Ladakh ("land of high passes") Situated in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south. Ladakh, which is inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and ethnic Tibetan, is one of the most sparsely populated regions in the area.

The Ladakhi language belongs to the western Tibetan dialect of the Sino-Tibetan language family.

Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and culture. It is sometimes called "Little Tibet" as it has been strongly influenced by Tibetan culture. Historically, Ladakh was a Buddhist kingdom which included Baltistan and Aksai Chin which are now administered by Pakistan and China respectively. It had a strategic location at the crossroads of major trade routes, but since the Chinese authorities closed the borders with Tibet and Central Asia in the 1960s, international trade has dwindled except for tourism. Since 1974 the Indian Government has successfully encouraged tourism in Ladakh. Ladakh has been a focal point of numerous wars between India and Pakistan and the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The Saltoro ridge in the Siachen glacier region is an active military zone even today.

Today Ladakh consists of two districts — Leh and Kargil. The largest town in Ladakh is Leh. A majority of Ladakhis are Tibetan Buddhists and the rest are mostly Shia Muslims.Some Ladakhi activists have in recent times called for Ladakh to be constituted as a union territory because of its religious and cultural differences with predominantly Muslim Kashmir.

Quite unlike other regions in the Indian Himalaya, Ladakh experiences nine months of winter and three months of summer.The best time to visit Ladakh is in the summer - from early June to end September.Beyond that period , temperatures plunge to sub-Arctic levels and the region gets too cold for comfort.By October most of the trekking routes in the higher altitude areas are closed on account of heavy snowfall.
 
Another good reason to visit Ladakh during the summer months is that this is the time when some of Ladakh's most important Gompas or Budhist monastries host their spectacular annual festivals.

Ladakh Travel By Air

Airline services (Indian Airlines and Jet Airway)operate regular scheduled flights to Leh from Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar. From Jammu there are two flights in week and from Srinagar one in a week. 

Ladakh Travel By Road

There are two options to reach Leh by road. The first is 434-km Srinagar-Leh road, which remains open for traffic from early June to November is the main land route to Ladakh. The most dramatic part of this road journey is the ascent up the 11,500 feet /3,505 m high Zoji-la. 

The J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&KSRTC) operates regular Deluxe and Ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this route with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis, cars and jeeps are also available at Srinagar for the journey. Groups can charter deluxe and A-class buses for Leh, Kargil or Padum (Zanskar) from the J and K SRTC at Srinagar. If you decide to drive on this route yourself, you should spare a couple of days around Kargil for acclimatisation.

The second route is the 473-km Manali-Leh road which has been serving as the second land approach to Ladakh. The Manali - Leh road weaves in and out among the mighty snow-clad peaks of the Western Himalayas over a stretch of nearly 485 kms. The road is open from mid-July to mid-October every year, depending on weather conditions. 

The Manali-Leh Route

Rohtang Pass - 51 kms from Manali

Manali is the starting point of this dramatic journey and Rohtang Pass(13,000 ft/3,978 m), 51 kms away is the first important milestone on the Manali - Leh road as it is the gateway to the Lahaul and Spiti valleys. 

Keylong - 44km from Rohtang Pass On its way to Keylong- the highest jeepable road and 115 kms from Manali, this important road, which was once part of the ancient trade route between India and Central Asia, wends its way through breathtaking mountain views via the Rohtang Pass, Gramphoo, Kokhsar, Sissu, Gondla, Tandi. One can also reach Kaza, the main town of Lahaul and Spiti

Bara Lachha Pass - 72 kms from Keylong 

Onward the road moves to the Bara Lachha Pass (height: 4892m /16,050ft), 73 kms from Keylong. Beyond this steep pass lies Sarchu, 43 kms away, in the adjoining state of Jammu and Kashmir. Now the trail hits the highest regions of Ladakh. 

Zanskar Range- 43 km from Bara Lachha Pass

A camping ground in Zanskar, litle before Sarchu, Phalang-danda (a giant rock) marks the boundary between Lahaul and Zanskar. Sarchu has wide open places and treks to Phirtse la starts from here. Just 54 kms, ahead of' Sarchu the road crosses Tsarap Chu over a bridge. Then it climbs up to Lachalang la Pass( 16,600 ft/5,059m) Nearly 87 kms from Lachalang la pass is the Tanglang la pass-the highest point on this road. This pass is difficult to negotiate. By crossing this pass one enters the Central Ladakh. 

Upshi - 

60 kms ahead of Tanglang La pass is Upshi--A junction on the Indus. The road bifurcates from here towards Rupshu and for Demchok, and little ahead at Kiari for Chang la. 

Leh - 50 kms from Upshi 

Leh - Headquarters of Ladakh, well known tourist spot with an airstrip is above 50 kms from Upshi.The roads leads to Khardung la (in north) and to Kargil (in west). Tourism, H.P. SRTC and J&K SRTC operate Deluxe and Ordinary bus services between Manali and LEH. The bus journey between Leh and Manali takes about 19 hours or two days with an overnight halt in camps at Serchu or Pang. Gypsy and jeep taxis are also available, both at Manali and Leh. 

Internal Transport

There are numerous public buses in Ladakh, which ply on fixed routes according to fixed time schedules. However, the most comfortable and convenient though expensive mode of travel, is by taxis, cars, and Gypsy, which are available for hire on fixed point-to-Point tariff. For visits to the newly opened areas of Nubra, Changthang and Dah-Hanu it is mandatory to engage the services of a registered/recognized travel agency for making all the requisite arrangements including internal transport. Detailed information about bus schedules, taxi tariff, travel agencies, etc. can be obtained from the Tourist Office.