Home :: Ladakh Holidays :: Leh Ladakh Religion and Culture

The many distinctive features of Ladakh are its uplands, craggy, barren cliffs and plateaus. Governed by a climate that provides about 50 mm of rainfall each year, Ladakh is cold and dry. A visitor, therefore, will be faced with a long and bitter winter of frozen landscape but yet very beautiful, and a short, hot summer when he precious glaciers melt.

Change is way of life in Ladakh, specially so with the people of Ladakh, their culture, religion and way of life. With the strong prevalence of Buddhism,. The Buddhist monastery, or 'gompa' is a pivotal force in Ladakhi life. Besides being center-stage during all celebrations and ceremonies, a gompa and its Lamas are involved in education, medication and many such social activities.

Then there are the lovely Ladakhis. Cut-off, yet content, their most winning feature is a total absence of urbanity. How reassuring it is to meet a Ladakhi-simple, cheerful and so incredibly industrious. Against the harsh backdrop of barrenness, the famous Ladakhi spirit shines like a beacon. With a total population of less than 150,000, the people of Ladakh belong to a variety of races, such as the hunja, Daradas, mons and Droks. The latter have the distinction of being survivors of pure Aryan stock, and the men of this race are called the Drokpas.