Leh Tourism & Accomodation
Leh, the capital of Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh, offers many-a-accommodation to suit every pocket and preference. The land is home to various family-run establishments that provide homely and personalised services. Hotels, lodges and guest houses abound here. The accommodations can widely be classified as A, B, C and economy category while the guest houses fall under upper, medium and economy class. Apart from the low tariff offered for accommodation ranging from very good to merely basic, the guesthouse system also provides an opportunity for the tourists to see and experience the Ladakhi life from the inside.
Most of the guest houses are located in Leh's northern suburbs in Changspa, Karzoo and surrounding areas, which is only five to thirthy-minute walk from the centre of Leh. In fact it seems as though most of the houses in Changspa have been converted to guest houses. Surrounded by farmers fields and often with excellent views, they make wonderful place to unwind. It's easy to wander around this area stopping at the numerous small guest houses to find something that suits your budget and needs.
The State Tourism Department also offers accommodation facilities like tourist complexes and hiker huts at Tangse, Spangmik, Sakti, Rumtse, Hunder, Panamik and Saspol. Tourists can also seek accommodation as paying guests in a few selected homes in these places though it is advisable to travel with personal sleeping bags and some dry ration.
It is advisable to book your preferred accommodation or hotel in advance if planning to travel during the the peak season of June to mid-September. There are also some government-run tourist bungalows located mainly along the Srinagar-Leh road. These offer the best value in the medium range, but room availability is uncertain unless you hold a confirmed reservation.
The hotels in Leh are well-furnished and neat and set in picturesque locales, infusing romance into your stay. Hotels in Leh offer a wide variety of delicious cuisine from Indian to Continental cuisine. Tibetan food is quite popular and unique.
About Leh
The tourist town of Leh beacons with its ethereal beauty of snow-capped mountains, translucent lakes, barren landscape and mighty rivers. Leh is the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh, now the Leh District in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Ladakh consists of two districts Leh and Kargil. The town is still dominated by the now ruined Leh Palace, former home of the royal family of Ladakh, built in the same style and about the same time as the Potala Palace. Leh stands at an altitude of 3,500 meters (11,483 ft).
As the conduit of Buddhism from India to Central Asia, Ladakh is studded with monasteries, historical monuments and ancient engravings. Even small villages have fascinating treasure troves of Buddhist art and architecture, chortens, and long stone walls (mani) engraved with mantras.
The district is bounded by Pakistan occupied Kashmir in the west, China in the north and eastern part while Lahul-Spiti of Himachal Pardesh in fall on south-east. In Leh, the summers (March to May) are hot and the mercury level rises up to 40°C. But the winters (November to February) are chilly cold and the mercury level comes down to very well below 0°C and the whole area is covered with snow during the winters. Monsoons offer less rainfall. The best time to visit Leh is June to September.
Leh is a small town, easy to get most places by foot. The old town is a compact area of mud brick houses and narrow lanes directly to the east of Main Bazar. Changspa is the agricultural suburb at the northwest of the centre with many guesthouses.
However, there is little in the way of nightlife in Leh. The summer temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C, while in the winter they may drop to -40°C in some high altitude areas.
Since the tourists do take time to acclimatise, it is advisable to take it easy on your first few days there to not risk possible altitude sickness.