Ladakh India Tourism
LADAKH is a mysterious land shrouded in myth and legend.Much of its ancient
history is known only through the mythology of its people as its written
history is of very recent origin.Known for centuries as the 'land of passes'
(La-pass;Dakh-land),Ladakh was described by Fa-hian,who travelled across
its inhospitable terrain in 399 A.D.,as 'The land where snow never melts
and only corn ripens'.
Its landscapes are forbidding by any measure.Snow-swathed mountains rise
to several thousand feet above one of the most elevated plateux on earth.A
treeless wind-swept country, much of Ladakh can be termed as mountains,Arctic
desert,where everything is parched bt the rarefied dryness of the atmosphere.
Scattered here and there, a few narrow fertile valleys provide a stark contrast
to an otherwise barren,beautiful country of intense sunlight and clear sparkling
air.The limpidity of the atmosphere, in fact gives the night sky a unique
clarity, so full and bright with stars that one feels transported to some
etheral setting far removed from earth.
For endless years, mad had even discovered this remote land,several hardy
animals and birds lived together here in an exquisite equilibrium.Circumstances
have now changed as they have almost everywhere else on the subcontinent.Today,Ladakh's
flora and fauna are threatened and protection is vital if the ancient ecosystems
are to survive the trauma of modern man.
Through the fabric of this account runs a strong statement,that the armed
forces possible contribution to conservation remains untapped.Harnessing
this vital potential force may be the single most important conservation
advance India could make in the battle to save what remains of its natural
wealth.
Major Tourist Destinations LADAKH is situated between 30 degree to 36 degree
east latitude and 76 degree to 79 degree north longitude. The region of
Ladakh spread over to an area of 96,701 Sq.Kms and comprising a population
of 2 Lakhs habitants and consists of two districts,Leh and Kargil.
The region of Ladakh normally remains land locked between November to June
every year as Srinagar-Ladakh and Ladakh- Monali highways,which connect
Ladakh with the other parts of the country, remain closed during this period
because of snow and rigorous winter.Ladakh is also the land of many lakes
and springs.
Among the springs,the famous are the sulphar springs of Panamic(Nobra),
Chumathang and Puga of Changthang ,which are famous for early curing of
joints/rheumatic diseases. Many mineral springs are also found in some remote
parts of Ladakh. People of region use the spring water as medicine to prevent
and cure themselves from many diseases.
The important lakes which fall within the jurisdiction of Ladakh are Pangong
lake (150 Kms.long, 4 Kms.wide situated at a height of 14,000 ft.).Tsomoriri
lake, (Tsokar means salty lake). Since ancient times till the end of 1959
salt was being extricated from this particular salty lake for human consumption.Ladakh
has two districts namely Leh and Kargil which stand in contrast with each
other in terms of geography and climate.
The great Himalaya mountain,lying to the south ,forms a barrier to monsoon
in this area. Due to this region Ladakh is an isolated cold desert region.
Altitude in Ladakh varies from place to place and is the main factor affecting
local climate. The winter temp.touches as low as minus 30 degree(Leh &
Kargil) and minus 60 degree in (Drass) subzero temp. prevails from December
to February throughout Ladakh,whereas,zero degree temp. is experienced during
rest of winter months.
This result in freezing of all conceivable water resources.During summer
the maximum temp.increases from 20 degree C to 38 degree C in July and August.The
relative humidity is low and ranges from 31 to 64 percent.Wind velocity
in the afternoon and nights is of high order resulting in heavy soil errosion
with dust storm and snow blizzards which make life very difficult.
Due to longer winters, the agriculture season is short and spread over from
April to September depending upon the climate.The main river of Ladakh is
Indus,which flows in a north-west direction between Ladakh and Zanskar ranges.It
is joined by several major rivers like Zanskar,Suru and Shayok before it
reaches Pakistan.
Ladakh India Tourism, North India Tourism Reservation Form