Leh

Leh, the main town of Ladakh, grew as a caravan city on the old routes between Kashmir, Tibet, Central Asia and the plains of India. Early settlements existed here because the Indus valley offered fields, water and a natural halt on the way to high passes like Khardung La. By around the 15th–16th centuries, Leh had become the capital of the Namgyal dynasty, the kings of Ladakh. They built Leh Palace on the hill above the town, laid out bazaars below, and strengthened trade ties with Yarkand, Lhasa and Kashmir, taxing caravans that carried pashmina, salt, wool, tea and spices.

Tibetan Buddhism shaped Leh’s culture, with monasteries such as Hemis, Thiksey and Spituk flourishing around the capital. From the 17th century, Ladakh’s politics involved balancing relations with Mughal India, Tibet and later the Dogras. In the mid-19th century, after wars in the region, Leh and Ladakh were incorporated into the Dogra-ruled princely state of Jammu & Kashmir, and Leh remained the main town of the high plateau.

In the 20th century, closing of international caravan routes and the rise of motor roads changed Leh from a trading hub into an army, administrative and tourism centre. Today, it is the headquarters of the Union Territory of Ladakh and the starting point for most modern travel into the high Himalayas.