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Content accurate at time of publication
01 Nov 2011
Situated high in a valley north of the Indus river in India, Leh was the capital of the old kingdom of Ladakh. Located over 3,500m above sea level, the town was an important trading centre for Central Asia back in ancient times, facilitating the trading of salt, grain, and fabrics such as cashmere and brocade between countries like India and China.
Today, as part of the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Leh is more of a tourist town, lined with hotels, backpacker accommodation, travel agencies, Internet cafes and restaurants. Still, for all its modern trappings, some vestiges of Leh’s regal past remain: Visitors can still see the magnificent ruins of Leh Palace, the former home of the Ladakh royal family that was built in the style of Tibet’s Potala Palace.
Besides architecture, religion in Leh has also been influenced by Tibetan culture. For instance, the area’s predominant religion is Tibetan Buddhism, with its colourful festivals and daily rituals that include the spinning of prayer wheels, along with the chanting of mantras and devotions at temples and monasteries.
Pilgrimages to gompas (religious places of learning and meditation) and stupas (dome-shaped shrines) are also common.
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