Why a motor-able road on Khardung la pass was built?

Ladakh, popularly known as “the moon land”, “snow desert” and “the land of high passes” is one of the most popular tourist destinations of India. Trekkingin Ladakh is a heavenly feeling for the enthusiast trekkers of the globe. Leh is the capital city and central point of Ladakh Tourism of this region. Khardung la, Alchi, Hemis, Lamayuru, Zanskar Valley, Nubra Valley, Kargil, Pangong Tso, Tso Kar and Tso Moriri are the main tourist destinations of the Leh Ladakh.

That is where Khardung la Pass, is located on the way from Leh to the Nubra Valley in Leh Ladakh. It is the highest motor-able road in the world as a signboard is kept at the ending point of Khardung la (also known as K-Top) pass denoting the height by the Border Roads Organization of India.

The Reasons why Khardung la pass was built:

According to the documents available with the Indian Army, the Khardung la has quite a bit of history behind it. I am about to share the facts which I got to read and know from Lt. General (Retired) TB Nanda, then Chief Engineer of the Northern Command in-charge of building this road:

“After the 1971 war with Pakistan, there was an exchange of territory in the mountainous country north of the Himalayas, and India acquired an area of some 400 square miles across the Shyok River.

Our main supply base for this area was at Leh on south of the Ladakh range. On the north side of this range was a Forward Supply Depot at Partapur. Up to this time supply to the FSD from Leh had been both by pack transport over the Ladakh range and by aircraft to Thoise, where there was a narrow runway.

But despite the efforts of path clearing gangs, the Khardung la pass was often impassable for pack transport in winter, and the Air Force was unhappy using the Thoise runway. The low mounted engines of the aircraft tended to chock in dust and sand.”

Then it was decided to make a motorable road over the Khardung La. The road was built within a year and later was opened to traffic on August 27, 1973 to solve the problem of supplies to the whole region.

Here, the weather can turn for the worse suddenly. Even on 2^nd May 2012, snowfall in this area is an indicator that one needs to be careful to harsher conditions anytime. The views from Khardung la pass are undoubtedly breathtaking views of Ladakh range to the south and Karakoram to the north. And snow capped peaks at almost touching distance all around.

One should not expect much to do while here, except walk around a bit and feel the cool air against the face and admire the views. But you can actually do some shopping here at a souvenir shop run by the Army at Khardung la the highest motor-able road of the world.

Plan your vacation now, call us on 1800-103-2228 (toll free in India) or visit our website http://www.destination-doorstep.com/leh/

Rupshu Valley in Ladakh

Peak season of Ladakh tourism starts from April and ends in October every year. People are busy in surfing attractive and peaceful holiday Ladakh Package. Let me tell you that Ladakh is surrounded by high mountain ranges of the great Himalaya and Karakoram at about 10,000 feet above sea level and bordering with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tibet (China) which gives it another level of charm and interest. Adventure tours in Ladakh are most suitable and liked by tourists of the globe due to location and atmosphere of the region.

Leh Ladakh is providing a range of adventure sports, such as mountain climbing in the hilly terrains, white water rafting in the Indus and Zanskar Rivers, trekking in Ladakh in hilly and terrain land, discovering footprints of snow leopard in snow desert and playing polo in the highest field of Leh Ladakh.

The Rupshu Valley is a sparsely populated large area in the south east of Leh Ladakh, on the road from Kulu to Leh. The altitude of the valley varies between 4500m and 5500m. The climate is extremely cold and dry, which does not allow agriculture in this valley but a lot of grazing land can be seen.

The highest and least known region of Leh Ladakh lying between the Tibetan border and Zanskar is known as Rupshu. The Chang Tang plain is extended eastwards from Rupshu for nearly 1000 kilometers up to Tibet. Rupshu Valley has a network of high valleys, separated by impressive ridges, with snow - capped peaks towering nearly 5500 meters. Rupshu a rugged land is actually a part of the Chang Tang plain.

Residents of Rupshu are hard-working and cheerful nomadic people, who are known as Chang pa. They are traveling with their herds of goats, yaks, dogs and flocks of sheep. Their other source of income is trade and transport of goods by caravans. They are doing their business between Leh Ladakh, Lahoul and Spiti, which provides them additional income.

Adventure tour in Ladakh starts from Hemis, leading southwards into the heart of unspoiled Rupshu, crossing 4 high passes, 3 of them over 16,400 ft., with each offering splendid view across majestic plateau land to distant snow peaks, lovely high meadow campsites stunning scenery, and isolated villages.

Don’t waste your time reading the excitement, plan your vacation now and go for it. Call us on 1800-103-2228 (toll free in India) or visit our website http://www.destination-doorstep.com/leh/

FLORA AND FAUNA OF LADAKH

Flora is a Latin word which means goddess of flowers and Fauna was sister of Faunus, a good spirit of the forest and plains. Flora and Fauna refer to plant and wild life respectively. The indigenous plant and wildlife of a geographical region is often referred to as that region’s flora and fauna.

FLORA AND FAUNA OF LADAKH

Flora and Fauna of Ladakh were first studied by Ferdinand Stoliczka, an Austrian Palaeontologist, who carried out a massive expedition in the region in the 1870s. Flora and Fauna of Ladakh are in keeping with the mountainous nature of region. The Flora and Fauna of Ladakh have much common with those of Central Asia generally, and especially those of the Tibetan plateau.

There are hardly any trees and vegetation in sight in much of Ladakh, except for the few narrow valleys, where wild roses, willow groves and some herbs could be seen. However, above that, due to rapid decrease in tempreture, vegetation becomes stunted and sparse. An exception to this is birds. Ladakh has a great diversity of birds, a total of 225 species have been recorded, many of them that migrate from the warmer parts of India to spend summer in Ladakh. Among  Ladakh’s  most  important Fauna are bactarian camel, brown bear, Ladakh urial, lynx, red fox, syberian ibex,  snow leopard, Tibetan antelope, Tibetan argali, Tibetan gazelle, Tibetan wild ass, Tibetan wolf, wild dog, and wild yak.

Many species of finches, robins, red starts and the hoopoe are common in summer.  The brown headed gull and resident water birds include the brahminy duck [ruddy Sheldrake] bar headed goose can be seen in summer on the river Indus and some lakes of Changthang. The black headed crane, a rare species is also found in Ladakh. Other bird species are raven, red billed chough, Tibetan snow cock and chukar can be seen in summer in Ladakh.

The lammergeyer and golden eagle, common raptors are found here.

Did you know:-Only 200 Leopards are surviving in Ladakh. But you can see their foot print in winter only.