Ladakh, literally the 'land of high passes', separates the peaks of Western Himalaya from the vast Tibetan plateau. Opened up to tourism in 1974, Ladakh is often called 'Little Tibet', due to its similarities in topography and culture with nearby Tibet. This is particularly evident in the Indus Valley with its whitewashed Gompas (Buddhist monasteries) precariously perched on hillsides.
Padum, the capital of more remote Zanskar, shares this Buddhist heritage, as does the Nubra valley, while Kargil and the Suru valley are predominantly Shiite Muslim.

History
Ladakh's earliest inhabitants were Khampa nomads, who grazed their yaks on the high pastures. The first settlements, along the upper Indus, were established by Buddhist pilgrims on their way from India to Mount Kailash in Tibet. The Brokpa (or Dards) who today live in Dha-Hanu are the last Buddhist Indo Aryan people.

In the 9th century, Ladakh's influence extended beyond the Indus Valley and during this time many forts and palaces were constructed. In the late 14th century, Tsongkhapa, a Tibetan pilgrim introduced Gelukpa Buddhist order headed by the first Dalai Lama, into Ladakh. The new order flourished and led to the founding of Gompas at Thiksey, Likir and Spituk.

In the ensuing years, Muslim armies pressed Ladakh from the west, with Ali Mir of Baltistan eventually capturing the province. Fortunes were revived under the rule of Singge Namgyal (1570-1642), who, in addition to making territorial gains, established Leh as the capital, constructing his palace there. During this period, the Ladakhi royal family assisted Brokpa monks in establishing Gompas in Hemis and Stakna.
In 1685, Ladakh was threatened from the North, and only alliance with the Mughals helped repel the Mongol-Tibetan army. Ladakh remained nominally independent but the Mughals exacted a crippling tribute in return.
Ladakh's fortune changed again in the 1830's when a Dogra army under Zorawar Singh invaded Ladakh from Jammu and exiled the king to Stok.

Ladakh became a part of the Dogra state of Kashmir in 1846, and has been ruled from Jammu and Srinagar ever since.

In 1995, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) was formed to answer Ladakhi concerns about being governed from afar. Most Ladakhis see few ties with troubled Kashmir, and have lobbied for Union Territory status for Ladakh. Since 2002, the Ladakh Union Territory Front has carried all before it at elections but with India reluctant to entertain the disassembling of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh will have to wait some time yet for its much-coveted autonomy.

Geography
Ladakh is bound by mountains. To the north the mighty peaks of Rimo I (7385m) and Teram Khangri I (7466m) in the Ladakh range mark the border with China, while in the south the slopes of the Stok range grow in size until they merge with the Zanskar mountains. In the west, the snow-capped peaks of Nun (7135m) and Kun (7087m) are the gatekeepers of the Great Himalaya.

Amid the mountains, life centers on Ladakh's many river valleys. The Indus Valley drains much of the region, joined by the Zanskar and Suru Rivers to the west. In the east of Ladakh there are several lakes, including the huge Pangong Tso, which reaches into Tibet, Tso Kar and Tso Moriri, set in the high-altitude desert characteristic of the Tibetan plateau.
The best way to see this beautiful place in on foot by trekking. Log on to the sites below to get a better idea of what is possible. Happy travels


www.notjusttreks.com

www.responsibleadventures.com