Leh Ladakh

Editor's Note

They call it "Little Tibet", not just because of its geographical proximity to Tibet, but also because it plays host to several Tibetan cultural festivals. Ladakh might be India's most remote region, but its beauty is incomparable. Stark mountains dotted with colourful gompas (monasteries), fluttering prayer flags, rocky ridges, dry plains and tiny settlements. And adding to its beauty is the Indus River that seems to have a different shade for every season. During summer it turns grayish, owing to its silt deposits, occasionally turning a shade of violet. Autumn turns it the most beautiful - shades of aquamarine waters flowing through orange-flamed poplars and weeping willows. Of course, the weather might at times play havoc with your plans, but really, the aura of this land would leave you awestruck. More than sheer tourism, the years have witnessed Ladakh emerging as a highly acclaimed adventure ground. From options of high-altitude scenic treks to river rafting in the Indus and Zanskar River, the last Shangri La's remoteness is what creates the magic that drives tourists here.