Leh: At the Top of the World

               

The first stop for most travellers in Ladakh is Leh town. Wisely so. It is at a lower altitude than many other attractions, allowing one to acclimatize better. For those flying in, Leh has the only airport in Ladakh, thus making it natural for the journey to start and end here. This is also where you pick your Inner Line Permits for exploring other areas of Ladakh.


What do you do here? The town and its surroundings can keep you busy for days or even weeks. Here is a selection - monasteries have been excluded from this essay.

The Shey Palace: Leh was not the first capital of Ladakh; it was Shey when it was so selected in the 10th century by Palgyigon. Located 15 kms (10 miles) east of Leh, Shey village is quiet, clean and sparsely populated. Relish its lush meadows along the Indus in the summer, with rare birds for company. The original Shey Palace has seen expansions over time. The current structure was built by Deldan Namgyal, who resided here for most of his reign in the mid-17th century. From Shey Palace, you get some stunning views of the glittering sunset skies. You know exactly where to head to in the evening.