Where Is Leh Ladakh ?

Ladakh District headquarters of Leh District

Coordinates: 34°10′12″N 77°34′48″E

Ladakh (pink) in a map of Indian-administered Kashmir

The Ladakh region has high altitude.

Map of the central Ladakh region

Landscape in Ladakh

Ladakh is the highest plateau of state of Kashmir with much of it being over 3,000 m (9,800 ft). It extends from the Himalayan to the Kunlun Ranges and includes the upper Indus River valley.
Monthly average temperature in Leh
The Ladakh Range has no major peaks; its average height is a little less than 6,000 m (20,000 ft), and few of its passes are less than 5,000 m (16,000 ft). The Pangong Range runs parallel to the Ladakh Range for about 100 km northwest from Chushul along the southern shore of the Pangong Lake. Its highest point is about 6,700 m (22,000 ft) and the northern slopes are heavily glaciated. The region comprising the valley of the Shayok and Nubra rivers is known as Nubra. The Karakoram Range in Ladakh is not as mighty as in Baltistan. The massifs to the north and east of the Nubra–Siachen line include the Apsarasas Group (highest point 7,245 m; 23,770 ft) the Rimo Muztagh (highest point 7,385 m; 24,229 ft) and the Teram Kangri Group (highest point 7,464 m; 24,488 ft) together with Mamostong Kangri (7,526 m; 24,692 ft) and Singhi Kangri (7,202 m; 23,629 ft). North of the Karakoram lies the Kunlun. Thus, between Leh and eastern Central Asia there is a triple barrier — the Ladakh Range, Karakoram Range, and Kunlun. Nevertheless, a major trade route was established between Leh and Yarkand.

Ladakh is a high altitude desert as the Himalayas create a rain shadow, generally denying entry to monsoon clouds. The main source of water is the winter snowfall on the mountains. Recent flooding in the region (e.g., the 2010 floods) has been attributed to abnormal rain patterns and retreating glaciers, both of which have been found to be linked to global climate change. The Leh Nutrition Project, headed by Chewang Norphel, also known as the "Glacier Man", creates artificial glaciers as one solution for retreating glaciers.

Time To Travel

April to June: April to June is one of the best times of the year to visit Leh. The sun shines bright and keeps the day temperatures warm. Leh has beautiful clear blue skies but do remember that the sun here has the intensity to carve out brand new noses for travelers who fail to wear a few layers of strong (with a 50+ SPF) sunscreen.

Leh showcases a different kind of frozen beauty in April in the form of snow-capped mountains, and frozen lakes that you can walk upon. Leh renders a different kind of feel as it recovers from the freezing winters. 

July to August: The monsoon months, i.e. late July till end of August sometimes experience landslides and cloud bursts. 

September to October: Starting September a kind of chill sets in Leh but the sun keeps shining. This is also a great time to go trekking. 

November to February: People don’t prefer to travel to Leh during the winter months from November to February. The winters on the “roof of the world” can get unbearable. With the exception of the Liker to Kahltsey (Sham) trek, most trekking routes close down after November due to heavy snowfall. The Chadar trek is best conducted between January and mid-March.

You will like

Serenity

• Leh is by far the most peaceful place you’ll visit. No matter in which direction you head out to, peace is ubiquitous.
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• Rivers and Lakes

• The rivers and lakes around Leh are a spectacle you won’t come across any place else. On various excursions, you’ll see rivers such as Zanskar, Indus, Shyok, Chandra, Siachen and lakes such as Pangong Lake and Tso Moriri.
• Monasteries and Spiritual Life

• Leh is a spiritual town, with more than 90 per cent of the population following Buddhism. Dotted with centuries-old monasteries, nunneries and Buddhist schools, you’ll love exploring the spiritual life here. 
• Shopping

• The Leh Market might be the only option here, but it is a good place to shop for all kinds of curios. The prices too are competitive and bargaining is well-entertained. 
• Weather

• The weather around June is perfect for a visit – the cold winters are long gone and the monsoons are still a month away.
  
  
  
  

Be prepared

• No Nightlife

• Leh is a place for avid explorers, inquisitive trekkers, peace-lovers, and people who want to relax amid silence and fresh air. Nightlife in Leh goes as far as an 8:30 pm dinner in a nearby restaurant.

• Altitude Sickness

• No one can escape this. The headache and nausea will come, stay for a day and leave as if nothing happened.

• Extreme Cold and Frostbites

• One thunderstorm can change the sunny amicable weather of Leh to harsh cold in a jiffy. You’ll need to take care of your head, hands and feet. Keep yourself well-covered.

• Lack of Connectivity

• Prepaid phones do not work in Leh. Post-paid ones will seldom find connectivity. However, Leh market is peppered with public phone booths. You won’t find it hard connecting with loved ones back home.