Leh is capital of Ladakh has been the center of Tibeto-Buddhist Culture since long, lies in the eastern part of the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. With a strong Tibetian - Buddhist culture and colorful gompas / temples, Leh is a magnet for devout Buddhists and is also a favoured trekking locale. The most attractive feature of the landscape around Leh are the Buddhist monasteries. Situated on the isolated hillocks with pleasing aesthetics and interesting architecture, these monasteries provide the focus for the faith of the highly religious Buddhist people of the region. Leh also is a favorite hiking locale that is thronged by adventure seekers.
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By Air: Leh has a airport that provide regular services from Leh to Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar and return.
By Rail: Jammu is the nearest railway station, which is about 734 km from Leh.
By Road: JKSRTC provide service from Srinagar to Leh (700 km) which takes two days and HRTC provide service from Manali to Leh (474 km), which takes about 20 hours or two days if you halt in between. Jeep services are also available here.
While shopping in Leh, you will find a range of beautiful carpets and rugs with traditional Kashmiri and Persian motifs. The popular attractions from Tibet are the jewellery made from semi-precious stones, the native Thangka paintings and traditional items like Thangka paintings, small prayer wheels, music bowls, Ladakhi carpets, rugs, shawls and stoles. You will also be fascinated by the rubies form Burma and the Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan.
T-shirts with 'Free Tibet' printed in them and painted masks are also interesting souvenirs to take home from Tibet.
Tibet is famous for its metal ware. If you are an art connoisseur, then the commonly found cymbals with special religious motifs that are used during meditation, decorative copper and brass trumpets and sonorous bowls made of nine metals like cymbals will all be fascinating collector's items. If you are fond of fancy jewellery, then you can pick up the most exquisite ones like chunky shell bangles worn by Ladakhi women and exquisite unpolished turquoise and silver jewelry. For those with a sweet tooth, there are a number of German bakeries in Leh to cater to European tastes.
The main shopping area is the Main market. Other places worth checking out are the Ladakh Art Palace, Lhasa Embroidery and the government emporiums in the main shopping area. Tibetan Refugee Market on Old Leh Road is another ideal place for shopping in Leh.
Lasermo Hotel
Lotus Hotel
Mandala Hotel
Pangong Hotel
Mahay Hotel
Royal Palace
Spic n Span Hotel
Ule Ethnic Resort