Ladakh is famous for its remote spots for tourists and Buddhist culture. It is sometimes called the "Little Tibet" as it has been heavily influenced by Tibetan culture. In the past Ladakh gained significance from its strategic position at the crossroads of important trade routes, but since the Chinese authorities closed the borders with Tibet and Central Asia in the 1960, international trade has diminished. Since 1974 the Indian Government has encouraged tourism in Ladakh.
Ladakh has one of the lowest population densities in the world with 2 inhabitants per kilometer, 59,000 square kilometers of rocky desert, apparently inhospitable mountains, framed in a parallel fashion by two of the most imposing mountain ranges, the Karakoram to the North, the Himalayas to the South.
Ladakh lies on the rain shadow side of the Himalaya, where dry monsoon winds reaches it after being robbed of its moisture in plains and the mountains. The district combines the condition of both arctic and desert climate. Therefore Ladakh is often called “ COLD DESERT”
The largest town in Ladakh is Leh. A majority of people here are Tibetan Buddhists and the majority of the remainder are Shia Muslims. It is at distance 434 Kms from Srinagar and 474 Kms from Manali.
The only route accessible to Ladakh during the winter is by air. Indian Air Lines operates three days in a week. More over in winter months the air services is not frequent as there are too many cancellations of flights due to fog in Delhi and Leh. Life in Ladakh comes to a stand still in winter months and remains cut off rest of the world
