Ladakh Calling

In addition to the warm hospitality and mesmerizing landscapes, there are many reasons why you should plan a trip to Ladakh this year

- Subhasish Chakraborty

Ladakh lies between latitudes 30 degree to 36 degree east, and longitudes 76 degree to 79 degree north. It is spread out over an area encompassing all of 96,701 sq km with a population of just 2 lakhs. First time visitors are hypnotized by the stark, desolate landscape and fascinating cultural milieu that is completely different from anywhere else in India. Everything about the Ladhaki people is unique–their clothes, dialects, religious practices, folklore and tradition, all have been the subject of deep introspection.

Ladakh is often referred to as ‘Little Tibet’ due to its cultural and environmental similarities with Tibet. The villages and hamlets are replete with Buddhist Gompas, wherein thousands of Buddhist monks and hermits are immersed in meditation.

The gates have now been opened by the government and Ladakh today is easily accessible to both Indian and foreign tourists. The picturesque city of Leh has witnessed rapid growth from a sleepy Himalayan town to the present day hub of discerning international tourists seeking the harmonious balm of Buddhism complimented by pristine Alpine flora and fauna.