for traffic from early June to mid-November.

Train
There is no rail head in Ladakh. Passengers will have to get off at Kalka station (Shimla), proceed to Manali via bus and then reach Leh by taking a taxi/bus from Manali.

Religious Places
Monasteries
Ladakh is dotted with plenty of monasteries. Lamayuru is the oldest monastery, where the pre-Buddhist religion known as Bon was practiced. The Namgyal kings founded the monasteries of Phiyang, Hemis and Chemrey. The most interesting is Phiyang, built as an act of repentance by the 16th century King Tashi Namgyal for the bloodshed he caused in order to ascend the throne.

Hemis and Hanle were commissioned by King Singge Namgyal, while his widow founded Chemrey in her husband?s memory. An interesting visit is to Tak-thok, situated at the foot of the Chang-la Pass, where the Indian Buddhist apostle Padmasambhava is said to have rested and meditated on his journey to Tibet. The brightest star in this galaxy of monasteries is Alchi. It was once a busy and revered place of worship; today it is being carefully preserved by the monks of Likir, the nearest functioning monastery. When you visit Chos-kor, or the religious enclave, you will get to see five temples, with intricate and rich paintings dating back to the 11/12th centuries. Some of them bear strong resemblance to the paintings of the Ajanta Caves.

Quick Escapes
Thiksay Monastery
Belonging to the Gelukpa order, Thiksay is strikingly beautiful and is 18 km from Leh. Atop a hill, don?t miss peeping at the Indus flowing below.

Hemis Monastery
About 47 km from Hemis is a thronged by tourists and it?s easy to see why. It stands within a gorge surrounded by thick woods, and the Indus hurrying nearby. It is also the wealthiest monastery in Ladakh.

Tso Moriri
This clear lake surrounded by mountains is 217 km from Leh. The distance demands you stay overnight; accommodation is in tents and a few cottages.

Pangong Tso
Shared by India and China, this lake is 143 km away. There is no accommodation available.