Ladakh Landscape
View allAll Photos Tagged Ladakh
The Indus is a transboundary river of Asia and a trans-Himalayan river of South and Central Asia. The 3,120 km river rises in mountain springs northeast of Mount Kailash in Western Tibet, flows northwest through the disputed region of Kashmir, bends sharply to the left after the Nanga Parbat massif, and flows south-by-southwest through Pakistan, before emptying into the Arabian Sea near the port city of Karachi.
The green-tinged Indus river meets the slightly muddy Zanskar river which has its source in the Zanskar valley near the scenic Nimmu valley, that falls between Leh and Kargil. The rivers are clearly distinguished by their colours.
While there are so many fascinating spots in Ladakh,India that can catch the eye of the wanderlust, the river confluence of Zanskar and Indus is nothing short of a glimpse of heaven.
Namgyal Tsemo gompa, founded in early 15th century, is a buddhist monastery placed on top of a hill above Leh, the main city of Ladakh region in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India
Ladakh, "land of high passes", that extends from the Kunlun mountain range to the main Great Himalayas to the south, is a part of India very different from the rest of the country.
Its culture and history are closely related to that of Tibet. Proof of this, it is the nickname "Little Tibet" frequently given to this region!
The road to Pangong Tso (or Pangong Lake), Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Pangong Lake, situated at a height of almost 4,350m, is the world’s highest saltwater lake and remains in a liquid state even in the depths of winter.
Its waters, which seem to be dyed in blue, stand in stark contrast to the arid mountains surrounding it.
Extending to almost 160km, one-third of the Pangong Lake lies in India and the other two-thirds in China.
Phyang Monastery or Phiyang Gompa is a Buddhist monastery located in Fiang village, near Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India
The name Phyang was derived from Gang Ngonpo that means the blue mountain, which is situated behind the monastery.
It was established in 1515. Legend has it that the foundation of the monastery was laid by Denma Kunga Drakpa. It is said that Drakpa stayed at the area in a tented camp to contemplate the beauty of the place. While meditating he saw the protectresss Achi on her blue horse. He took the dream as auspicious sign and decided to construct the monastery at the top of the hill.
A large golden statue of the Gautama Buddha sits on a hill backed by the Stok Range near the Stok Palace, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Gautama Buddha was a monk mendicant and sage on whose teachings Buddhism was founded.
Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake is an endorheic lake spanning eastern Ladakh and West Tibet situated at an elevation of 4,225 m (13,862 ft). It is 134 km (83 mi) long and divided into five sub lakes, called Pangong Tso, Tso Nyak, Rum Tso (twin lakes) and Nyak Tso. Approximately 50% of the length of the overall lake lies within Tibet in China, 40% in Ladakh, India. The lake is 5 km (3.1 mi) wide at its broadest point. All together it covers almost 700 km square. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water. It has a land-locked basin separated from the Indus River basin by a small elevated ridge, but is believed to have been part of the latter in prehistoric times.
Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake is situated at an elevation of 4,225 m (13,862 ft). Approximately 50% of the length of the lake lies within Tibet in China, 40% in Ladakh, India and the remaining 10% is disputed and is a de-facto buffer zone between India and China. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water. Wikipedia
Nubra valley is exquisitely beautiful in Ladakh area of India near kashmir valley. As the area has sand dunes, Bactrian camels are used for riding on sand dunes- these days the tourists do the ride whereas earlier it was the traders.
Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake is situated at an elevation of 4,225 m (13,862 ft). Approximately 50% of the length of the lake lies within Tibet in China, 40% in Ladakh, India and the remaining 10% is disputed and is a de-facto buffer zone between India and China. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water. Wikipedia
At the high altitude of Ladakh, one of the greatest attraction for tourists is riding the double-humped Bactrian camels- a remnant of the Silk trade period when Ladakh had a live trade with Bactria (present day Afghanistan and Tajikistan).
Domesticated Bactrian camels have served as pack animals in inner Asia since ancient times. With its tolerance for cold, drought, and high altitudes, it enabled the travel of caravans on the Silk Road.
Leh is the joint capital and largest city of Ladakh, a union territory of India. Leh, located in the Leh district, was also the historical capital of the Kingdom of Ladakh. The seat of the kingdom, Leh Palace, the former residence of the royal family of Ladakh, was built in the same style and about the same time as the Potala Palace in Tibet.
Situated at over 11,500 ft, Leh was for centuries an important stopover on trade routes along the Indus Valley between Tibet, Kashmir, India and China. The main goods carried were salt, grain, pashm or cashmere wool, charas or cannabis resin from the Tarim Basin, indigo, silk yarn and Banaras brocade.
Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake is situated at an elevation of 4,225 m (13,862 ft). Approximately 50% of the length of the lake lies within Tibet in China, 40% in Ladakh, India and the remaining 10% is disputed and is a de-facto buffer zone between India and China. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water. Wikipedia
Leh Palace also known as Lachen Palkar Palace is a former royal palace overlooking the city of Leh in Ladakh, India. It was constructed circa 1600 by Sengge Namgyal.The palace was abandoned when Dogra forces took control of Ladakh in the mid-19th century and forced the royal family to move to Stok Palace.
It is nine storeys high; the upper floors accommodated the royal family, while the lower floors held stables and store rooms. Much of the palace is in deteriorated condition, and little survives of its interior decorations. The Palace Museum holds a rich collection of jewellery, ornaments, ceremonial dresses and crowns. Tibetan thangka or paintings, which are more than 450 years old, with intricate designs still retain the bright colours derived from crushed and powdered gems and stones.
Tsewang Dolkar, 53, tending to her mustard fields in Likir, Ladakh.
In the high-altitude fields of Ladakh, where fertile soil is a rare commodity, mustard is a versatile staple: its seeds are pressed for cooking oil, while the stalks are preserved as essential winter fodder for livestock.
Ladakh, the country of Buddhist monasteries in the high Himalayan mountains
Un viaggio con il fotografo Roberto Farina
Autumn is differently fascinating in rugged terrain of Ladakh...here we seen a beautiful monastery in Lingshed, a very remote village, in Zanskar valley of Ladakh Himalayas, India
Likir Gompa, or Monastery was founded in 1065 by Lama Duwang Chosje at the request of King Lhachen Gyalpo. Its name means "water spirits circled," referring to the Nagas that legend says once inhabited the area. Today, it is highly significant as the seat of Ngari Rinpoche, the current emanation of the Dalai Lama’s younger brother, who presides over its most important ceremonies.
I took this photo on a road trip from Shimla to Ladakh which turned very tragic for us as I suddenly lost my Dad (who lived in Kolkata) just the day we reached Leh after a three day drive from Shimla.
We have finally left Shimla and come to Kolkata.Things are not settled yet.I miss Dad a lot still especially now that I am in Kolkata.I want to thank all my friends for their love and sympathy.I have missed you all very much and I am glad to be back although I think I will manage to be regular only in about a fortnight.
I took this shot near Sarchu on the Manali-Leh Highway.Sarchu is a small settlement more or less midway between Manali and Leh (altitude over 14000 feet)
This spectacular highway connects Manali in the state of Himachal Pradesh to Leh in the state of Jammu& Kashmir in India.The average elevation of this road is around 13000 feet and the highest elevation is at Tanglang La pass (17480 feet).The highway remains snow-bound and closed for around 6-7 months of the year.One can see breathtaking mountain scenery with some amazing sand and rock formations while travelling this highway.
Lamayuru is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Lamayouro, Leh district, Ladakh, India. It is situated on the Srinagar-Leh highway 15 kilometres east of the Fotu La at a height of 3,510 metres. It is currently affiliated with the Drikung Kagyu school of Buddhism.
The Drikung history states that the Indian scholar Naropa (956-1041 CE) allegedly caused a lake which filled the valley to dry up and founded Lamayuru Monastery. The oldest surviving building at Lamayuru is a temple called Seng-ge-sgang, at the southern end of the Lamayuru rock, which is attributed to the famous builder-monk Rinchen Zangpo (958-1055 CE). Rinchen Zangpo was charged by the king of Ladakh to build 108 gompas, and certainly many gompas in Ladakh, Spiti Valley and the surrounding regions, date from his time.
The oldest gompas, those dating from Rinchen-zang-po's time — Alchi and Lamayuru, and the less accessible Wanla, Mang-gyu and Sumda — belonged at the time of their foundation to none of these Tibetan schools, whose establishment they antedate. They were at some stage taken over by the Ka-dam-pa, and when it fell into decline they were taken over again, this time mostly by the Ge-lugs-pa. The exception was Lamayuru, which was for some reason claimed by the Dri-gung-pa"
The gompa consisted originally of five buildings, and some remains of the four corner buildings can still be seen.
Lamayuru is one of the largest and oldest gompas in Ladakh, with a population of around 150 permanent monks resident. It has, in the past, housed up to 400 monks, many of which are now based in gompas in surrounding villages.
The Drikung history states that the Indian scholar Naropa (956-1041 CE) allegedly caused a lake which filled the valley to dry up and founded Lamayuru Monastery. The oldest surviving building at Lamayuru is a temple called Seng-ge-sgang, at the southern end of the Lamayuru rock, which is attributed to the famous builder-monk Rinchen Zangpo (958-1055 CE). Rinchen Zangpo was charged by the king of Ladakh to build 108 gompas, and certainly many gompas in Ladakh, Spiti Valley and the surrounding regions, date from his time.
The oldest gompas, those dating from Rinchen-zang-po's time — Alchi and Lamayuru, and the less accessible Wanla, Mang-gyu and Sumda — belonged at the time of their foundation to none of these Tibetan schools, whose establishment they antedate. They were at some stage taken over by the Ka-dam-pa, and when it fell into decline they were taken over again, this time mostly by the Ge-lugs-pa. The exception was Lamayuru, which was for some reason claimed by the Dri-gung-pa"
The gompa consisted originally of five buildings, and some remains of the four corner buildings can still be seen.
Lamayuru is one of the largest and oldest gompas in Ladakh, with a population of around 150 permanent monks resident. It has, in the past, housed up to 400 monks, many of which are now based in gompas in surrounding villages.