Leh

Leh is the capital city and is the chief town of this Himalayan area of Ladakh. The Great Himalayas and the Karakoram Range flank this region. Ladakh is situated in the rain shadow region of the Himalayas. Winter snowfall is the main source of water for this area. Leh can be best described as a cold desert. Leh is very popular among tourists for its adventure sports.

s far as adventure sports are concerned Leh is popular for river rafting, mountaineering and trekking. Polo and archery are favorite pastimes in the Leh region. Tours to Leh, Ladakh have other attractions such as cycling trips and of course mountain climbing. Jeep safaris can also be arranged for tourists eager to enjoy the natural beauty of Ladakh.

Tourist can enjoy mountain bike tours, wild life treks and Yak safaris.
One of the most attractive tourist destinations in Leh is the Leh Palace. This nine storeyed palace was constructed in the 17th century. This palace was the ancestral home of the royal family till the 1830's. Ever since the palace has been deserted.

Just beyond the Leh Palace, atop the Namgyal hill, stands the Victory Tower that is also an attraction for those who travel to Leh, Ladakh in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. There are a number of monasteries in and around Leh. Some of these are the Shey monastery, Thikse monastery and Tak-Thok monastery.

In the ancient times Ladakh was an important trade route. This region is very popular for pashm, that is, cashmere. The villages here have their own cultural importance. Women in Leh, whether Buddhist or Muslim enjoy a lot of freedom. Animals commonly sighted in this region are the yak, nyan that is the world's largest sheep and urial, the world's smallest sheep.