LEH
LEH
Leh, the capital of the Ladakh district at 11482 ft (3500 m), is situated on the banks of the Indus River and is located in the snowcovered fringes of the Himalayas, toward the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Leh became the regional capital in the 17th century, when King Sengge Namgyal shifted his court here to be closer to the head of the Khardung LaKarakoram corridor into China. Leh has been a center of Tibeto-Buddhist culture for centuries, but has only been open to travelers since 1974. Its colourful gompas have attracted devout Buddhists from all over the globe.
The national dress, 'stove-pipe' hats and felt boots with turned-up toes are much in evidence everywhere. The Royal Palace, which dominates the town, is very reminiscent of the Potala in Lhasa
