Leh travel guide - Wikitravel http://wikitravel.

org/en/Leh

From Wikitravel
Earth : Asia : South Asia : India : Himalayan North : Jammu and Kashmir : Ladakh : Leh

Leh is the heart of

the Leh district
and capital of
Ladakh in the state
of Jammu and
Kashmir, India.

Understand
Leh is located in
the Indus river
valley at a
crossroads of the
old trading routes
from Kashgar,
Tibet, and
Kashmir. Its Leh
importance as a
trading town
slowed down with the partition of British India, and ended with the closure of the
border in 1962 during the Sino-Indian war. Since opening to tourists in 1974, it has
become a bustling tourist town, with large numbers of Kashmiri traders.

It's a small town, easy to get most places by foot. The old town is a compact area of
mud brick houses and narrow lanes directly to the east of Main Bazar. Changspa is the
agricultural "suburb" northwest of the center, with many guesthouses.

The main Bazaar's elevation is 3505 meters , so take it easy on your first few days
there or risk possible altitude sickness. Even experienced high altitude travellers
(Andes) might have some trouble.

Get in
There are two roads in to Leh, one from Manali in Himachal Pradesh in the south, and
one from Srinagar in the west. Both routes are equally spectacular in different ways,
and both are time consuming with winding, narrow roads, and numerous military
checkpoints.

The main advantage of taking the road from Srinagar, covering a distance of 434 km
(270 mi), is that it runs at a lower altitude, and thereby reduces the risk and severity of
altitude sickness. It is also open longer - normally from the beginning of June to
October - and follows the traditional trade route between Ladakh and Kashmir, which

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passes through many picturesque villages and farmlands. The disadvantage is that it
passes through areas of higher risk of militant troubles. It takes two long days, with an
overnight stop in Kargil. Tickets cost Rupees 370/470 on ordinary/deluxe buses.

The route from Manali to Leh, covering a distance of 473 km (294 mi), is one more
commonly taken by tourists. It takes two days, normally with an overnight stop either
in Keylong (alt. 3096) or in tent accommodation in Sarchu (4253) or Pang (4500).
Making the first stop in Keylong drastically reduces the risk of altitude sickness
(AMS). It traverses one of the highest road passes in the world and is surrounded by
wild rugged mountains. The scenery is fantastic, though it is definitely not for the
faint hearted. This historical trade route was linked to Yarkhand and was severed by
the India-China war in 1962, and later was transformed in to military supply road.
Reliable access is limited from mid-June to end-September, as it is blocked by snow
for rest of the year.

Clearing of snow on both these roads starts sometime in early April. Once the whole
road is cleared of snow and has been opened for public transport, this is announced at:
[1] (http://leh.nic.in/)

By bus

State buses run from Srinagar and also privately operated deluxe buses.From Manali
HPTDC,( Himachal Pradesh Tourist Development Corporation), operate Deluxe buses
that stop overnight in Keylong ,between July and September. HPTDC start at 09:00
from Manali to Leh, 18:30 from Delhi to Manali. Cost Rs 2400 for good bus for
Manali-Leh, Rs 1300 from Delhi to Manali prices here (http://www.hptdc.nic.in
/trans.htm).HRTC , Himachal Road Transport Corporation, the state run buses ply the
road during the officially open period, allowing you to stop in a number of places
along the way. Total cost Rs. 130 (Manali-Keylong) + Rs 513(Keylong-Leh) . Private
buses stop in Keylong , Darcha or Sarchu - the last alternative (eight hundred meters
higher than Leh ) involving a high incidence of altitude sickness. There is also a direct
bus from Manali to Leh, which takes around 24 hours. This route is not advisable as it
dramatically increases the likelihood of altitude sickness. On some buses late booking
passengers end up having a wooden bench instead of more comfortable seats, with no
seatbelts, and will be repeatedly banging their head for the whole journey. Sleep is
next to impossible, and by the end of the journey even the most hardy of passengers in
this position will have lost the will to live. Drivers also have a tendency to cut corners;
on one particular journey our driver drove down a muddy hill, before we got stuck and
were forced to dig ourselves out in the freezing dark for two hours before we could
continue. Notwithstanding, the views on this route are spectacular. It is possible to
book tickets direct Delhi-Leh , but the best option is to break off the journey in Manali
and at the lower end of Lahaul : Sissu , Keylong (main population center) or Jispa - all
around 3100 altitude.

Similar options are available while coming back from Leh. However, if you are going
to Srinagar, the major part of the journey will take place at night and you may not be
able to enjoy the scenery. The journey takes about 15 hours, starting at 5PM in the
evening for shared cabs. Different cabs have different times but most would stick to 4
PM to 7PM slot. The approximate price is Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2300 as in August,2014.

Cab journey to Manali takes 18 hours and starts in the wee hours of morning at about

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1 AM or so. Again, different cabs have different times close to 1 AM.

By jeep

The fastest way to get to Leh from Manali is by 'jeep'. Shared jeeps do the trip in one
long day (of about 20-24 hours) as opposed to two short ones on the bus. Keep in
mind that that all single day rides comes with a risk of being stranded near five
thousand meters without being acclimatized , with severe altitude sickness as a result.
The journey costs up to Rs 1500 for a seat on a shared jeep. During the high season
tickets for the jeep rides must be bought in advance of the day of departure and the
main street in old Manali is full of ticket touts, you won't have to find them for
yourself.

Leaving Manali before dawn, arrival in Leh is sometime after sunset. Although this is
the longest and most uncomfortable car journey you will ever take it's an experience
unparalleled in India. Crossing overthe five thousand meter passes affords views of
stunning and the bizarre territory. It is advised to take a front seat in the jeep and by
NO MEANS allow yourself to be seated in the boot. These seats (in the boot) are
inward facing and 24 hours sitting on one of those will take all the pleasure out of the
trip.

A privately hired jeep allows the luxury of stopping wherever you like, and allow you
to decide on how many people you will travel in your group. If you have a group of
five, or can form one with other travellers, this is the most recommended way to get to
Leh. While it might be one of the most expensive things you book in the whole of
India (around 3000 rupees), the ability to stop whenever you want, take your time and
be comfortable for the whole journey is definitely worth it. On the uncomfortable and
lengthy bus ride the experience can often be ruined. It is at least worth taking a private
jeep on one of your journeys to really get a level of appreciation for the spectacular
scenery at your own pace. Try to find a driver who is not in a hurry and wouldn't mind
doing frequent stops.

If you are coming from Srinagar, go to #1 taxi stand in town. Book only your seat on
sumo taxi jeep to Kargil for Rs. 500. Stay overnight. Book your seat for Leh from
Kargil and pay 400 rupees upon arrival in Leh. Get them to drop you at Fort Road
which is the heart of the tourist area and accommodation is close by. Make sure you
ask for middle seat in the taxi. Too crowded in the front and too uncomfortable in the
back. Fantastic scenery for whole two days.

If you are coming from Leh, you can buy tickets either from various agencies around
the town, or directly from office located in bus station. It is in the first floor of the
nortern (uphill) building, doors facing away from the buses. Price there was Rs. 1500
for front seat in September 2009, and the ride down to Manali took 23 hours starting
midnight.

By truck

It is also possible to travel between Leh and Manali by truck. These trucks ply the
route when it opens in summer and they will be no new sight for anyone who has been
in India for even a few days. Making the 490 km (304 mi) journey in the cab of one of

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these trucks is an experience; they are not as comfortable as the jeeps, nor do they
give as good visibility as either jeeps or buses, and take anywhere up to 3 days to
complete; but sleeping in the cab and eating the same food as the locals is worth it.
You can pre-arrange truck drivers in Manali by going to the main truck stop in the
new town. Here the drivers stop on their way from Delhi to Leh and will be more than
happy to give you a ride for 500 rupees. Make sure you don't pay before you travel. In
Leh there is a similar truck park. Try to pick a truck with the least amount of
passengers already otherwise your trip will be even less comfortable. Travelers
staying longer in Ladakh are likely to find themselves traveling by truck at some
point, and probably don't need to go out of their way to take one.

By motorcycle

The road from Manali to Leh is often known as a Biker's Paradise. Bikes
(motorcycles) are available for rent at Manali. A popular place is Hardev Motors.
Also Into Wild Himalaya, near Manali mall road is a great place for bikes, especially
Enfields. If you are looking for Pulsars and Royal enfields, you can check Bike
rentals manali. Their office is in Vashisht. Heard good reviews about them.

When biking to Leh it is advisable to travel at a slow pace to allow acclimatization. A

suggested itinerary is: Day 1 Manali - Jispa (138 km; 86 mi), Day 2 Jispa - Pang (161
km; 100 mi), and Day 3 Pang -Leh (174 km; 108 mi). Essential supplies include:
puncture repair kit, spare clutch cables and some good carriers (to hold luggage). The
next bike workshop after Manali is Keylong (110 km; 68 mi) and then at Leh (400
km; 249 mi).

Into Wild Himalaya is a specialist guided motorcycle touring company for Manali
- Leh Motorcycle tours. for more details visit [www.intowildhimalaya.com
(http://www.intowildhimalaya.com)]

By plane

Planes fly year round, and are the only option in the winter. Book early and give
yourself at least a few days of flexibility as flights are often delayed due to weather
conditions. Air India, Jet Airways and GoAir have daily flights from Delhi. Air India
Flights are also available from Srinagar, and Jammu.

Those arriving by air are strongly advised to rest for at least one day in order to
acclimatize to the high altitude. (See article on altitude sickness)

When leaving, make sure you have a printed copy of your ticket, otherwise you will
not be able to enter the airport. Also make sure that you identify your checked luggage
(outside on the tarmac) after going through security or it may not be loaded onto the
plane due to heightened security measures.

Be aware that luggage weight limits, both checked and carry-on, are significantly
more restrictive to/from Leh than elsewhere in India and they are actually enforced. If
you are on a long visit to India it may be advisable to leave some of your heavier
luggage in Delhi. Besides airport checked luggage facilities you may find that some
hotels are willing to hold your luggage for up to a week if you are returning to the
same hotel after your trip to Ladakh.

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By train

The closest train stations are Pathankot or Chandigarh, both at least three days away
by bus. A new station added recently is Udhampur which is linked by rail to Jammu.
Please check the Train schedule as trains may not run on daily basis.

Get around
Leh is small enough to walk most places, most notable exception being the airport, for
which it's advisable to take a taxi for around 100 to 150 Rupees. DO NOT walk the
first day as you may be a victim of AMS. To go to tourist destinations around Leh like
Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, etc., private taxis are available at taxi stands. The rates
are decided by unions. A bargain of 10-15% is possible on theses rates if you directly
contact the taxi driver and not go through travel agencies or through hotel taxi
bookings. Alternatively, if you want to travel in a shared taxi, you can contact travel
agencies and they fill find travel partners for you. This is payable on per person basis.
As everywhere else, solo travelers may have more difficult time booking the tours as
despite the abundance of flyers stating 'Daily departures', it is not a certainty. Even the
popular tours like Nubra Valley may not be available daily for solo travelers. So, make
sure that you book early.

See
For such a historic site and popular tourist destination, Leh has surprisingly few
tourist sights:

The former Palace of the King of Ladakh (admission 150rps). The most
noticeable building in Leh, the palace was built in the 17th century, and now
undergoing restoration. The corridors inside are dark and spooky and there are
holes in the floors, which make it an excellent place to explore, but bring a
torch! Make sure you don't miss the only furnished room, the beautiful and
eerie Buddhist prayer room at the centre of the palace. Exterior views are
spectacular.
The charming Old Town can be found on the walk up to the palace, and is great
for photography. It's a place that time seems to have forgotten, with buildings
built in the traditional way and few tourists.
Buddhist temples:
Namgyal Tsemo Gompa - above the Palace, built 1430, is only open
from 7AM-9AM during the morning puja.
Soma Gompa - just around the corner from Main Bazar, it's a large
modern gompa. It's also the location of the Ladakhi Buddhist
Association, a conservitive political orginisation, with ties to Hindutva
groups.
Karma Dupgyud Choeling - monastery in the Karma Kagyu tradition
The small mosque
Shanti Stupa : built by a Japanese Buddhist group. This modern stupa is
somewhat kitschy, but still worth a visit.
Pangong Tso A beautiful high altitude lake at 4350 meters with deep blue

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waters, surrounded by tall mountain peaks. This lake lies on the Indo - China
boundary, with only one fourth of the lake being in India. The road to this lake
passes through Chang-la pass , claimed to be at 5425 meters. It's a five hour
drive (149 Kms) from Leh to this place. There is also a small camp on the way
where a Yak Safari can be done. The passage is also very tough to cross by car.
So a four-wheel drive car is recommended. Experienced bikers should not have
any problem. Day return trips from Leh avoid the AMS issue , but you won't be
able to see much during the your 60 minutes stay there .Overnight trips directly
from Leh is outside safety guidelines . The safe and comfortable option is to
plan this trip at the end of your stay in Leh , and with a overnight stop at
Tangtse (altitude 3950).
Nubra Valley From Leh, you can hire a car and drive over , Kardung-La, to the
Nubra Valley. You will need an "Inner-Line Permit" , easily arranged from any
of the travel agents in Leh. However, it is better to get it from the office by
yourself. Travel agents generally gets you permit for the specific places only
and can be heavy on your pocket. So, better take the charge by yourself and do
it. The Nubra Valley is at the base of the Karakorum Range. Within the valley
are the Hundar Sand Dunes, well worth seeing. You can hire a 2-humped
Bactrian camel there for 300 rupees and take a ride, great fun!
Monasteries in Ladakh : Most travellers use Leh as a base to visit the
numerous gompas , the Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh.
War Museum (War Museum, Leh). Fascinating place run by the Indian Army
showcasing the history, glory and the tools of the trade related to army
operations defending India in some of the most hostile terrain in the world. It
also has a fascinating display on the Siachen battlefield - the highest and more
arduous battlefield in the world. edit
Donkey Sanctuary (Home for helpless donkeys), [2]
(http://www.donkeysanctuary.in/). The sanctuary is situated just off the road
leading to Khardungla Pass. The public is encouraged to visit the sanctuary and
friendly signs will direct you to the sanctuary from the center of Leh. It is no
more than a pleasant 5 to 10 minute stroll from the main road to the Sanctuary
and the artistic surprise awaiting you is well worth the effort. It is open to the
public throughout the day and donations and juicy carrots are most welcome
and used exclusively for improving the lives and welfare of these wonderful
animals. Free. edit
Magnetic Hill, ☎ +917676703001. Milions of people every year visit
Magnetic hill because it has properties which can pull cars uphills. edit
Tso Moriri Lake. From Leh it took 6-7 hours to reach Tso Mori Lake. It is
beautiful lake located in secluded Rupshu valley. edit

Do
Leh is the place to prepare for a trekking in Ladakh, which offers a huge
number of possible trekking routes.
White-water rafting : on the Zaskar and Indus rivers is also organised from
Leh. Please be advised that the Indus rafting route from Nimmu towards the
Pakistani border has rapids of increasing severity which run along the grades of

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4, 4+, and 5; the latter two grades being not for the very faint of heart.
Camping is possible at Pangong Lake and on the sand dunes of Nubra Valley.
Several mid and high end camps are available at both these places in the peak
season from mid May to mid September.
Home Stays are possible at various locations in Ladakh and can be arranged by
a travel agent. It is a great way to explore local culture and interact with the
villagers. A good pace to do home-stays is Turtuk in Nubra Valley which has
been recently opened to tourists.
Cycling - Various cycling tours are organised by travel agents and you can also
hire a bicycle and go cycling individual
Carpet Workshop - A free carpet and pashmina workshop is offered daily at
6pm at Hazara Arts, Shanti Stupe Road near KC Restaurant, a few minutes
from the center of town, walking towards Shanti Stupa, in the first right bend of
Changspa road. We discuss history of carpets, analyze different traditional
designs and techniques of production and learn how to differentiate various
qualities of carpets and other textiles. Free tea may also be offered to
participants.

Festivals of Leh
Hemis Festival*: Hemis festival is celebrated during June/July to celebrate the
birth of guru Padmasambhava.
Losar Festival*: Losar festival is celebrated in 11th month of Tibetan calender.
Ladakh Festival*: This colourful festival held in the month of September.

Learn
Buddhism

There are several places in and around Leh where visitors are welcome to study
the Buddha Dharma, either privately or in a class environment. The Mahabodi
Society on Changspa Lane is one of the most active of these.

Work
There are many NGO's in Ladakh working out of Leh doing important work, many of
them taking on travelers who want to stop and volunteer for a few months. However,
make sure that you hold appropriate visa as volunteering/working on a tourist visa is
prohibited.

Buy
Main Bazaar and the surrounding streets have numerous shops selling souvenirs,
mostly Tibetan antiques or replicas. The Tibetan market is a good place to buy little
jewelery, souvenirs, and various other goodies.

There are half a dozen good book shops with an excellent range of books on the

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Himalayas, including guidebooks, phrase-books, books on history, and on Buddhism,

as well as novels.

People needing to pick up some warm clothing shouldn't miss out on the second hand
clothing bazaar near the jeep stand. Quality used clothing from first world countries
goes for next to nothing here, especially handy if you are only in the cooler climate
for a little while.

Leh also has the best selection of food for trekking albeit not all that different from
normal instant noodles, biscuits, powdered milk and chocolate that's available in any
village with a shop, but with the addition of fresh and dry fruit and veggies, and a few
other luxury foods.

Leh is a good place to pick up Pashmina shawls, a good price for one is about Rs.
4500/- to 7000/-

Hazara Arts on changspa road is one of the best shops in leh where you can get 100%
pashmina with good smiling face this shop also have a big collection of carpets.

Eat
Budget

Main Bazaar has a few sweet shops selling samosas, chana dhal with puri, and other
Indian food in addition to the sweets. The shopping areas of the old town and the area
around the bus station are good for Tibetan styled restaurants, although few offer more
than thukpa (noodle soup) and momos (dumplings). Vegetarian dishes are difficult to
find in these places.

Lamayuru Restaurant
German bakery
MonaLisa on the Old Fort Road offers good non indian cuisine at pretty
affordable rates. Try their pizzas and momos.

You can enjoy some great fresh baked breads with honey and cheese in the main
market of Leh.

Mid-range

Main Bazar has a decent selection of mid range Tibetan styled restaurants, popular
with tourists and locals. In the summer numerous garden restaurants spring up in
Changspa serving Tibetan, Western, and Indian dishes. Also, OpenHand Shop and
Cafe around the Old Fort Road has good South African, and Continental Cuisine. The
place also has good western coffee, and some good Indian Textiles.

Drink
There is little in the way of nightlife in Leh. You can order a beer at many of the
restaurants, but they close fairly early. For a more adventurous alternative, ask around

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the old town (or your guest house owner) for Chang the local home brew beer. It goes
for about 15 INR for a liter; bring your own bottle.

The place that closest latest is possibly Biker's Cafe on Changspa road, a few minutes
down the road on your right.

There are a few springs scattered around Leh that provide a natural and plastic free
alternative to using bottled water.

Clean filtered and boiled water is available from shops, such as the organic food shop,
and guest houses.

Happy World Restaurant (Happy World Restaurant), Zangsti Road (situated

in the corner of Zangsti Road, and Fort Road beside the rivulet). edit

Sleep
Leh has a large selection of mid-range accommodation, with some offering decent
value. If you're coming from Manali you might find the selection somewhat limited,
with attached bathrooms offering hot water somewhat hard to find. There are very
few, if any, touts that are so common elsewhere in India, so looking around for
accommodation here is much easier and less stressful as a result.

Most of the guest houses are located in Leh's northern suburbs in Changspa, Karzoo
and surrounding areas, a 5 to 30 minute walk from the center. In fact it seems as
though most of the houses in Changspa have been converted to guest houses.
Surrounded by farmers fields and often with excellent views, they make wonderful
place to spend a couple weeks unwinding. It's easy to wander around this area
stopping at the numerous small guest houses to find something that suits your budget
and needs.

Budget

Himalayan Residency Ladakh : Hotel is located north of Leh at Khakshal

Road and is a comfortable kilo-meter and a half uphill walk from the main leh
market.. Big and bright rooms. Mob : +91 99 06 99 09 05. visit hotel site :-
http://himalayanresidencyladakh.com
Nurboo Guest House : Family guest house, very quiet in an amazing location in
Upper Changspa close to river. Diners can be taken with family, delicious and
friendly. 24 hours running water. Big and bright rooms. Mob : +91 94 19 34 09
47
Kang-La Hotel Cosy hotel run by a friendly young couple who are direct
relatives of Tenzing Norgay. 5 mins walk from the main bazaar, Kang-La is a
peaceful place with free wifi access and customizable treks/tours available on
demand. You can sit down with the couple and have relly interesting talks on
not just Ladakh, but India at large. Rooms are priced from Rs 300-500. Address
- Chuloong Old Road. Leh, Ladakh-194-101. Tel: 01982-252506, Mobile: +91
9419178623, Email: hotelkangla@gmail.com. Blog: http://leh-
hotel.blogspot.in/

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Botho Guesthouse is located in Shey the ancient capital of Ladakh. The small
rural village is located 15 km south-east of the busy capital Leh. The village is
surrounded by spectacular mountains. The rooms are very cosy. Prices (incl.
breakfast and dinner) are between 500 and 700 Rs per night/person. Email:
info@ladakhguesthouse.com Visit our website http://www.lehguesthouse.com/
for more details.
Himalayan Retreat Guesthouse, Changspa. Tel:+91 1982 251-130 Email:
himalayan.retreat@yahoo.com .Peaceful home stay in beautiful surroundings.
Oriental Guesthouse, Changspa. Tel:+91 1982 250-516 or 253-153 [3]
(http://www.oriental-ladakh.com/). 'ladakhoriental@yahoo.co.in' Run by a very
hospitable Ladakhi family. Quiet place with a nice courtyard. Food is made of
fresh vegetables, grown in the courtyard garden.
Hotel Singge Palace, Old Road, Leh A Category Hotel. Tel:+91 1982 253-344
or 251-182 [4] (http://www.singgepalace.com/). Family run
Khan Manzil Guest House, centrally located, just to the north of Leh town.
Friendly family, clean rooms.

Old Ladakh Guest House, hidden in an alley in Old Leh. Often full. Singles
from 300rs
Tak guesthouse, across the Old Ladakh Guest House. Rooms far from spotless,
but probably the cheapest place in Leh, and an alternative the Old Ladakh
Guesthouse when full - singles from 300rs.
Babu Guest House, near Old Ladakh but cheaper and with friendly
management. Singles from 200rs.
Eagle Guest House, Changspa. Tel:+91 1982 253-074. A very friendly
atmosphere
Shanti Guest house, Changspa. Tel:+91 1982 253-084. Family owned, the
husband is a trekking guide and a fountain of information.
Odzer Guest House, Karzoo. Tel:+91 1982 252-652. Run by Tibetan family -
friendly with quiet atmosphere
Norbulinga guest house,chubi.Tel:+91-1982-252941. mobile/cell no
+91-9419286222, +91-9622984667 Email id jigmmystanba@yahoo.co.in
Family run - fantastic location,quiet place, very clean room, 24 hours hot
shower.
Hotel Naro, Upper Karzoo. Tel: +91 1982 252481 / 255138. Email:
paldan.naro@hotmail.com/gmail.com. Family run - lovely views, quiet place.
Zeepata Guest House Located in Upper Changspa,run by a very friendly
Ladakhi family,some rooms with great view of Shanti Stupa and offers tasty
homemade food and desserts. 24 hrs hot water, Good value for the money.
Room rates from 150rs Tel:+91 1982 250-747 or +91 9419 322-226
Email:palmozeepata@gmail.com

Solpon Guest House Located in Upper Changspa, a little ahead of Zeepata

Guest House, Most rooms have a great view either of the Shanti Stupa or of the
LEH Palace and Namgyal Tsemo Gompa.24 hrs hot water, Good value for the
money. Double-Bed rooms available for Rs.250. Tel +91 1982 253-067.Email:
tsewangsolpon@yahoo.com

Hotel Asia Ladakh is a big hotel situated by the stream in the lush and green

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village of changspa. Although being in the heart of the city we are located in a
peaceful place surrounded by nature. We are just ten minutes walk away from
the city centre. All the rooms in all three blocks at Hotel Asia have spectacular
view of the green surrounding and the beautiful snow covered mountains. If you
book in-person, the prices are substantially lower (250rs) than the ones listed on
their website (2,500rs). Tel +91-1982-253403, Mobile: +91-9419178689,
+91-9622958260 Email: ladakhasia@yahoo.co.in Visit our website
http://www.hotelasialadakh.com/ for more details.

Kunzang Guest House, Changspa. This traditional ladakhi house with garden
is a peaceful place to stay. Runned by a charming ladakhi family, who offers
excellent food (yummy breakfasts!) and the woman is a guide and speaks
english. Tel.+91 1982-250490 (Here some
photos:http://voyages.alarracheproduction.fr/main.php?g2_itemId=165)

Mid range

Hotel Tsomo-Ri, Fort Road, Leh Ladakh Tel: +91 9419178031 In The Heart of Leh
City, All facilities Available

Hotel Tso Kar, Fort Road, Leh Ladakh, Call +91 9419178663, [5]
(http://www.lehladakhhotel.com/) .. Highly Recommended.

The Pangong Hotel, Near Fort Road, Leh, Ladakh. [6]

(http://www.pangongladakh.com/) Call +91 9419003769, 9858394401, (0) 1982
258665, (0) 1982 253123 email: pangong@hotmail.com, thepangong@gmail.com
Nice accomodation with a good view. Great facilities and in the heart of the city.
Highly Recommended for Family Travel. (They might ask for some advance amount
if you try to make a reservation through phone.)

Royal Heritage Resort, FortRoad,leh,Ladakh-194101(India) Telephone

+91-01982-255988, +91-01982-252688,+91-9697857450 Email:
rhresort.leh@gmail.com Url- http://www.royalheritageresortleh.com

A highly recommended resort. Has spacious rooms and log huts and a very hospitable
staff

Gangba Homestay Ladakh, Upper Tukcha Road, Ladakh, India 194101 +91
9419372808 / +91 9622957430 5 minutes walking from the market. All facilities
available and good rooms.

Splurge

Tsemarang Eco Camp http://tsemarang.nomadslandcamps.com/ or how to be next to

Leh in the middle of the nature. From 5 to 7 000 INR per night

Hotel SpicnSpan www.spicnspanladakh.com. This is about Rs 2,500 per night

Hotel Golden Dragon. This is about Rs 5,000 per night

Hotel Whispering Willows. Located at Shey, the old capital of Ladakh, around 10km

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from Leh.

Contact
Leh is still in the early days of the communications revolution, and some Internet
cafes use long distance, poor quality phone lines for dial-up. These are not only
expensive, but also unreliable. But the scene is changing fast, now you can find many
satellite run internet cafes and also mobile/cellphone services (BSNL, Airtel) in
Leh.Usage of Postpaid from Airtel/BSNL from other states will work,so its good turn
your network to postpaid if you want to stay connected

Mobile phones from outside Kashmir will not work in Kashmir, so warn your loved
ones beforehand that you may be out of touch and start writing postcards. The
numerous centers for international calls are fairly reasonably priced. Kashmir specific
SIM cards can be readily rented for a nominal charge. You may be required to provide
local contact to get the SIM. In order to avoid this hassle, approach Airtel in the main
market area and they will take care of local contact requirement.

Computers used are mostly samsung which have automatic recovery of EC2. There
are no easy ways to get crashed computers or laptops repaired in Leh. There is a large
samsung dealer shop in the Leh Main Market.

Stay safe
Leh is one of the safest places in India.

Carry a torch (flashlight) at night, as there is next to no street lighting, and there are
some very deep drainage ditches. Beware of stray street dogs as they get aggressive
and sometimes territorial after dark, especially in the inner alleys and around eateries.

Cope
Floods

Ladakh was struck with serious floods and mud slides in August 2010. The airport
was operational within days , and the major roads and bridges after a few weeks , and
Manali-Leh was re-routed temporaily , until October after Rumtse , making it more
than a hundred kilometers longer. The road was fully operational in October 2010.

Acclimatization

It is vital have your first acclimatization nights after arriving at altitudes over 3000
meters before venturing to higher altitudes. This means not going for the tent camps at
Sarchu (4300) or Pang (4500) directly from Manali , i.e. no longer than Darcha the
first night. All overnight stays are not planned , in September 2008 the Air Force had
to evacuate travellers with altitude sickness from Sarchu in after massive snowfall,
and landslides are not uncommon. Not allowing your body to acclimatize can result in
altitude sickness, which has only one cure - turning back! Likewise stay absolute

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minimum two nights in after a fly in before thinking of going higher. So give yourself
two nights to acclimatize and explore the city before you head to higher grounds.Its
good to carry oxygen cylinder to acclimatize yourself soon either try out oxygen bar
in Changspa

If you are traveling from Delhi to Leh by road, the route which enables better
acclimatization is via Shimla, and then towards Kinnaur & Spiti , which gives several
acclimatization nights between 2000 to 3000 : Sarahan (2134), Kalpa (2800 ), Tabo
(3265). After Kaza (3660) and the Kunzum La (4550) the road connects with the
Manali-Leh highway just north of the Rothang pass.

If arriving by flight, rest at least over the first night before starting sightseeing,
consider visiting Alchi first since it is lower than Leh .

Diamox is available over the counter in India (as opposed to all Western countries
)and can be used with varying success to speed up acclimatization. Those that are
allergic to sulfa medication can not use Diamox, and there are side effects to be
considered : this needs to be discussed with a doctor beforehand. Information on
Diamox, including a chart that offers recommendations on usage, can be found on the
U. S. Center for Disease Control web site.

Newspapers

Kargil Number is one of the local news paper of Ladakh which is easily
available from news paper shop.

Get out
Unfortunately the Leh bus station is far from a highlight, it's chaotic and poorly
organised. There are two sections, one for local transportation within Ladakh, and one
for the state run buses.

The local buses get exceptionally crowded, times of departure fluctuate greatly, and
there is no ticket office (just board the bus, and pay to the conductor). When planing a
trip to a destination in Ladakh ask around to find when the departure time roughly is,
and show up at the station half an hour early; ask people there what bus to take, don't
trust the destinations marked on the buses; take a seat and wait for the bus to depart.
Then expect to spend at least an hour at the bus station.

The state buses run to Srinagar, Manali, and even a direct service to Delhi (3 days
away), there is a ticket office, and bookings are taken days in advance. The process
here is more straight forward and less time consuming.

Taxis have fixed prices (updated every 2 years) and can be arranged from the Taxi
Stand along Fort Road. When available, you may also purchase a copy of the
fare-booklet for Rs 20.

Explore the Leh district.

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