Ladakh region of India, also called Little Tibet. Unlike commercialized Tibet, Ladakh has retained its authenticity. Located in an isolated part of India, difficult to access due to the Indian Himalayas, high altitude and desert terrain, for most of the year can not be visited due to heavy snowfall and extreme sub-zero temperatures. Until 50 years ago, it was closed to tourists, which has preserved it to some extent from the entry of modern civilization. Tibetan monasteries built in the 14th century have been preserved and function to this day.
In addition to the monasteries, you can visit the sacred lakes Pangong and Tzo Mori or go on a camel safari in Nubra. You can reach Ladakh by flight from Delhi to Leh or for lovers of extreme experiences by jeep from Kashmir through Zodjila pass the highest pass in India to Kargil, thus you will see most of Ladakh.
But even for those of you who are not at all interested in history and Eastern religions, you will get a lot of positive emotions and hopefully a good impression in Ladakh. Alien landscapes, camels and yaks, alpine lakes, snowy Himalayan peaks allow you to literally jump from the sky. After all, the average height of the kingdom of Ladakh is more than 3000 meters above sea level, and some villages and roads are over 5000 meters!
Traveling to Ladakh by plane has its risks. One detail is that the altitude of 3000 meters when you land will knock you down literally. Headaches and fatigue are just some of the symptoms of altitude sickness.
We will not describe every single lake, because they are all beautiful and pristine. I just want to clarify that a permit is needed to visit them because of their proximity to the Chinese border. The permit is valid for one week and must be obtained through an intermediary company.
In addition, they are difficult to access, even without a car. The distances are huge, and the size of the Ladakh region must be taken into account. For example, Lake Pangong became known to tourists because a feature film was made here, which became very popular in India. Try the local food, which is not very diverse and includes local production.
Typical dishes are stuffed dumplings steamed with mutton or vegetarian, noodle soup with vegetables or mutton and ladak bread. You can try yak milk and cheese and drink traditional tea with milk, butter and salt. In conclusion, we can write that the Ladakh region of India is not the typical Indian destination you can imagine.
It is more like Central Asia, Tibet and China combined, but it has its own spiritual features. There is something for everyone here, impressing the cleanliness and discipline of the local population, unlike Mumbai and Delhi.