Ever since I went to Ladakh in 2010, it is the mere mortal body of mine that has returned, and my soul has been lost in that heaven forever. Every day when I close my eyes, my wandering soul in the heaven transmits back the majestic vistas of Ladakh, every day I wish I could go back to the heaven in search of my soul and bring it back.
However, I always overlook the fact that some things in this world are still impossible and bringing back your soul from heaven is one of them.
Each time you visit Ladakh, you will fall more and more in love with the place, people, and culture of Ladakh, no matter how rugged the terrain it is, to survive. It is nothing but the MAGIC of the heaven named Ladakh.
All my heart says — There is no other place like Ladakh in this world.
I am not the only victim of losing the soul after visiting Ladakh. But many alike people visiting this barren place of magical colors have lost their heart and soul up there. I feel it is always better to misplace your soul in heaven when you are alive than to burn it in the hell of modern civilization.
I am sure of my belief that every person in the world must visit this masterpiece of Himalayan natural beauty once in their lifetime. In fact, I call it a place to be visited #LifeMeinBaarBaar. Ever since I have visited Ladakh about five-six times in different seasons.
The versatility in geographical and cultural offerings of this place has been responsible for many different names that are given to Ladakh in the past. Some people call it La-Dags meaning “Land of High Mountain Passes“, some call it “Cold Desert in the Skies” and some refer it as “Land of Moon” etc…
Do you have a name for it??
Situated on the eastern side of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh is a sparsely populated cold desert spanning over 45,000 Sq. Miles. Ladakh is surrounded by the highest mountain ranges, including the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram.
The mountain ranges present in Ladakh span over the borders of India right into Tibet where they are referred to as holy Kailash range of mountains, especially for Hindus. Indus is the major river that flows through the Ladakh region. The Indus River along with its many tributaries including Shyok, Zanskar, Dras, etc. acts as the lifeline of Indus Valley Civilization.
Apart from the breathtaking natural vistas, Ladakh is also known for its Tibetan culture. The rich cultural heritage of Ladakh is reflected in various aspects of the lives of Ladakhis as well as the architecture (monuments and monasteries), food, festivals, celebrations, etc.
The people in Ladakh love to dance with the mask and these dances are the theatrical representation of the fight between good and evil. You can witness the glimpses of this rich culture in one of the most popular festivals of Ladakh named “Hemis Festival”.
“Ladakhi” is the language used by the people residing in this cold desert called Leh Ladakh.
A lot of people ask me, what do you mean by Julley or Joolay or जुले?
“(जुले ) “or “Joolay” or “Julley” word of Ladakhi language means “Namaskar” in Hindi or “Hello” with respect in English. Sometimes people use it to say Goodbye as well, and I use it all the time in all my emails. Julley is not just a word but a magical word in itself. The word Julley is viral among the travelers, tourists, and locals greeting each other in higher Himalayas of Ladakh and tribal region of Lahaul & Spiti Valley and Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh.
Julley word in English means or can be used to say “Hi”, “Hello”, “How are you?”. This word is now even used to say “Goodbyes” as well.
Julley word in Hindi means (pronounced as जुले) or can be used to say “Namaskar”, “Namaste”, “How are you?”
So, if you visit Leh Ladakh or Lahaul – Spiti next time, do not forget to greet everyone with “Julley” and you will experience the magic of the word…
One can reach Ladakh either by taking a flight to Leh city, which is the heart of Ladakh. But when choosing this option, one will require proper acclimatization before exploring the rest of the regions in Ladakh.
You can also reach Ladakh by road which is connected through 434 KM long Srinagar Leh Highway from Jammu side and 474 KM long Manali Leh highway from Himachal Pradesh side.
The Manali Leh road journey is one of the dream travel dates for any adventure lover who is looking for some serious adventure in the lap of mother nature. I highly recommended it to every adventure lover who is looking to explore the unmatched challenges and some real desolated places of the Himalayan region.
Acclimatization is an important aspect when visiting Ladakh and you should not take it lightly. If ignored, AMS can take lives and may prove fatal.
Leh is the main town of Ladakh and acts as the base for every tourist or traveler. Generally, the people reach Leh town first, which is the most populated region of the Ladakh district and then move on further with the exploration of this cold desert.
There are plenty of hotels available in Leh town and tourists book the taxis, accommodation, adventurous activities like trekking, rafting from Leh town only. Changspa road, along with Leh main bazaar tops, the hot spots in Leh town.
The DC office is also located in Leh town and is responsible for issuing the inner line permits to people visiting restricted regions of Ladakh along with other administration activities. Being on the International borders, one need Inner Line permits to visit various restricted places in the Ladakh region popularly known as Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, and Tso Moriri.
People most commonly visit Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso (Tso means Lake), Tso Moriri, Tso Kar in the Ladakh region along the local monasteries situated around Leh.
The Nubra Valley is located north of Khardung La (5359 Mtrs). Khardung La is also a famous tourist spot being the falsely claimed highest motorable road or passes in the world.
Nubra Valley is famous for its Diskit monastery having the tallest Lord Buddha statue as well as the dunes of Hunder village. At Hunder dunes, one can enjoy a safari on unique double-humped camels found only in this region.
The Sumur monastery, hot water springs at Panamik and the banks of aqua-colored Shyok river are also the other highlights of the Nubra Valley.
The mighty Pangong Tso, situated at an altitude of about 4,350 Mtrs, was made famous among the domestic Indian tourists by Bollywood blockbuster movie “3 Idiots”. This saltwater lake is 134 km long, 5 km wide at its broadest point. However, more than 60% of the length extends into China.
The holy Tso Moriri at an altitude of 4,595 Mtrs is famous among Ladakhis and foreign tourists. Ladakhis believe that a person with a pure heart can see the image of God in Tso Moriri, hence they never let an opportunity pass by for visiting this holy place.
The Suru Valley for hiking activities and the Zanskar Valley for hiking, white water rafting and famous Chadar trek in winters are other regions of interest among travelers or tourists in Ladakh.
Apart from these commonplaces, there are many other restricted, non-tourist, non-famous, very little explored places like Hanle, Chusul, Turtuk, Changthang, Marisimik La, etc in Ladakh region which also lures many of the regular visitors every subsequent year.
The beauty of each region in Ladakh is different and unique to its taste. In fact, at every other turn, you will witness an altogether unique vista equally beautiful to the other. One cannot feel boredom even after spending more than a couple of months in Ladakh 😆 …
The pictures of Ladakh that you might have seen give you a glimpse of the beauty present in Ladakh. However, they will not do justice to the actual beauty of Ladakh, ever…
I am posting below some critical or emergency contact numbers in Leh – Ladakh, which can prove useful in case of emergency. You should carry a print out of this list with you when traveling in Leh – Ladakh. You never know when it could prove useful.
You should always carry your water bottle and refill it as many times as you need water. It will not only keep you hydrated always, but you will also help in saving the Himalayas from plastic garbage. Remember, every tiny step counts and your step in this direction can help save the Himalayas too !! 🙂 🙂
The beauty of Ladakh is defined by the mountain ranges topped with popcorns like white clouds that can mesmerize any soul. Sometimes they appear like cotton candies; sometimes, they appear as ice creams over a cone and what not. You can witness a peak over the peak from various vantage points while exploring various regions of Ladakh.
I will look forward to your comments in case you have any questions in planning a trip to Ladakh.
Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions about traveling to the Himalayas.
So, what are you waiting for? Just plan the vacation in the coming summers to Ladakh and I am sure you will never forget about the heavenly experience.
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