Ladakh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ladakh
Region
The Walna river, Wanla village, Zanskar
Map showing Ladakh, in pink. The rest of Kashmir under Indian control is shown in blue and Siachen Glacier in white.
Countries	India/Pakistan
Division	Jammu and Kashmir
Districts	Kargil, Leh
Area
• Total	49,146 km2 (18,975 sq mi)
Population  (2001)
• Total	270,126
• Density	5.49640/km2 (14.23561/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Ladakhi, Tibetan, Kashmiri, Urdu, Balti
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	Leh:JK10/Kargil:JK07
Main cities	Leh/Kargil
Infant mortality rate	19% (1981)
Website	,

Ladakh (Standard Tibetan: ལ་དྭགས Urdu: لدّاخ, "land of high passes") is a region in northern India. It is part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Himalayas to the south. Ladakh is well-known for its remote mountain scenery. It is inhabited by a mix of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan people. Their language is an archaic dialect of the Tibetan language. It is sometimes called "Little Tibet", because it has been strongly influenced by Tibetan culture. Ladakh is one of the least populated regions in the area.

Historically, the region of Ladakh included neighbouring Baltistan, the Indus and Zanskar Valleys, Lahaul and Spiti, Aksai Chin and the Nubra Valley. The modern region borders Tibet to the east, Lahaul and Spiti to the south, and Kashmir, Jammu and Baltistan to the west.

In the past, Ladakh was important for trade. It was where several important trade routes met. However, China closed the border with Tibet in the 1960s, and since then, international trade has suffered. Tourism is an exception, and it has been very important for Ladakh's economy since about 1974. Because the wider region is a part of the Kashmir conflict, the Indian military has a strong presence in Ladakh.

The largest town in Ladakh is Leh. It is one of the few remaining places in South Asia where Buddhism is very strong. A majority of Ladakhis are Tibetan Buddhists and the rest are mostly Shia Muslims. Leh is followed by Kargil as the second largest town in Ladakh. Some Ladakhi activists have in recent times called for Ladakh to be made into a union territory because of its religious and cultural differences with Kashmir, which is mostly Muslim.

Geography

Ladakh is the highest plateau in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Much of it is over 3,000 m (9,800 ft) above sea level. It spans the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges and the upper Indus River valley. The Indus is the most important part of Ladakh for its people. Most major historical and current towns (Shey, Leh, Basgo and Tingmosgang) are located close to the Indus River. The stretch of the Indus flowing through Ladakh is the only part of this river in India. The river is sacred in Hindu religion and culture.

People and culture

A Ladakhi woman in traditional clothes.

Like the land itself, the people of Ladakh are generally quite different from those of the rest of India. The faces and physique of the Ladakhis, and the clothes they wear, are more akin to those of Tibet and Central Asia than of India. The original population may have been Dards, an Indo-Aryan race down from the Indus and the Gilgit area

About 46% are Buddhist by faith. Just over 47% are Muslim, and 6% are Hindu. Kargil District is the only Muslim-majority district within Ladakh. They traditionally lead a nomadic pastoral life. About 90% of them depend on agriculture based on the Indus River for their livelihood. Barley, wheat, buckwheat, peas, rapeseed and beans are the main agricultural products. Apples and apricots are grown in warmer regions of low altitude.

Another occupation of the people is sheep-rearing. The herdsmen are called Chang-pas. They rear long-haired goats and sheep from whose under-fleece the famous Kashmiri Pashmina shawls are made. Chang-pas live in tents and are nomadic, going from place to place in search of pastures. The people are keenly interested in trade. Wool, in raw form is their chief commercial product. The men travel long distances, seeking favourable prices for their wares, which consist of salt, dry fruits and cultured pearls and semi-precious stones. In return they get tea, tobacco, grain, sugar and other essential goods.

Playing polo on fast-racing ponies is the most popular entertainment in Ladakh. The horse is not changed with each chukker (chukka) as in western style polo, but each player carries on with the same sturdy pony. Primitive wooden balls are still used for the game, played on a rough, uneven pitch whose popularity persists in Ladakh.

Ladakh offers the hunters exotic hunts of the markhor, ibex, red bear, snow leopard, wild sheep, antelope, gazelle and marmot. Ladakh is also rich in minerals like gold, copper and semi-precious stones.

Ladakh also offers the thrill of trekking and adventure to experienced mountain climbers with treks such as the Chadar Trek (also known as the frozen Zanskar river trek) and the Stok Kangri Trek (elevation 6,153 m (20, 182 ft) where mountaineers experience climbing the highest range in the Stok Range of the Himalayas in northwest India.

Images for kids

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  South Asia in 565 CE

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  The empire of Kyide Nyimagon divided among his three sons, c. 930 CE. The border between Ladakh/Maryul and Guge-Purang is shown in a thin dotted line, north of Gartok

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  another royal scene]] at nearby Mangyu Monastery.

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  Jama Masjid of Leh next to the Leh Palace

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  Thikse Monastery, Ladakh

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  The empire of kings Tsewang Namgyal and Jamyang Namgyal, about 1560–1600 CE

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  Cham dance during Dosmoche festival in Leh Palace

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  National Highway No 1

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  Ladakh (L) shown in the wider Kashmir region

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  The confluence of the Indus (flowing left-to-right) and Zanskar (coming in from top) rivers.

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  The Ladakh region has high altitude

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  View of Leh Town Along with Stok Kangri

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  The black-necked crane comes to India every year for breeding. Photograph has been taken at Tso Kar, Ladakh.

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  Wild animals of Ladakh

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  Yaks in Ladakh

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  Banner of the Administration of Ladakh

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  Street market in Leh

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  Preparing apricots. Alchi Monastery.

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  A vehicle on the Himalaya Highway 3

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  Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport

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  Thukpa

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  Dancer in masked dance festival

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  Jabro Dance

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  Sul-ma, woman's woollen dress (detail), Ladakh, late 19th-early 20th century

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  First ever Khelo India Winter Games in Ladakh

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  Woman wearing traditional Ladakhi hat

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  Indian Astronomical Observatory near Leh

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  Ladakh horsemen, depicted in Alchi Monastery, circa 13th century CE

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  The nine stupas at Thiksey Monastery

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  Statue of Maitreya at Likir Monastery, Leh district

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  Likir Monastery, Ladakh

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  Phyang Gompa, Ladakh

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  Hemis Monastery in the 1870s

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  Pensi La

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  Shingo La

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  Shanti Stupa, Leh

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  Front of the Thiksey Monastery

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  Likir Monastery

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  Trees nestled in front of the Himalayas near Leh

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  Nubra Valley view with reflection

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  Carved stone tablets, each with the inscription "Om Mani Padme Hum" along the paths of Zanskar

See also

In Spanish: Ladakh para niños