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Historically, Ladakh was ruled by dynasties, which were descendants of the kings of Old Tibet. The Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh reached the pinnacle of its glory during the reign of King Sengge Namgyal during the 17th century. Later, the kingdom of Ladakh was incorporated with Jammu and Kashmir in the 18th century. Leh is an important Buddhist centre and it houses a settlement for Tibetan refugees. Leh Ladakh is a popular tourist destination with placid blue lakes, freezing winds, barren landscape and multi-hued mountains. Leh, situated at about 3500 meters above the sea level, is tucked in between the world's greatest mountain ranges, the Great Himalayas and Karakoram. According to the geological studies, Leh Ladakh was a submerged portion of a large lake a few million years ago. Leh Ladakh is the highest inhabited region of India. Leh Ladakh is known by many names like ‘The Last Shangri-la’, ‘Little Tibet’, ‘The Land of Numerous Passes’, ‘The Land of Mystic Lamas’, ‘The Broken Moon’ and ‘Moonscape’ (Moon Land). Leh, the principal town of Ladakh, is bordered by Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the west, China in the north and east, Lahul Spiti of Himachal Pradesh in the south-east and Stok mountain range in the south. Among the major places to visit in Leh Ladakh, which is known for the beautiful landscape, are the Buddhist pilgrim centres. These Buddhist pilgrim centres, which include monasteries and gompas, attract the Buddhists from across the globe. The important monasteries in the region include Tsemo Gompa, Sankar Gompa, Karma Dupgyud Choeling Monastery, Shey Monastery, Thiksey Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Stakna Monastery, Matho Monastery and Spituk Monastery. Tsemo Gompa has statues of Avalokitesvara, Manjushri and Maitreya Buddha. Among the other places to visit in Leh Ladakh are Shanti Stupa, Hall of Fame, Hemis Gompa, Shey Palace, Leh Palace, Stok Palace and Museum, Thiksey Gompa, Alchi Choskor and Lamayuru Gompa. Shanti Stupa was constructed as a peace pillar in 1991. Stok Palace houses a museum, which preserves artifacts, royal crowns, copper coins, precious stones, jewellery, heirlooms, prayer instruments and Thangkas. The other important places to visit in Leh Ladakh are General Zorawar’s Fort, Sun Temple, Vajra Bhairava Shrine, Alchi Choskor, Serzang Temple, Jama Masjid, Zanskar the Virgin Valley, Dras, Suru Valley, Sankoo and Padum. Leh also offers the travellers the opportunities to participate in adventure sports like mountaineering, white water rafting and trekking. The best time to visit Ladakh is the during summers months from June to September. Tourists are advised to carry a lot of woolens, as it tends to get extremely cold even during the summer season. The best way to reach Ladakh is by road. Hotel options in Ladakh include budget and luxury hotels, resorts, guesthouses and lodges and luxury hotels. For More Info: Places to visit in Leh and Leh Hotels
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Places to visit in Leh, Leh Hotels,
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