About Leh

Leh, a remote yet an important part of India is located in Jammu & Kashmir State. The district holds a significant position because of its location near the border. Apart from being visited by thousands of tourists who get enthralled with the scintillating beauty of Leh, the district is also an important army base of our country. Still doing justice to its part glory over the centuries, Leh is a place that has rich culture and heritage.


This district is administered by LAHDC and has 30 councilors. This article will provide an overview of all aspects of this second largest district of India.

History of Leh

In the past, Leh was called by different names like Maryul. The initial inhabitants of this region were Dards. The region was highly influenced by Buddhism but during early 16th Century AD, the region was under the influence of Muslim rulers and as a result Islam became the main religion of Leh and its surrounding area. Singge Namgyal became the king of Leh in the middle of 16th Century. Important monuments like palaces, monasteries etc. were built during the rule of Namgyal rulers. Leh became an independent district of Jammu & Kashmir when the state became part of India after independence. With time, infrastructure, roads and transport facilities have improved and Leh became an important district in the northern India in terms of tourism, trade and security. Read More Here.

Geography of Leh

Leh District is located between 32-36°N Latitude and 75-80°E Longitude. The district has an altitude ranging between 2300 m to 5000 m. The north and east of the district is surrounded by China and on the southeast of Leh lies Lahul-Spiti , Himachal Pradesh. Leh is located about 434 KM from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir.


The district has three mountain ranges passing through it namely Karakoram, Zanskar, and Ladakh. The river Zanskar and Shayok flow between these mountain ranges and play important role for the people of Leh as most of them have agriculture as their occupation. Read More Here.

Climate of Leh

Leh gets dry monsoon winds and the area gets climatic condition similar to that of cold desert. Annual precipitation of the region is about 10 m in a year. The wind is dry and humidity ranges between 6-24%. The temperature becomes 35°C during summers and –40°C during winters. Leh is the home of diverse flora and fauna that are primarily found in Tibetan Mountains and Central Asia.
 

Entertainment in Leh

Leh has many entertainment options for the tourists as well as for the residents. Adventure sports like trekking, mountaineering, camping, water rafting, mountain biking, Yak Safari, Jeep Safari are the various adventure sports available in Leh. Shopping at various emporiums and market places, eating and chilling out at restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries and fast food centers are various entertainment activities you can enjoy in Leh. Read More Here.

Art & Culture of Leh

Leh has rich heritage and culture. The land is also known as land of monasteries. The main religion of this region is Buddhism. The next dominant religion is the Islam. Hindus and Christians also inhabit this district but there numbers are less. The main language spoken by the people here is the Ladakhi Language except the people living in Dha-Hanu Valley. The traditional dances of Leh are Shondol, Jabro, and Kamp Sumsak .The famous folk songs of this region are Tallu, Zunglu, Alley Yato and marriage songs. Wooden boxes, tables, chairs and other items are the traditional craft work of this region. Hand woven woolen items, pashmina works are also inseparable part of arts and crafts of Leh.



Many important festivals and events are organized in Leh. They are Leh Music Festival, Losar, Tampe Chonga, Jipe Chonga, Buddha Purnima, Sindhu Darshan, Hemis Tsechu and others. Read More Here.

Tourist Places in Leh

Leh houses many attractive tourist attractions and many of them date back to ancient days.


These tourist places are:

• Leh Palace
• Shanit Stupa
• Jama Masjid
• Hemis Gompa
• War Museum
• Gurudwara Pathar Sahib
• Chamba Temple
• Tsemo Gompa
• Tsemo Fort
• Stok Palace
• Zorawar Fort
• Pangong Lake
• Hunder Valley
• Alchi Monastery
• Nubra Valley

Read More Here

Transport in Leh

Leh being located in very remote place amongst the steep mountain ranges, it is difficult to reach Leh smoothly throughout the year. Highways have made it easy to reach Leh by road from Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and other parts of Jammu & Kashmir. National highway 1D and Leh-Manali Highway are important roadways through which travelers can approach Leh. Bus services run by state transports of Jammu & Kashmir State and Himachal Pradesh State are very frequent. Many private bus operators are there that run buses of all types between Leh and some important towns of north India. Rail services cannot take you to Leh as there is no railway station in Leh. The nearest railway stations of Leh are Pathankot and Chandigarh.


Airways are the only means of transport to reach Leh during winters. Air India, Jet Airways and Go Air have flights running between Leh and places like New Delhi, Srinagar and Jammu. Leh can be reached by taxis, jeeps and trucks. Many travel between Leh and Manali by bikes. Bike traveling is quite popular among the youngsters. Read More Here.

Industries in Leh

Leh has many small and medium scale industries that play important role for the development of economy and growth of the district and thereby the entire state. Army and par-Military establishments cement factory, local handloom and handicraft industries are popular industries of Leh. Tourist industry is also playing significant role in the economic growth of Leh. Agro based industry like fruit based products and organic products are also important industries of Leh. Tourists buy souvenirs, handlooms and handicrafts, semi-precious jewelry items, fruit based products in great numbers thereby help the industries of Leh to prosper.  Banking, IT and Communication are also important industries of Leh. Read More Here.

Leh Fact File

Total Area: 44,000 sq Km
Latitude: 32-36° N
Longitude: 75-80° E
Altitude: 2900-5900 M
Temperature Range: 35°C to – 35°C
Population: 1, 17,637
Literacy Rate: 62.24%
Male: 61%
Females: 39%
Tehsils: 3
Lakes: Pangong, Tsokar, Tsomoriri
Mountain Ranges: Ladakh, Zanskar, Karakuram
Rivers: Zanskar, Shayok, Indus