Leh is situated on the east of Jammu and Kashmir at a height of 3,505 metres. The river Zanskar flows through Leh and meets the Indus below. Leh is an off the beaten track destination in Jammu and Kashmir. Leh commands a beautiful view of the Himalayas and is one of the reasons why people tour Leh. Come and discover the centuries old Buddhist monasteries in the rugged yet beautiful Leh with Vacations India.

Leh is the regional capital of Ladakh that has a history steeped in Buddhist culture perhaps due its geographical location near to Tibet. But Leh has Muslim populations as well. It was during the rule of King Sengge Namgyal who shifted his court from Shey to Leh that Leh became the center of action. Later Leh developed as an important market on the Silk Route. During the first decades of the 20th century, Leh was a busy trading center and trader used to throng its bazaars.

Today Leh is one of the wonderful destinations with a number of tourist attractions. The Buddhist monasteries draw a number of people to Leh from all over the world. Leh is also a very fine destination for trekking and hiking. It was in 1974 that Ladakh was opened to foreign tourists and since then, the region has attracted hordes of tourists. The main approach to Leh and Ladakh is through Himachal Pradesh.

The tranquil ambience of Leh is best to unwind after a long journey. There are a number of beautiful monasteries and scenic places that one can head to after reaching Leh. One can visit to Leh Palace, which is a miniature version of the famed Potala in Lhasa, Tibet. Once home to royal family the palace was built in the 17th century and has nine stories. Just above the palace one can trek to the Victory Tower at the top of Namgyal hill, which was built to commemorate Ladakh's victory over the Balti Kashmir armies in the 16th century.

Namgyal Tsemo Gompa is another famous monastery in Leh that was built in 1430. It has a huge Buddha image and ancient manuscripts. If you want to see a breathtaking view of the Leh town, you can walk up to the fort above. A couple of kilometres from the town, the Sankar Gompa is another beautiful spot that you can visit. The Shanti Stupa is another attraction in Leh. It was built in 1985 and offers exotic view of the surrounding areas. Shanti Stupa is located about three kilometres from the Fort Road.

Leh is one of the finest destinations for adventure in north India. The region offers some of the wonderful treks. You can trek from Spituk to the Markha valley and from Lamayuru gompa to Chilling village along the river Zanskar. These two treks are most popular and many trekking enthusiast take these routes. Likir to Temisgam is another popular trek that you can take. June to October is considered one of the best periods for trekking but before you go ahead with your trekking plans, a day or two are essential for acclimatization.

You can extend your tour to Leh and travel to Ladakh, which has several tourist attractions. It is best to tour this region during the festivals as the region comes alive with festivities and is abuzz with tourist. Enjoy your holidays in Leh with Vacations India.