Ladakh: Mythical Lands!

By Author: Amit Desai
Total Articles: 5
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Surrounded by one of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya, Ladakh is a region in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. It is famed world over as the 'Cold Desert' or 'Little Tibet'. At 3500m Ladakh literally takes your breath away. A precautionary advice is to spend at least the first day for acclimatization.

Ladakh is sure to stun you, as soon as you lay your eyes on it. Encompassed with extra-ordinary scenic beauty and obscure terrains, the Ladaki air smells of freshly brewed nature. You are bound to lose yourself to the gentle caresses of the valleys, rivers and mountains. A holiday here means a total cut off from an entire civilization so that you can relax to the maximum and feel yourself rejuvenated when you return back home.

Ladakh offers an array of activities to be done. From trekking to water rafting, the adrenaline keeps pumping and flowing. Trekking trails are in the Markha Valley and Temisgam in Likir. While, rafting can be experienced at the Shayok River in Nubra Valley or the Zanskar River in Zanskar Valley. And whole new high is treading along Ladakh on a bike ...
... or motorcycle. It is a highly indulging activity and you are filled with a sense of tranquil while doing so.

People who visit Ladakh will also be surprised by the cultural vibrancy and the many festivals celebrated with much fanfare. The festivals reflect the rich culture of the Ladakis, and their attitude towards living a happy and satisfied life. One of the chief festivals, the 'Ladakh Festival' is held from 1st to 15th Sept and a host of performers head start it with decorated masks and gold & silver ornaments. The other major festival which involves active participation from people is the 'Hemis Festival' held once every 12 years to commemorate the birth of Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tantric Buddhism in Tibet. The festival reaches the penultimate by the unveiling of a huge 'Thangka' (religious icon) which is considered to be one of the greatest treasures. And how can one forget - Losar, which is celebrated in the eleventh month of the Tibetan calendar, two months ahead of Tibetan New Year. It goes on for fifteen days, with the main celebrations taking place in the first 3 days.

All in all Ladakh manages to entertain, exhaust and enliven all at once. It is the place which is made for the soul, and it manages to easily enchant it. Nomadier is a leading name in adventure tours and travel operators in India. Nomadier offers a varied number of Ladakh trekking tours and adventure packages.