The thought of life in the Himalayan regions is scary and exciting at the same time. In modernised world, every place is developed into cities with sky-scrappers. It is hard to find a place which is not hit by modernisation yet alluring! Somehow, nature has its defence against human strategies; that is why we still have a few regions that are untouched! Among such wonders, Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir is a mystical region which remains pristine even to this day!
Shall we explore some interesting things about Ladakh?!
A Road Trip in Ladakh
Photo Courtesy: Fulvio Spada
Ancient Trade Route
Ladakh became famous for its strategic location; it connects China, Tibet and Central Asia. Hence it was one of the prominent trade routes till 1960's. It was when China closed its interaction with Tibet and Central Asia that Ladakh lost its fame and became only a tourist hub.
Peaks near Pangong Tso
Photo Courtesy: Fulvio Spada
Mentioned in Greek Literature
Records suggest that Ladakh region was inhabited from the Neolithic age. Interestingly, it is also referred to in several Greek works of Herodotus, Megasthanese, etc.
Locals of Ladakh
Photo Courtesy: Praveen
Indo-Aryan Origin
Indo-Aryans and Tibetans mostly inhabit Ladakh. Indo-Aryans belong to an ethnolinguistic group from the Indo-European origin. After Tibet's dispute against China, many immigrant Tibetans made this region their home.
Magnetic Hill
Photo Courtesy: Fulvio Spada
Magnetic Hill, a Wonder
A tour in Ladakh is never complete without visiting the Magnetic Hill. It is also known as Gravity Hill which creates a unique illusion.
A Place of High Altitude Lakes
Just imagine the water bodies in an almost dry high mountains. Surprisingly, Ladakh is a region with several beautiful high-altitude lakes. Pangong Tso, Kiagar Tso, Mirapal Tso, Tso Moriri Lake are some famous lakes in Ladakh.
Pangong Tso
Photo Courtesy: Fulvio Spada
Sparsely Populated
Unlike other parts of India, Ladakh is not crowded. In fact, it is one of the main reasons why Ladakh has preserved its original state. You will only find a few communities of people and travellers here.
Double-Humped Camels
Photo Courtesy:Karunakar Rayker
Have you Heard of Twin-Humped Camels?
For Indians can only imagine big humped camels in the desert regions like Rajasthan. However, Ladakh is a home to some unique species of camels - Twin-Humped (Bactrian) Camels. They are rare and much smaller in size when compared to regular camels.
Maitreya Buddha
Photo Courtesy: Saurabh Kumar_
Land of Monasteries
Tibetan Buddhists are one of the primary inhabitants in Ladakh. Hence, the region is full of Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas.
We are sure these interesting facts about Ladakh to make you curious to visit this place. Pack your bags and get set for an unforgettable adventure in Ladakh.
Be on the look out for Interesting Things About Ladakh - Part 2