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About Ladakh

General Information
Getting Acquainted
Ladakh is spread over an area of 97,000 sq. kms. and lies at an average altitude of 3,500m above the sea level. Ladakh has a population of around 2,5000.

Languages Spoken
Ladakhi is the main language of Ladakh; other languages spoken are Balti, Shina, Brokshat and Changshat. In hotels and restaurants staff speak English and Hindi, while tourist guides are well versed with the language.

Permit and Passport
Tourist don't require permit for Leh, however, all foreigners are required to be registered at Drass, Rumtse and Serchu if they are travelling overland. Those traveling by air get themselves registered at airport. Tourists are required to get permit for restricted areas like Tsomoriri, Tsokar and Pangong Lakes, Dhahanu and Nubra Valley, which can be obtained from District Magistrate, Leh, through Travel Agents at Leh.

Avoid Acute mountain sickness
Acute mountain sickness can occur to any one at an altitude above 10,000 ft. above sea level, therefore, make it sure to take complete rest on the day of arrival.

How to Get There
Road Journey
The main overland approach to Ladakh is from the Kashmir Valley via the 434 km Drinagar-Leh road which remains open for traffic from early June to November. The most dramatic part of this road journey is the ascent up the 11,500 feet / 3,505 m high Zoji-la, the pass in the Great Himalayan Wall that serves as the gateway to Ladakh. The J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&K SRTC) operates regular Deluxe and Ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this route with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis (cars and jeeps )are also available at Srinagar for the journey. Groups can charter Deluxe and A-class buses for Leh, Kargil or Padum (Zanskar) for the J&K SRTC at Srinagar.

Since 1989, the 473 km Manali-Leh road has been serving as the second land approach to Ladakh. Open for traffic from around mid-June to early October, this high road traverses the upland desert plateau to Rupshu whose altitude ranges from 3,660 m to 4,570m.

A number of high passes fall en route among which the highest one, known as Taglang-la, is the world's second highest motorable pass at an altitude of 17,469 feet/ 5,325m. H.P. Tourism, H.P. STRC and J&K SRTC operate Deluxe and Ordinary bus services between Manali and Leh. The bus journey between Leh and Manali takes about 19 hours or two days with an overnight halt in camps at Serchu or Pang. Gypsy and jeep jeep taxis are also available, both at Manali and Leh.

Air Travel
Indian Airlines operates regular scheduled flight to Leh from Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar. Some private airlines are also planning to operate air services between Delhi and Leh in the near future.

Internal Transport
The cheapest way to travel within the region is by public buses which play on fixed routes according to fixed time schedules. The most comfortable and convenient though expensive mode of travel, however, is by taxes (car, Gypsy), which are available for hire on fixed point-to-point tariff. For visits to the newly opened areas of Nubra, Changthang and Dah-Hanu, it is mandatory to engage the services of a registered/ recognized travel agency for making all the requisite arrangements including internal transport. Detailed information about bus schedules, taxi tariff, travel agencies, etc. can be obtained from the Tourist Office.