Description
Ladakh stretches between the mountain ranges of the Himalayas (with the Stok Kangri as the most famous mountain) and the Karakorum and the upper valley of the Indus.
The valleys are at an altitude of 3,000 m, making them the highest of Kashmir. The mountains reach heights of more than 7,000 m above sea level.
Nun, which was climbed for the first time in 1913 at 7,135 m and the neighboring Kun at 7,077 m, which was first conquered in 1906, are the highest mountains in Ladakh.
The capital of Ladakh is Leh (about 27,500 inhabitants). Not far from Leh is the Khardong Pass, one of the highest passable passes in the world.
Map
List of sights
871 Photos
Alchi
40 Photos
Alchi, a village and monastery situated on the bank of Indus River 70 km from the capital in Leh, is situated, unlike the other gompas in Ladakh, on lowland, …
Chemrey
30 Photos
Chemrey, gompa of the Drukpa (Red Hat) sect in eastern Ladakh, was founded in 1664 as a memorial to a local king.
Hemis
64 Photos
Hemis Gompa, a monastery 40 km south-east of Leh in Ladakh, was established in 1672 by King Senge Nampar Gyalva.
Lamayuru
30 Photos
Lamayuru Gompa, one of the largest and oldest gompas in Ladakh, housed up to 400 monks. The Indian scholar Mahasiddhacarya Naropa (956 - 1041) caused a …
Leh
78 Photos
Leh, the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh, is dominated by the ruined Leh Palace former home of the royal family of Ladakh, built in the same …
Matho
212 Photos
Matho Gompa, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Ladakh east of Leh, is the only example of the Sakyapa sect. It is known for its annual Oracle Festival, Matho Nagran …
Phyang
16 Photos
Phyang Gompa, a Buddhist monastery located 16 km west of Leh, was established in 1515. The monastery is one of only two in Ladakh belonging to the Drigungpa School …
Rizong
17 Photos
Rizong Gompa, a Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Buddhist monastery, is situated at the top of a rocky side valley on the west of Alchi on the way to Lamayuru. It …
Saspol
25 Photos
Saspol has some caves with wall-paintings as old as those at Alchi.
Spituk
25 Photos
Spituk Gompa, a Buddhist monastery located 8 km from Leh, was founded by Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od in the 11th century.
Stakna
8 Photos
Stakna Gompa, a Buddhist monastery of the Drugpa Sect, is located 25 km south-west from Leh on the right bank of the Indus River. It was founded in the …
Stok
242 Photos
Stok Gompa, a Buddhist monastery 15 km south of Leh, was founded by Lama Lhawang Lotus in the 14th century. A ritual dance-mask festival is held annually. …
Takthok
26 Photos
Takthok Gompa, a monastery in the Sakti village 46 km east of Leh in Ladakh, was founded in the mid 16th century during the reign of Tshewang Namgyal on …
Thiksey
58 Photos
Thiksey Gompa (Thiksay Gompa, Thikse Gompa, Tikse Gompa), a Yellow Hat (Gelugpa) Buddhist monastery, is located east of Leh at an altitude of 3,600 m. The …