Leh Ladakh Travel Tourism: Location & Climate

Leh Ladakh Travel Tourism: Location of Ladakh

Travel to Ladakh, a fascinating land deep within the folds of the Karakoram mountain ranges, also known as the land of passes. The largest of the 10 provinces of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh is bordered by the Karakoram chain of mountains in the north and the Himalayas in the south.

With the great Indus flowing right through Ladakh, the province is divided into Leh, the capital, Nubra, Zanskar, lower Ladakh and Rupshu. The many distinctive features of Ladakh are its uplands, craggy, barren cliffs and plateaus. Ladakh is situated between 30-degree to 36-degree east latitude and 76-degree to 79-degree north longitude. The region of Ladakh spread over to an area of 96,701 sq kms and consists of two districts, Leh and Kargil. The region of Ladakh normally remains land locked between November to June every year as Srinagar-Ladakh and Ladakh-Monali highways, which connect Ladakh with the other parts of the country, remain closed during this period because of snow and rigorous winter.

Leh Ladakh Travel Tourism: Climate of Ladakh

Governed by a climate that provides about 50mm of rainfall each year, the climate of Ladakh is cold and dry. Therefore, it faces a long and bitter winter of frozen landscape but yet very beautiful, and a short, hot summer when the precious glaciers melt.

Ladakh has two districts namely Leh and Kargil which stand in contrast with each other in terms of geography and climate. The great Himalaya mountain, lying to the south, forms a barrier to monsoon in this area. Due to this region Ladakh is an isolated cold desert region. Altitude in Ladakh varies from place to place and is the main factor affecting local climate.

The winter temperature touches as low as minus 30 degree (Leh & Kargil) and minus 60 degree in (Drass) subzero temperature prevails from December to February throughout Ladakh, whereas, zero degree temperature is experienced during rest of winter months. This result in freezing of all conceivable water resources. During summer the maximum temperature increases from 20 degree C to 38 degree C in July and August. The relative humidity is low and ranges from 31 to 64 percent. Wind velocity in the afternoon and nights is of high order resulting in heavy soil erosion with dust storm and snow blizzards which make life very difficult. Due to longer winters, the agriculture season is short and spread over from April to September depending upon the climate. The best time to travel to Ladakh is May to October. Thus, you may plan your Leh Ladakh Travel Tourism tour accordingly.