|
Travel in India
Trekking in Ladakh
One of the most remote and mythical regions of India, Ladakh is a
landscape of unearthly beauty. Carved through its center by the
headwaters of the Indus River, Ladakh sits high in a Himalayan valley
between the Ladakh and Zaskar ranges, close to the Chinese border. The
wall of the Himalayas blocks precipitation, and the resulting terrain is dry,
barren, and poetically austere. Life here has remained virtually unchanged
for thousands of years.
Ladakh's biggest attraction are its ancient gompas, or Buddhist
monasteries, which contain some of Asia's greatest wonders of gold and
tapestry work. It is possible to stay overnight in some, making a trek in
Ladakh curiously like a sort of pilgrimage. The people of Ladakh, many of
whom are Tibetan refugees, are famous for their friendliness and hospitality.
For the mountaineer, the nearby Zaskar range offers some fantastic and
challenging hiking opportunities. A variety of long, mid, and short range
treks, which follow rough trails and pass through some spectacular high-
altitude mountain passes, connect the region's gompas and villages.
It is important to note that visitors to Ladakh should take time to adjust to
the high altitude. Altitude sickness here is very common, and the best way
to avoid it is to do very little for the first couple of days in the region.
Summer is the best time to come, as heavy winter snows make make it
very difficult even to get to Ladakh.