Hi there,
As we approach the middle of April the weather in Ladakh is as it should be in spring, changing moods several times a day. If it is sunny in the morning it is cloudy in the afternoon and sunset orange red. It is -2 degree in the night and around 10 degree in the day. The lower Ladakh is blossomed with apricot flowers all over the narrow valleys.
The Kargil Administration in order to achieve twin objective of promoting ethnic culture also to boost tourism in Kargil District organized a week long ‘Blossomed Apricot Festival’ for the first time in the history of District.
This was organized in the village of Baima where members of ancient Dard community of Dartsig, Darkon, Dha participated in an amazing atmosphere of gaiety and joy hundreds of community members were seen dressed in their traditional dresses and they all danced and sang to the tune of traditional music of ‘Surna’ (pipe) and ‘Danjang’ (drum like a western one) also daman which came from the ‘Mon’ culture during the second week of April 2021.
This is in line with the cherry blossom festival of Japan, almond flower festival of Kashmir valley. It is hoped this will be repeated in the following coming years! This has really stretched the length of tourism season in Ladakh considerably say April to October with winter tourism starting from Jan to later part of February thus aiming to drive 10 months of tourism in UT-Ladakh with emerging new destinations like Drass, Kargil, Nyoma, Siachan-Nubra, Darcha- Padum road connected for the first time.
What Ladakh offers?
In January to later part of February we have the ‘Frozen River Trek’ to Zangskar from the village of Chlling. Followed by Monastic ‘Mask Dance Festivals’ of Spitub, Leh Palace, Stok and Matho monasteries. In the Stok and Matho monastaries the spiritual oracles take away the imagination of the spectators. They also give prediction for the year how it will be.
The main tourism starts in late April until October thus it gets busier with the opening of National highways from Manali in Himachal Predesh and Zojila from Kashmir valley.
What is offered during this phase of tourism in Ladakh?
Firstly, the visitors can opt for two nights to three night’s circular car safari from Leh to Nubra valley to Pangong Lake and return to Leh. Car safari to Tsomoriri Lake on the Leh Manali highway, Leh to Lamayuru car safari including visit to world heritage site of famous Alchi monastery along with visit to Ridzong and Likir monasteries on the way. Visit to Aryan village of Dha Baima with visit to natural rock ‘Petroglyphs’ of Domkar village on the way.
Options for interesting Treks?
Ladakh also providesa range of trekking delights of different durations (one day Trek to two days one night, three days two night, four days three night, five days four nights etc) starting from the months of July to September when the weather of Ladakh matches other regions of northern India, yet one needs to bring warm cloths because it is always required in Ladakh.
There are also options for motor cycling, mountain cycling, river rafting and canoeing. In the cultural sphere one sees ancient monasteries with their museums and these are living monasteries where whole lot of incantations and rituals take place during different season. Ladakh follows the Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism having had past monastic links with monasteries in Tibet.
Besides, one could encounter other minority communities such as Sunny and Shia Muslims, Moravian Christians, Hindus and Sikhs. These communities flourished during the late 19th century after Ladakh lost its independence to Dogra invader General Zorawar Singh of Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja Gulab Singh. Until, 1834 Ladakh was an Independent little Kingdom of former Namgyal Kings of Ladakh its ancient name being ‘Maryul’ (Red Land) Ladakh!