Ladakh is a region of India in the state of Jammu and Kashmir that currently extends from the Karakoram mountain range in the north to the Great Himalayas in the south. It is inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent. I spent a month in this unique country in May and June of 2008, living with local people, visiting schools in the countryside, traveling into the Nubra Valley, trekking, and departing by way of the formidable Khardzong La to Kashmir.

On my blog you can read about my May and June 2008 Ladakh travels HERE (arrival in Ladakh), HERE (travels in Ladakh), HERE (farm family in Ladakh), HERE (monasteries and schools), HERE (Leh visits and people), HERE (treks and monasteries, and see more photos HERE), and HERE (last days in Leh).

Click on a photo to start the slideshow.

View of the Stok Kangri range from my window in Leh
Near the markets in Leh
I helped plant barley at high altitude with the Ahmad family
Harnessing the Dzos from a neighbor’s farm
Ajaz plowing
Barley seed ready for planting
Planting barley….
Typical farm landscape in the higher altitudes
Job well done
Children met on the way home
Winding up the high road….
…And that is some road!
Tight squeeze!
There is snow year ’round
At the top of the this highest motorable road in the world, 17,590 ft.
It’s pretty cold up there!
Tso (Lake) Pangong
One beautiful vista after another
Lots of wildllife in the valley
Notice how the roof is constructed
It’s sand!
Anyone for a ride?
We were lost. Tenting in the middle of nowhere!
Hey, I think I found the way….
Every monastery is unique
Thiksey Monastery east of Leh, 11,800 ft., in the Indus Valley
Tibetan sense of humor!
Shakti stupa on the hill above our guest house
Leh Palace, the former king’s royal palace overlooking Leh
A closer view of Leh Palace, fashioned after the Potala Palace in Llasa, Tibet
Charming back alleys of Leh
I loved wandering around the outlying areas
A very special ancient wall painting in a private home
Ladakhi wedding attire
School children waiting for books we’re bringing
An aunty who helps with the garden at The Gobi Guest House
Grandma, who insisted on planting potatoes endlessly!
Grandma digging up her potatoes from last winter’s storage