If Ladakh is heaven on Earth, then Leh is the stairway to it. Nested on the Indus River Valley, it is a tiny beautiful town in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, which can be best described as an abode to many Buddhist monasteries. It is a pure representation of magnificent beauty with majestic mountains, crystal-clear water, white sand dunes and surreal landscapes. There are a number of fascinating places in and around this small town that adds on to the experience of a lifetime. What's more interesting is that you can experience short haul trips from Leh, which is certainly a bonus for the travelers.
Best Time to Visit
April ideally marks the beginning of tourist season in Leh and the place becomes lively. The season goes on till the mid of October, which is one of the best times of all for witnessing the amazing and picturesque locations of Leh.
Places to Visit
While in Leh, Shanti Stupa, Thikse Monastery, Hall of Fame,
Leh Palace, Deskit Monastery,
Spituk Monastery, Magnetic Hill and Gurudwara Pathar Sahib are a few must-visit attractions. For compulsive shoppers and explorers, the Mall Road and the Tibetan market of Leh have various shops selling souvenirs, antiques, curios and many other items including Pashmina, for which Leh is renowned. With all this and more, you are assured to get lured to this place and the variety of things it has to offer.
Hotels in Leh are famous for their hospitality.
Food and Restaurants
While Leh has everything to make your vacation the perfect getaway you wished for, the food here is no exception. While strolling down the streets of Mall road, there are a number of restaurants and cafes, where you can find a variety of food to treat your taste-buds. If you’re looking for a scrumptious bite of local Ladakhi food, then Khambir and Skyu should be in the top of your list. Well, Ladakhi is not the only preferred cuisine here, apart from it, some amazingly-prepared Kashmiri Wazwan, Tibetan, Israeli, North Indian and Chinese cuisines are also the options available. Bon Appetit, The Tibetan Kitchen, Gesmo Restaurant, Norlakh Restaurant are some of the recommendations. Also, Leh stands out for a couple of German Bakeries, which is a bonus for people with a sweet-tooth.
Transportation
The most convenient means to travel to Leh is via flight. There are regular domestic flights from Delhi to
Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL), Leh.
Flights to Leh also have connections from Jammu,
Chandigarh and Srinagar. Cheap flight tickets from here to other popular cities can be booked online on Goibibo. Also, flight status & other details related to
flight booking & air tickets can be easily accessed on it. So for
cheapest air tickets, it is recommended to book flights online. A road trip to Leh is a venturesome approach for those who love thrills. Via road, Leh connects to the rest of India by two high-altitude roads, i.e The Srinagar-Leh Highway via Kargil and the Manali-Leh Highway. Chandigarh and Pathankot are the possible railway stations you can get down at, if you are planning to travel via Manali-Leh route. However, Jammu or Udhampur will be the last railway stops, if you wish to drive via Srinagar-Kargil to Leh.
