WMF Travel Guide: Ladakh, India

Getting There
The Ladakhi capital of Leh can be reached by air—depending on the weather—from Delhi year-round or by bus from Delhi, Manali, and Srinagar from June to mid-September. There are numerous small guesthouses in Leh, some of which can arrange for transportation to many of the monasteries; multi-day treks between monasteries can be booked through local trekking companies in town.

More About It
Among the best trekking guides to Ladakh are Charlie Loram’s "Trekking in Ladakh" (Trailblazer Publications, 2004) and Lonely Planet’s Trekking in the Indian Himalaya by Garry Weare (2002). In addition, a number of excellent books have been written about Ladakh in recent years, among them "Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh" by Helena Norbert-Hodge (Sierra Club, 1992), which explores the environmental challenges facing the Himalayan kingdom, and Andrew Harvey’s "A Journey in Ladakh: Encounters with Buddhism" (Mariner Books, 1983/2000), which provides excellent background on the spiritual life of the region.

Insider Tips
Because of heavy snowfall, roads into Ladakh are generally closed during the winter months. While the region is open to visitors June through mid-September, the weather is best during July and August. As all of Ladakh is above 2,600 meters, visitors with high-blood pressure or any heart ailments should consult their physicians before traveling to the area.

Conservation
Beyond its extraordinary cultural heritage, Ladakh is rich in wildlife, including exotic breeds of sheep and goats, birds, and the rare and endangered snow leopard. Among the organizations working to preserve this fragile landscape and encourage sustainable development in Ladakh are the Snow Leopard Conservancy and the International Society for Ecology and Culture.

Read more: Conservation on the Roof of the World (pdf)