Ladakh: Leh Valley Area

In August, I had the chance to visit Ladakh, a part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir situated high in the Himalayas along the Indo-Chinese border. I can confidently say that Ladakh is the most beautiful place I have ever visited. At 3,500 meters (11,500 ft) high, the barren landscape and deep blue skies were like nothing I’ve seen before. Driving around the area was a treat, and I spent most of the time on the road hanging out of the car window camera in hand trying to capture the passing landscape. There was no shortage of monasteries and pretty valleys to visit, many of which are pictured below. The highlight of the trip was a visit to Pangong Lake, which will have an entire post dedicated to it. 

I was only able scratch the surface of what there is to see in Ladakh during the week I was there, but with any luck I'll be back soon. Hopefully these photos will give you a taste of what it’s like!

Thikse Monastery, Ladakh. Taken from the Shey Monastery across the valley.

Clouds gather over the Stok range in Leh, Ladakh. The Stok range is one of the most popular trekking routes in the area.

A stupa on the outskirts of the town of Leh. Behind it, the Stok Range.

Buddhist paintings inside the Alchi Monastery in Ladakh. The paintings are some of the oldest in the Ladakh area.

A winding staircase at Hemis Monastery, Ladakh.

A prayer bell inside of Hemis Monastery, Ladakh.

A stupa at the Hemis Monastery. The high altitude in Ladakh gives the sky an unreal blue hue.

Clouds move across the mountains creating dramatic shadows. 

Looking over the Leh Valley. To give you a sense of scale, the small buildings in the center of the image are hangars that could probably fit a full commercial airliner inside.

Between the Royal Enfield motorcycle, the monks, the prayer flags, and the old solar panel, this photo feels very Ladakhi to me.

A line of stupas outside of the Shey Monastery in Ladakh.

A monk at the Leh Monastery looks over the Leh Valley.

A beautiful ceiling surrounded by paintings in the Leh Palace.

A lightening bolt over the mountains in Leh, Ladakh. I didn't have a tripod with me, so I got this shot the hard way by pointing my camera towards the storm and setting it to burst mode with as long a shutter speed as I could hold steadily. After a few hundred shots I finally got one with lightening in it. Next time I'll bring a tripod...

The main market street in Leh, Ledakh. On the mountains to the left, a monastery and the Leh Palace look over the town.

a quickr pickr post