Ladakh – the very title evokes photos of superior Himalayan peaks standing like sentinels, century’s outdated Buddhist Gompas perched on picturesque hilltops that reverberate` with historical religious vitality and of a hostile, barren chilly desert-like panorama. Wow! From historical occasions, travellers have designated Ladakh to be the “Root of the World”.
Ladakh certainly is a beautiful creation of nature and for century’s collectively has remained in splendid isolation, which accurately implies that it has remained virgin and escaped the marauding crowds of holiday makers. The high quality of vacationer expertise relies upon one hell of lots on the standard of the pure and ecological surroundings of a vacation spot and on this rely, Ladakh positively presents a pristine, uncommercialized and majestic Trans Himalayan expertise in contrast to anyplace else on earth.
Ever since this little speck of paradise opened up for tourism approach again in 1974, Ladakh has fantastically metamorphosed into being the capital of India’s Ultra Adventure Tourism. From excessive altitude trekking to mountain biking and ice hockey to using on the world’s highest motorable highway(5359 m), Ladakh does supply travellers one whale of an expertise.
Buddhism
Ladakh is the nerve centre of Buddhism and evidently monasteries abound on this Trans Himalayan territory. To the skin world, Ladakh’s monasteries are an enigma. Thiksy Monastery, Hemis Gompa, Achi Monastery, The Lamyuru Monastery, Diskit Gompa and so forth…have all left an indelible religious imprint within the minds of religious seekers.
What an ethereal atmosphere it’s within the early morning or night with Buddhist monks reciting mantras like “OM MANI PADME HUN” within the monasteries of Ladakh! In truth, Ladakh’s Buddhist Chanting or recitation of sacred Buddhist texts have been inscribed on the UNESCO’s checklist of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”.
In Ladakh, there are primarily two types of Buddhism – Mahayana and Vajrayana. The 4 main sects – Nyngma, Kagyud, Shakya and Geluk collectively represent the Buddhist society of Ladakh.
For first time guests, the sight of a whole bunch of Lamas chanting holy mantras and invoking the blessings of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, deities and rinpoches is really an uber religious tryst. The chanting is usually carried out in teams and Lamas both conduct such chanting classes indoors or throughout festive events open air by merging dance rituals as effectively.
Many travellers have been so drawn to the Ladakh School of Buddhism that they’ve accepted Buddhism as their guiding gentle and are available in the hunt for religious progress – taking classes from senior monks, reciting texts methodically and so forth….. Buddhist Chants within the monasteries of Ladakh are an on a regular basis prevalence, primarily for world peace.

Adventure Capital Of India
Each yr, the federal government – courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism in affiliation with journey and tour operators come out with spectacular new vistas for guests to discover, like as an example the lately launched Quad Biking exercise that takes place within the neighborhood of the gorgeous Nubra Valley. Just think about the fun of driving on a 4X4 Quad Bike on treacherous mountain terrains with jaw-dropping snow and mountain panorama staring straight at you!
Many an adventurer has been bewitched by the fun of river rafting in Zanskar, considered one of India’s most turbulent rivers. Yeah! I’m speaking of rafting at a peak of 12000 toes above sea stage, which is taken into account to be the world’s highest rafting level.
The finest a part of rafting in Zanskar is that it’s not simply the journey, but in addition the ethereal pure panorama – historical Buddhist monasteries, hilltop palaces in addition to an assortment of Ladakhi villages that sort of propels you to a fairytale-like setting, too good to be true right here on earth!

The Ladakh Himalayas are phenomenal, to say the least. To the north, is the awe-inspiring Karakoram mountain vary the place a few of the highest mountain peaks may be seen vying for consideration – K2 (8610 m) particularly. Ladakh is the abode of glaciers too and the world’s highest battlefield Siachen Glacier, which is all of 72 Kms. lengthy retains coming within the information for these frequent Indo-Pak army skirmishes!
First-time guests to Ladakh ought to keep in mind that given the tough weather conditions in addition to the unfavourable geographic topography, the area doesn’t actually encourage inhabitants progress. In sure locations like Kargil the density is as little as 2.
The Tourism Phenomenon
Apart from Tourism, which is rising as a “Game Changer” relating to employment era, Ladakh is by and huge an agrarian area the place persons are depending on agriculture, apiculture or horticulture. Sizeable numbers of the inhabitants additionally interact in domesticating yak, sheep and goats, with the world-famous “PASHMINA WOOL” being the prized possession.
Since winters are very extreme with temperatures dropping to -5°C to 10°C, from late October to February, the native Ladakhis preserve themselves heat and busy by remaining indoors and interesting themselves in actions like knitting and embroidery – all of that are masterpieces when it comes to craftsmanship.
With the gradual evolution of a tourism growth, the idea of homestay has caught on the creativeness of each the natives in addition to the discerning guests alike. To expertise the rugged grandeur of Ladakh in all its totality, it’s effectively neighed pertinent to hunt lodging with Ladakh’s personal home-grown hospitality manufacturers on the a part of travellers from far off land.

This homestay idea brings out the easiest of Ladakh’s wealthy cultural tapestry, which is steeped in legends and delivered to life by the use of heat mountain hospitality, unmatched visitor providers, natural homegrown meals and house owners who will go that further mile to see you smile.
Ladakh Home Stay
Most of the homestay properties are household owned and operated, households who’ve an excellent social standing in Ladakhi society. The prospect of savouring conventional Ladakhi home-cooked meals is a “hard to resist” temptation. Most of the properties have undergone in depth renovation protecting intact the normal vernacular Tibeto-Ladakh architectural model in place. Many of the properties will even have gardens and orchards.
While selecting a homestay possibility in such a distant a part of India, it’s worthwhile to be certain of the credentials and truth verify each nitty-gritty of the journey, for the straightforward motive that Ladakh is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. To help the discerning world travellers in choosing the proper homestay possibility, RARE India – https://rareindia.com which is mainly a Responsible Tourism PR & Advocacy firm that promotes the idea of “Conscious Luxury Travel”, have over time developed into considered one of India’s finest recognized acutely aware luxurious journey consultants.
Any RARE licensed resort or homestay in India has to stick to the exacting requirements and parameters set by RARE. Each resort, lodge or homestay property has to undergo on-site audits, take part in artistic coaching classes and stand as much as the PR & Media plan crafted by RARE.

In the phrases of Ms Shoba Mohan – the girl behind RARE India’s burgeoning progress within the nation’s Responsible Tourism panorama – “RARE audits, endorses, advocates and creates consciousness and model advantage by taking the story of the lodge and the house owners to a various market phase and promoters. We imagine in constructing every model with the perfect attributes they’ve in order to maintain the discerning guests light-footed and thereby create a optimistic influence.
India is a rustic of stupendous variety and as you progress up North from Lutyen’s Delhi to the Trans Himalayan area of Ladakh, the variety actually blossoms, each culturally in addition to naturally. In phrases of wildlife, you might be prone to date the elusive Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Urials, Ibex, and so forth. and the style wherein RARE India presents Ladakh to the discerning world traveller is phenomenal, to say the least.
According to a spokesperson from RARE, who fantastically summed up the Ladakh expertise thus – “The enjoyable lies not solely in gazing into thick foliage and canopies however staying in traditional jungle lodges, riverside cottages and stylish inns, all of them with a single-minded focus – conservation of nature and wildlife and an unforgettable expertise for the traveller.
We should problem a well-known disclaimer right here – Our lodges and nature retreats are fabulous examples of re-wilding, creating pure wild gardens, small sacred forests and together with areas for nature and the wild.” WOW!
There are three excellent RARE licensed properties in Ladakh which have opened their doorways to discerning worldwide travellers. Each of them is in a category of their very own, taking part in the function of safeguarding each the cultural and pure treasures of India’s final Shangri-La.

Stok Palace
An exhilarating half an hour’s drive from Leh on National Highway 3 through Saboo Village Road takes you to the resplendent Stok Palace. This 1830 constructed palace is immaculately preserved and post-renovation seems completely marvellous when it comes to structure and atmosphere.
Here at Stok Palace, guests are provided the prospect of really residing with the royal Namgyal household. One can’t however marvel on the craftsmanship on show – how this distinctive Ladakhi mud palace has been scientifically preserved. It all started in 2007 and initially the restoration posed an actual problem. However, the current host – Mr Jigmed Wangchuk Namgyal engaged a workforce of architects who went on to provide considered one of Ladakh’s gems within the hospitality panorama of this mountainous state.
The present host of the property is Mr Jigmed Wangchuk Namgyal. Conservation lies on the coronary heart of the challenge. The thought was to maintain the mud palace and create consciousness amongst the area people to point out how this glorious slice of historical past could possibly be preserved. He was decided to guard the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Ladakh.
The journey of restoration started in 2007 with just one room and right this moment has Today, guests are pampered with uber-luxury suites within the palace, which accurately recreates the regal atmosphere of yesteryears, whereas the extra modern suites can be found on the immaculately maintained Apricot orchard just under the palace.

Most of the working employees of Stok Palace are recruited from Stok village and evidently, service is intimately Ladakhi. The extra adventurous ones have the choice of trekking within the fascinating Stok Kangri area and even indulging in a full day of rafting. Immersive experiences like walks to the Stok village within the firm of a educated information or an in depth tour of the palace and past with a historian could possibly be enlightening.
Chulli Bagh Villas
This RARE licensed resort is large on the sustainability index. “Villas in the Orchard” is their buzzword. Set in sylvan environment within the midst of apricot, willow and walnut timber is a ten minutes’ stroll from Stok Palace.
There are three excellent Villas and every one oozes with the easiest of Ladakhi vernacular architectural options. Bedrooms are spacious and the Villas have an open sitting area that gives breathtaking sights of the orchard and past.

Each of the villas is a mud & wooden affair. The finest time to be a visitor of this excellent property is in the course of the competition of Tak-Tok, which is usually held within the month of August
The resort doesn’t have WiFi, TVs, air-conditioning or intercoms contained in the villas. The use of plastic is veritable NO, NO right here at Chulli Bagh and their obsession with sustainability is so excessive that not even plastic ingesting water is allowed inside. Instead, the resort supplies discerning friends with water from glass bottles.
Guests can relaxation assured of a bewildering array of culinary delights, largely Ladakhi, which the skin world isn’t but accustomed to. Apart from lip-smacking Momos and Thukpas, the Chulli Bagh kitchen rolls out Trans Himalayan delicacies like Chhurpe, Skyu Chhutag and what have you ever….
Lchang Nang In Nubra Valley
From Leh as you drive previous the Indus Valley and all the best way as much as Khardungla Pass (18,379 toes), the world’s highest motorable go, the gorgeous glory of the Trans Himalayan grandeur hits your senses. From Khardungla as your car descends into the Nubra Valley, the ethereal fantastic thing about Ladakh – excessive mountain peaks, gurgling lakes and picture-perfect Ladakhi villages will draw your consideration. And what to say of these Buddhist monasteries which are so fantastically positioned on hilltops!
Travelling to Nubra Valley, you might be really on rarefied heights – 10,000 toes above sea stage! This place is of nice strategic significance, trapped as it’s between Pakistan, Tibet, China. The outdated Silk Road from China, all over the Karakoram Pass makes its approach via Nubra Valley. There is one other path to Nubra Valley – Warila Pass, which is much more lovely when it comes to panorama and lots secluded.

The quintessential attraction of Nubra valley is that it’s a lot greener than different elements of Ladakh, which has a desert-like panorama. It can also be among the best locations in Ladakh to savour the pastoral excessive altitude life-style that finds reflection in a cluster of villages – Diskit, Panamik, Sumur, Hunder in addition to Charasa.
Lchang Nang is tucked away in a distant rural village of Teggar and is fantastically unfold out throughout orchards of elm, apricot and apples. The resort’s distinctive identification lies in the truth that it makes use of photo voltaic vitality. The in depth use of mud and domestically accessible wooden whereas constructing this one-of-a-kind resort has earned its accolades galore from the world of sustainable tourism. The property may be very very like a Trans Himalayan Cowboy Ranch, with greater than 15 acres of grazing land earmarked particularly for grazing animals!
The resort is below the supervision of the respectable Kalons household, whose forefathers have been residing in Nubra Valley for a number of generations. Exceptional Himalayan experiences await you at Lchang Nang and it begins the second you step inside this rugged retreat – the welcome drink, a glass of Sea Buckthorn juice, to chase away any high-altitude illness you might need!

The Future Ahead
The tourism trade has emerged as Ladakh’s No1 income & employment exercise.
According to the newest statistical information accessible, 50% of Ladakh’s GDP is generated from tourism-related ventures. Being a fragile Himalayan zone, all of the stakeholders in Ladakh’s tourism trade must be watchful and shield not simply the area’s fragile ecosystem, but in addition the century’s outdated conventional values and cultural traditions.