Ladakh, the highest altitude plateau in India situated in the State of Jammu and Kashmir covering an area of 86,904 sq. km at the height ranging from 9000 ft to more. This extreme topography makes it sparsely populated region. It is the northern most region of the country, constituting parts of Himalaya, Karakorum mountain range and the upper Indus River valley. It is divided into two districts that fall under Kashmir, Kargil and Leh. These two are also the largest towns of the region. The history, culture, traditions and the geography of the region is strikingly different than rest of the country. People living here are predominantly Buddhist and Muslims.
The word Ladakh literally means Land of High Passes “la” meaning Pass and “Dakh” meaning many routes that lead you to other mountain ranges or valleys. It is also called the Moon-Land and The Cold Desert because of its barren topography with temperature reaching -30 to -50 degrees in winters. However, in summers the temperature remains pleasant reaching not more than 30 degrees.
