View source for Leh

{{Short description|City in Ladakh, Indian-administered Kashmir}}
{{About|the town|its namesake district|Leh district|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Leh
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = City administered by India
| image_skyline      = {{photomontage 
|photo1a=Leh City seen from Shanti Stupa.JPG
|photo1b=Sankar Monastery.JPG
|photo2b=A view of Leh Palace.jpg
|photo3b= Leh, Old city, Ladakh, India.jpg
|photo2a=India - Ladakh - Leh - 053 - flower fields outside my guesthouse (3844435507).jpg
|photo3a=Shantistupa1.jpg 
|size=300
|border= .5
| space= 1
|color=white }}
| image_caption      = '''''From the top clockwise:''''' Leh city aerial view, [[Sankar Monastery]], [[Leh Palace]], Old city, [[Shanti Stupa, Ladakh|Shanti Stupa]], Spring in Leh
| image_size         = 350px
| nickname           = 
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = 
| image_map1         = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-width=300|frame-height=170|frame-align=center|zoom=4|type=point|title=Leh|marker=city|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080}}
| map_caption1       = Interactive map of Leh
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|09|51|N|77|35|05|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Administering country
| subdivision_name   = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[States and union territories of India|Union territory]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of districts of Ladakh|District]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name1  =  [[Ladakh]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Leh district|Leh]]
| subdivision_name3  = 
| established_title  = <!-- Established -->
| established_date   = 
| founder            = 
| named_for          = 
| government_type    = [[Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh]]
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 9.15
| area_rank          = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 3500
| population_total   = 30870
| population_as_of   = 2011
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank    = 
| population_demonym = 
| demographics_type1 = Demographics
| demographics1_title1 = Languages
| demographics1_info1 = [[Ladakhi language|Ladakhi]], [[Balti language|Balti]], [[Hindi]], [[English language|English]]<ref name="Language">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dlBjzE-1ML8C&pg=PA320 |title=Languages of Belonging: Islam, Regional Identity, and the Making of Kashmir |last=Zutshi |first=Chitralekha |date=2004 |publisher=Hurst & Company |isbn=978-1-85065-694-4 |language=en}}</ref>
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code        = 
| registration_plate = LA 02
| website            = {{URL|leh.nic.in}}
| footnotes          = 
| official_name      = 
}}

'''Leh''' ({{IPA|en|'leɪ|lang}}, {{IPA|hi|'leː(ɦ)|lang}})<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of LEH |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Leh |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> is a city in Indian-administered [[Ladakh]] in the [[Kashmir#Kashmir dispute|disputed]] [[Kashmir region]].<ref name=tertiary-kashmir>The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of [[Kashmir]] and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the [[WP:TERTIARY|tertiary sources]] (a) through (e), reflecting [[WP:DUE|due weight]] in the coverage. Although "controlled" and "held" are also applied neutrally to the names of the disputants or to the regions administered by them, as evidenced in sources (h) through (i) below, "held" is also considered politicized usage, as is the term "occupied," (see (j) below). <br/>
(a) {{citation|title=Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent |accessdate=15 August 2019}} (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent ... has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The northern and western portions are administered by Pakistan and comprise three areas: Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, the last two being part of a territory called the Northern Areas. Administered by India are the southern and southeastern portions, which constitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir but are slated to be split into two union territories.";<br/> (b) {{citation|last1=Pletcher|first1=Kenneth|title=Aksai Chin, Plateau Region, Asia|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Aksai-Chin |accessdate=16 August 2019}} (subscription required) Quote: "Aksai Chin, Chinese (Pinyin) Aksayqin, portion of the Kashmir region, at the northernmost extent of the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia. It constitutes nearly all the territory of the Chinese-administered sector of Kashmir that is claimed by India to be part of the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state."; <br/> (c) {{citation|chapter=Kashmir|title=Encyclopedia Americana|publisher=Scholastic Library Publishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l_cWAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA328|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7172-0139-6|page=328}} C. E Bosworth, University of Manchester Quote: "KASHMIR, kash'mer, the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, administered partlv by India, partly by Pakistan, and partly by China. The region has been the subject of a bitter dispute between India and Pakistan since they became independent in 1947"; <br/> (d) {{citation|last1=Osmańczyk|first1=Edmund Jan|title=Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: G to M|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fSIMXHMdfkkC&pg=PA1191|year=2003|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-93922-5|pages=1191–}} Quote: "Jammu and Kashmir: Territory in northwestern India, subject to a dispute between India and Pakistan. It has borders with Pakistan and China." <br/>(e) {{citation|last=Talbot|first=Ian|title=A History of Modern South Asia: Politics, States, Diasporas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eNg_CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA28|year=2016|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-19694-8|pages=28–29}} Quote: "We move from a disputed international border to a dotted line on the map that represents a military border not recognized in international law. The line of control separates the Indian and Pakistani administered areas of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir.";  <br/> (f) {{citation|last=Skutsch|first=Carl|editor-last=Ciment|editor-first=James|title=Encyclopedia of Conflicts Since World War II|edition=2nd|year=2015|orig-year=2007|isbn=978-0-7656-8005-1|chapter=China: Border War with India, 1962|location=London and New York|publisher=Routledge|page=573|quote=The situation between the two nations was complicated by the 1957–1959 uprising by Tibetans against Chinese rule.  Refugees poured across the Indian border, and the Indian public was outraged.  Any compromise with China on the border issue became impossible.  Similarly, China was offended that India had given political asylum to the Dalai Lama when he fled across the border in March 1959.  In late 1959, there were shots fired between border patrols operating along both the ill-defined McMahon Line and in the Aksai Chin.}}<br/>  (g) {{citation|last=Clary|first=Christopher|title=The Difficult Politics of Peace: Rivalry in Modern South Asia|publisher=Oxford University Press|location = Oxford and New York|isbn=9780197638408|page=109|quote=Territorial Dispute: The situation along the Sino-Indian frontier continued to worsen.  In late July (1959), an Indian reconnaissance patrol was blocked, "apprehended," and eventually expelled after three weeks in custody at the hands of a larger Chinese force near Khurnak Fort in Aksai Chin.  ... Circumstances worsened further in October 1959, when a major class at Kongka Pass in eastern Ladakh led to nine dead and ten captured Indian border personnel, making it by far the most serious Sino-Indian class since India's independence.}} <br/> (h) {{citation|last=Bose|first=Sumantra|title=Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ACMe9WBdNAC&pg=PA294|year=2009|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-02855-5|pages=294, 291, 293}} Quote: "J&K: Jammu and Kashmir. The former princely state that is the subject of the Kashmir dispute. Besides IJK (Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. The larger and more populous part of the former princely state. It has a population of slightly over 10 million, and comprises three regions: Kashmir Valley, Jammu, and Ladakh.) and AJK ('Azad" (Free) Jammu and Kashmir. The more populous part of Pakistani-controlled J&K, with a population of approximately 2.5 million.), it includes the sparsely populated "Northern Areas" of Gilgit and Baltistan, remote mountainous regions which are directly administered, unlike AJK, by the Pakistani central authorities, and some high-altitude uninhabitable tracts under Chinese control." <br/> (i) {{citation|last=Fisher|first=Michael H.|title=An Environmental History of India: From Earliest Times to the Twenty-First Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kZVuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA166|year=2018|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-11162-2|page=166}} Quote: "Kashmir's identity remains hotly disputed with a UN-supervised “Line of Control” still separating Pakistani-held Azad (“Free”) Kashmir from Indian-held Kashmir."; <br/> (j) {{citation|last=Snedden|first=Christopher|title=Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5amKCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA10|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-1-84904-621-3|page=10}} Quote:"Some politicised terms also are used to describe parts of J&K. These terms include the words 'occupied' and 'held'."  
</ref>   It is the largest city and the joint capital of Ladakh.<ref name="ladakh-britannica-current">{{citation |chapter=Ladakh |title=Encyclopaedia Britannica |date=1 March 2021 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |chapter-url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Ladakh |access-date=2 April 2022 |quote=Ladakh,  large area of the northern and eastern Kashmir region, northwestern Indian subcontinent. Administratively, Ladakh is divided between Pakistan (northwest), as part of Gilgit-Baltistan, and India (southeast), as part of Ladakh union territory (until October 31, 2019, part of Jammu and Kashmir state); in addition, China administers portions of northeastern Ladakh. |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407153837/https://www.britannica.com/place/Ladakh |url-status=live }}</ref>   It has been the capital of Ladakh since the [[Medieval Period]].<ref name="ladakh-britannica-current"/> Leh, located in the [[Leh district]], was also the historical capital of the [[Kingdom of Ladakh]]. The seat of the kingdom, [[Leh Palace]], the former residence of the royal family of Ladakh, was built in the same style and about the same time as the [[Potala Palace]] in [[Tibet]].{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} Since they were both constructed in a similar style and at roughly the same time, the Potala Palace in Tibet and Leh Palace, the royal residence, are frequently contrasted. Leh is at an altitude of {{cvt|3524|m}}, and is connected via [[National Highway 1 (India)|National Highway 1]] to [[Srinagar]] in the southwest and to [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]] in the south via the [[Leh-Manali Highway]] (part of [[National Highway 3 (India)|National Highway 3]]).

==Background==
===Etymology===

The original name of the town was not ''sLel'', as it is nowadays spelled, but ''sLes'', which signifies an "encampment of nomads" (pastureland). These [Tibetan] nomads probably visited the Leh valley at when it began to be irrigated by Dard colonisers. The most ancient part of the ruins, atop rNam-rgyal-rtse-mo hill, are called 'aBrog-pal-mkhar (Dard castle).<ref name=fran1>Francke (1914), p. 68. See also, ibid, p. 45.</ref>

===History===
{{See also|Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh}}

[[File:Beautiful Leh Couple In Traditional Dress (202673443).jpeg|thumb|People of Leh in traditional dress.]]
Leh was for centuries an important stopover on [[trade route]]s along the [[Indus Valley]] between [[Tibet]], [[Kashmir]], India and [[China]]. The main goods carried were salt, grain, ''pashm'' or [[cashmere wool]], ''[[charas]]'' or [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] resin from the [[Tarim Basin]], [[indigo]], [[silk]] yarn and [[Banaras]] [[brocade]].

Although there are a few indications that the Chinese knew of a trade route through Ladakh to India as early as the [[Kushan Empire|Kushan]] period (1st to 3rd centuries AD),<ref>Hill (2009), pp. 200-204.</ref> and certainly by the [[Tang dynasty]],<ref>Francke (1977 edition), pp. 76-78</ref> little is actually known of the history of the region before the end of the 10th century, when Tibetan prince ''Skyid lde nyima gon'' (or [[Kyide Nyimagon|Nyima gon]]), a grandson of the anti-Buddhist Tibetan king, [[Langdarma]] (r. c. 838 to 841), founded the kingdom. He conquered Western Tibet, although his army originally numbered only 300 men.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} Several towns and castles are said to have been founded by Nyima gon, and he apparently ordered the construction of the primary sculptures at [[Shey]]. "In an inscription, he says he had them made for the religious benefit of the ''Tsanpo'' (the dynastical name of his father and ancestors), and of all the people of ''Ngaris'' (Western Tibet). This shows that already in this generation Langdarma's opposition to [[Buddhism]] had disappeared."<ref>Francke (1914), pp. 89-90.</ref> [[Shey]], 15&nbsp;km east of modern Leh, was the ancient seat of the Ladakhi kings.

During the reign of Delegs Namgyal (1660–1685),<ref>Francke (1977 edition), p. 20.</ref> the [[nawab]] of Kashmir, then a province in the [[Mughal Empire]], arranged for the Mongol army to temporarily leave Ladakh, though it returned later. As payment for assisting Delegs Namgyal in the [[Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal war]] of 1679–1684, the nawab made a number of onerous demands. One of the least was construction of a large [[Sunni Muslim]] mosque in Leh, at the upper end of the bazaar in Leh below Leh Palace. The mosque reflects a mixture of Muslim and Tibetan architecture and can accommodate more than 500 people. This was apparently not the first mosque in Leh; there are two smaller ones that are said to be older.<ref>Francke (1977 edition), pp. 120-123.</ref>

==Administration==
The [[Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh|Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council]] (LAHDC) is in charge of governance in Leh. It has 30 councillors, 4 nominated and 26 elected. The Chief Executive Councillor heads and chairs this council. The Deputy Commissioner of Leh also holds the power of chief executive officer of the LAHDC. The current Deputy Commissioner of Leh district is Santosh Sukhdeve. {{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

==Geography==
{{see also | Geography of Ladakh}}
[[File:Leh overview.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Leh and its surroundings.]]
{{climate chart
| Leh
|-14.4|-2.0|9.5
|-11.0|1.5|8.1
|-5.9|6.5|11.0
|-1.1|12.3|9.1
|3.2|16.2|9.0
|7.4|21.8|3.5
|10.5|25.0|15.2
|10.0|25.3|15.4
|5.8|21.7|9.0
|-1.0|14.6|7.5
|-6.7|7.9|3.6
|-11.8|2.3|4.6
|float     =
|clear     =
|units     = metric
|source    = <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.imd.gov.in/section/climate/extreme/leh2.htm |title=Leh |access-date=2017-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225132218/http://www.imd.gov.in/section/climate/extreme/leh2.htm |archive-date=2018-02-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

===Topography=== 
The city is located on the bank of the Indus River. The mountains dominate the landscape around the Leh, as it is at an altitude of {{convert|3,500|m|ft|-2|disp=or}}. Peaks such as [[Nanga Sago]] can reach well above {{convert|5,500|m|ft|-2|disp=or}}. The principal access roads include the {{convert|434|km|mi|0}} [[Srinagar]]-Leh highway and the {{convert|428|km|mi|0}} [[Leh-Manali Highway]]. Both roads are only open on a seasonal basis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jktourism.org/cities/ladakh/getting/index.htm|title=jktourism.org|website=www.jktourism.org}}</ref> Although the roads from Srinagar and Manali are often blocked by snow in winter, the local roads in the Indus Valley usually remain open due to the low levels of snowfall.

===Climate===
Leh has a [[cold desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''BWk'') with long, cold winters from late November to early March, with minimum temperatures well below freezing for most of the winter. The city gets occasional snowfall during winter, which is very cold by Indian standards, mainly due to its high elevation. The weather in the remaining months is generally fine and warm during the day. Average annual rainfall is only 105&nbsp;mm (1.37 inches), with summer months seeing the most precipitation due to rare residual monsoon systems that enter the Himalayas. In 2010, the city experienced [[2010 Leh floods|flash floods]] that killed more than 100 people.<ref name="nyt20100806">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/07/world/asia/07kashmir.html |title=Mudslides Kill 125 in Kashmir |last=Polgreen |first=Lydia |date=6 August 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=6 August 2010}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location=Leh, India (extremes 1883-2020)
|metric first=Yes
|single line=Yes
|Jan record high C= 9.0
|Feb record high C= 13.4
|Mar record high C= 19.4
|Apr record high C= 23.9
|May record high C= 28.9
|Jun record high C= 34.8
|Jul record high C= 36.6
|Aug record high C= 35.4
|Sep record high C= 31.8
|Oct record high C= 27.0
|Nov record high C= 20.0
|Dec record high C= 13.6
|Jan high C= -2.0
|Feb high C= 1.5
|Mar high C= 6.5
|Apr high C= 12.3
|May high C= 16.2
|Jun high C= 21.8
|Jul high C= 25.0
|Aug high C =25.3
|Sep high C= 21.7
|Oct high C= 14.6
|Nov high C= 7.9
|Dec high C= 2.3
|Jan mean C= -8.2
|Feb mean C= -4.8
|Mar mean C= 0.3
|Apr mean C= 5.6
|May mean C= 9.7
|Jun mean C= 14.6
|Jul mean C= 17.8
|Aug mean C= 17.7
|Sep mean C= 13.8
|Oct mean C= 6.8
|Nov mean C= 0.6
|Dec mean C= -4.8
|Jan low C= -14.4
|Feb low C= -11.0
|Mar low C= -5.9
|Apr low C= -1.1
|May low C=  3.2
|Jun low C=  7.4
|Jul low C= 10.5
|Aug low C= 10.0
|Sep low C= 5.8
|Oct low C= -1.0
|Nov low C= -6.7
|Dec low C= -11.8
|Jan record low C= -28.3
|Feb record low C= -28.6
|Mar record low C= -19.4
|Apr record low C= -12.8
|May record low C= -7.7
|Jun record low C= -1.1
|Jul record low C= 0.6
|Aug record low C= 1.5
|Sep record low C= -4.4
|Oct record low C= -9.6
|Nov record low C= -18.6
|Dec record low C= -25.6
|Jan precipitation mm= 9.5
|Feb precipitation mm= 8.1
|Mar precipitation mm= 11.0
|Apr precipitation mm= 9.1
|May precipitation mm= 9.0
|Jun precipitation mm= 3.5
|Jul precipitation mm= 15.2
|Aug precipitation mm= 15.4
|Sep precipitation mm= 9.0
|Oct precipitation mm= 7.5
|Nov precipitation mm= 3.6
|Dec precipitation mm= 4.6
|year precipitation mm=
|unit precipitation days = 0.3 mm
|Jan precipitation days= 1.3
|Feb precipitation days= 1.1
|Mar precipitation days= 1.3
|Apr precipitation days= 1.0
|May precipitation days= 1.1
|Jun precipitation days= 0.4
|Jul precipitation days= 2.1
|Aug precipitation days= 1.9
|Sep precipitation days= 1.2
|Oct precipitation days= 0.4
|Nov precipitation days= 0.5
|Dec precipitation days= 0.7
|year precipitation days=
|time day=17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
|Jan humidity=51
|Feb humidity=51
|Mar humidity=46
|Apr humidity=36
|May humidity=30
|Jun humidity=26
|Jul humidity=33
|Aug humidity=34
|Sep humidity=31
|Oct humidity=27
|Nov humidity=40
|Dec humidity=46
|year humidity=
|source 1= India Meteorological Department (humidity 1951-1980)<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.imd.gov.in/section/climate/extreme/leh2.htm
| title = Leh Climatological Table Period: 1951–1980
| publisher = [[India Meteorological Department]]
| access-date = February 25, 2023
| archive-date = 25 February 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180225132218/http://www.imd.gov.in/section/climate/extreme/leh2.htm
| url-status = bot: unknown
}}</ref><ref name=IMD>{{cite web |url=http://www.mausam.gov.in/WEBIMD/ClimatologicalAction.do?function=getStationDetails&actionParam=1&param=2&station=Leh |title=Leh Climatological Table Period: 1951–1980 |publisher=[[India Meteorological Department]] |access-date=4 April 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721172646/http://www.mausam.gov.in/WEBIMD/ClimatologicalAction.do?function=getStationDetails&actionParam=1&param=2&station=Leh |archive-date=21 July 2011}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Leh old market.jpg|thumb|right|People at the old market, Leh.]]

===Population===

As of the 2011 India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0103_PART_B_DCHB_LEH%20(LADAKH).pdf |title=District Census Handbook Leh (Ladakh) |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations (Jammu & Kashmir) |pages=112–113 |work=Census of India 2011}}</ref> Leh had a population of 30,870. Males constituted 70% of the population and females 30%, due to a large presence of transient labourers, traders and government employees. The child sex ratio was 987. Leh had an average [[literacy]] rate of 90%, higher than the national average of 74.04%; male literacy was 94.89%, and female literacy was 78.85%. In Leh, 5.5% of the population was under 6&nbsp;years of age.

===Ethnicity===
The people of Leh are ethnic Tibetans who speak [[Ladakhi language|Ladakhi]], a [[Tibetic language]].

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religion in Leh City (2011)<ref name="Leh Population"/>
| label1 = [[Buddhism]]
| value1 = 77.30
| color1 = Gold
| label2 = [[Hinduism]]
| value2 = 13.78
| color2 = DarkOrange
| label3 = [[Islam]]
| value3 = 8.16
| color3 = Green
| label4 = [[Sikhism]]
| value4 = 2.16
| color4 = Yellow
| label5 = [[Christianity]]
| value5 = 0.88
| color5 = Blue
| label6 = [[Jainism]]
| value6 = 0.05
| color6 = Maroon
| label7 = Others
| value7 = 0.17
| color7 = Grey
| label8 = Not Stated
| value8 = 1.84
| color8 = Black
}}

Buddhism is the largest religion in Leh, followed by over 77.30% of people. [[Hinduism]] is the second-largest religion with 13.78% adherents. Islam and Sikhism form 8.16% and 2.7% of the population respectively.<ref name="Leh Population">{{Cite web |title=Demography {{!}} District Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh, India |url=https://leh.nic.in/about-district/demography/#:~:text=The%20biggest%20ethnic%20group%20is,%25%20and%20Hindus%20with%208.16%25. |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=State of India |language=en-US}}</ref> The Muslim presence here also dates back to the annexation of Ladakh by Kashmir, after the [[Lobsang Gyatso, 5th Dalai Lama|Fifth Dalai Lama]] came to Ladakh from Tibet. Since then, there has been further migration from the Kashmir Valley, due to trade and recently to the transfer of tourism from the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh.

Since the 8th century, people of different religions, particularly Buddhism and Islam, have lived in Leh. They co-inhabited the region from the early [[Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh|Namgyal dynasty]] and there are no records of any conflict between them. Meer Izzut-oollah wrote in the early 19th century:

<blockquote>This mosque was built by Ibraheem Khan (in the mid 17th century), who was a man of noble family in the service of the descendants of Timoor. In his time the Kalimaks (Calmuck Tartars), having invaded and obtained possession of the greater portion of Thibet [Ladakh], the Raja of that country claimed protection from the Emperor of Hindoostan. Ibraheem Khan was accordingly deputed by that monarch to his assistance, and in a short time succeeded in expelling the invaders and placing the Raja once more on his throne. The Raja embraced the Mahomedan faith, and formally acknowledged himself as a feudatory of the Emperor, who honored him with the title of Raja Akibut Muhmood Khan, which title to the present day is borne by the Ruler of Cashmere.<ref>''Travels in Central Asia by Meer Izzut-oollah in the Years 1812-13.'' Translated by Captain Henderson. Calcutta, 1872, p. 12.</ref></blockquote>

In recent times, Muslims heading to Leh from neighbouring [[Kargil]] and Kashmir has increased due to better opportunities. A growing pattern in the city and surrounding areas shows more Buddhist women choosing to marry Muslim men.<ref name="wap.business-standard.com">{{cite news |date=15 September 2017 |title=Why Buddhist women are marrying Muslim men in Ladakh |newspaper=Business Standard India |url=https://wap.business-standard.com/article/politics/why-buddhist-women-are-marrying-muslim-men-in-ladakh-117091500689_1.html}}</ref>

Other religions such as Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism do exist in Leh. The small Christian community in Leh descend from Tibetan Buddhists converted by German [[Moravian Church|Moravian]] missionaries, who established a church at [[Keylong]] in Lahaul in the 1860s, and were allowed to open another mission in Leh in 1885 and had a sub-branch in Khalatse. They stayed until Indian Independence in 1947. In spite of their successful medical and educational activities, they were able to make only a few converts.<ref>Rizvi (1996), p. 212.</ref>

==Economy==

===Agriculture===
[[File:Grow More Food (2560125708).jpg|thumb|300px|A view of agriculture around Leh.]]
Leh is located at an average elevation of about 3500&nbsp;metres, which means that only one crop a year can be grown there, while two can be grown at [[Khalatse]]. By the time crops are being sown at Leh in late May, they are already half-grown at Khalatse. The main crop is ''grim'' (naked [[barley]], ''Hordeum vulgare'' L. var. ''nudum'' Hook. f., an ancient form of domesticated barley with an easier-to-remove hull. [[Tsampa]], the staple food in Ladakh, is made from this barley.<ref>Rizvi (1996), p. 38.</ref> The water for agriculture of Ladakh comes from the Indus, which runs low in March and April when barley-fields have the greatest need for irrigation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.peacekashmir.org/jammu-kashmir/geography.htm |title=Jammu & Kashmir – Geography & Geology |work=Peace kashmir |access-date=28 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809222459/http://www.peacekashmir.org/jammu-kashmir/geography.htm |archive-date=9 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=February 2023}} Grapes, apricots, currants, walnuts, and apples are also grown in the arid temperate climate.<ref>{{cite book | title = Know Your State Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh | first1= Abdul | last1 = Rashid | first2 = Farah | last2 = Sultan | year = 2021 | publisher = Arihant Publications India  | isbn = 978-93-257-9092-6}}</ref>

===Banking===

List of functioning banks in Leh
*State Bank of India, Leh<ref>{{cite web |last1=leh Branch |first1=state bank of india |title=state bank of india leh Branch IFSC Code, address & location and |url=https://ifscbankcodes.com/state-bank-of-india/jammu-and-kashmir/leh/leh}}</ref>
*[[HDFC Bank]], Leh<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/ifsccode/bank-hdfc-bank,state-jammu-and-kashmir,district-,branch-true,ifsccode-HDFC0002369.cms|title=HDFC BANK LEH Branch IFSC Code, MICR Code, Address & Phone Number|website=The Economic Times}}</ref>
*[[Axis Bank]], Leh<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/ifsccode/bank-axis-bank,state-jammu-and-kashmir,district-,branch-true,ifsccode-UTIB0001611.cms|title=AXIS BANK LEH LADAKH Branch IFSC Code, MICR Code, Address & Phone Number|website=The Economic Times}}</ref>
*[[IDBI Bank]], Leh<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bankifsccode.com/IDBI_BANK_LTD/JAMMU_&_KASHMIR/LADAKH/LEH|title=IDBI BANK LTD, Leh Branch, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, BankIFSCcode.com|website=bankifsccode.com}}</ref>

===Media and communications===
State-owned [[All India Radio]] Leh has a local station in Leh, which transmits various programs of mass interest. Leh head post office owned by [[India Post]] also serves as a major means of communications. On 14 December 2021, the first FM radio station in Ladakh was established in Leh<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ladakh gets its first-ever FM radio station |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ladakh-first-ever-fm-radio-station-7673285/ |date=2021-12-14 |access-date=2021-12-15 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> making the total FM stations 4 and one [[medium wave]] station as of February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequencies for Leh |url=https://fmscan.org/main.php?l=77.584722&b=34.164167&csave=2&qth=leh |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=fmlist.org}}</ref>

==Tourism==
{{see also | Tourism in Ladakh}}

Ladakh receives very large numbers of tourists for its size. Visitor numbers have swelled rapidly in the 21st century through 2010, increasing 77% from 2005 to 2010 (77,800 tourists), largely caused by an increase in domestic Indian travellers.<ref name="LehStats">{{Cite web |url=http://leh.nic.in/pages/leh.pdf |title=History |access-date=18 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724092852/http://leh.nic.in/pages/leh.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Tourism has continued to increase, exceeding 500,000 people in 2022 and 2023 in Ladakh. The sharpest growth began after 2010 when the Bollywood film 3 Idiots —filmed in part on the [[Pangong Tso|Pangong Lake]] in Ladakh — became a big hit in India. This is a contrast to the population of Leh, 31,000. This increase adds to the economy but it is having negative effects on the land due to the increase in waste and increasing [[water scarcity]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/05/10/tourism-in-indias-ladakh-border-region-reaches-tipping-point/ |title=Tourism in India's Ladakh border region reaches tipping point |journal=[[East Asia Forum]] |first=Le Hoang Ngoc |last=Yen |date=May 10, 2025 |access-date=May 26, 2025 |doi=10.59425/eabc.1746878400 |quote=While only 527 visitors arrived in Ladakh when it first opened for tourism in 1974, the number of inbound tourists exceeded 500,000 in 2022 and 2023. Ladakh’s dramatic hike in the number of inbound tourists has driven economic growth, boosted the local service industry, raised the local standard of living and created many jobs in the community. |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Leh Palace===
[[file:Old palace, Leh.jpg|thumb|Old palace of the kings in Leh.]]

The first recorded royal residence in Ladakh, built at the top of the high Namgyal ('Victory') Peak overlooking the present palace and town, is the now-ruined fort and ''gon-khang'' (Temple of the Guardian Divinities) built by King [[Tashi Namgyal]]. Tashi Namgyal ruled in the final quarter of the 16th century CE.<ref>Rizvi (1996), p. 64.</ref>

The ''Royal Palace'', known as [[Leh Palace]], was built by King [[Sengge Namgyal]] (1612–1642),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Incredible India {{!}} Leh Palace |url=https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/leh-ladakh/leh-palace.html |access-date=2021-10-16 |website=incredibleindia.org}}</ref> presumably between the period when the Portuguese [[Jesuit]] priest Francisco de Azevedo visited Leh in 1631, and made no mention of it, and [[Sengge Namgyal|Sengge Namgyal's]] death in 1642.<ref>Rizvi (1996), pp. 69, 290.</ref> The Leh Palace is nine storeys high; the upper floors accommodated the royal family, and the stables and storerooms are located on the lower floors. The palace was abandoned when [[Kashmiri people|Kashmiri]] forces besieged it in the mid-19th century. The royal family moved their premises south to their current home in [[Stok]] Palace on the southern bank of the Indus River.<ref name=fran1/>

===Leh Old Town===
[[File:Lehpalace5.jpg|thumb|300px|Leh city seen from [[Namgyal Tsemo Monastery]] and [[Leh Palace]]]]
The old town of Leh was added to the [[World Monuments Fund]]'s list of 100 most endangered sites due to increased rainfall, due to climate change among other reasons.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.sawf.org/Travel/41309.aspx |title=Tourist Boom Brings Threat to Leh's Tibetan Architecture |publisher=AFP |date=19 August 2007}}</ref> Neglect and changing settlement patterns in the old town have also threatened the long-term preservation of the site.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007682.html |title=Ethnic Leh Houses Falling Apart |author=Tripti Lahiri |publisher=AFP |date=23 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706022236/http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007682.html |archive-date=6 July 2008}}</ref>

The rapid and poorly planned urbanisation of Leh has increased the risk of flash floods in some areas, while other areas, according to research by the [[Climate and Development Knowledge Network]], suffer from the less dramatic, gradual effects of 'invisible disasters', which often go unreported.<ref>[http://cdkn.org/2014/06/harmonising-climate-adaptation-and-disaster-risk-reduction-india Local approaches to harmonising climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction: Lessons from India, Anshu Sharma, Sahba Chauhan and Sunny Kumar, the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707145104/http://cdkn.org/2014/06/harmonising-climate-adaptation-and-disaster-risk-reduction-india/ |date=7 July 2014 }} cdkn.org</ref>

===Leh city===

#[[Leh Palace]]
#[[Namgyal Tsemo Monastery|Namgyal Tsemo Gompa]]
#[[Shanti Stupa, Ladakh|Shanti Stupa]]
#Cho Khang Gompa
#Chamba Temple
#Jama Masjid
#[[Gurudwara Patthar Sahib|Gurdwara Pathar Sahib]]
#[[Sankar Monastery|Sankar Gompa and village]]
#War Museum
#The Victory Tower
#[[Zorawar Fort]]
#[[Ladakh Marathon]]
#[[Datun Sahib]]
#[[Ice Stupa]]

<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">
File:Lehpalace1.jpg|[[Leh Palace]] View from [[Leh Market]]
File:Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, Leh.jpg|[[Namgyal Tsemo Monastery|Namgyal Tsemo Gompa]]
File:Shanti Stupa ( Winters).jpg|[[Shanti Stupa, Ladakh|Shanti Stupa]]
File:Diskit Monastery, Leh.jpg|[[Sankar Monastery|Sankar Gompa and village]]
File:Zorawerfort.jpg|[[Zorawar Fort]]
File:Datun Sahib tree in Leh, 2009.jpg|[[Datun Sahib]]
File:A Short Video of Leh City from Tsemo Hill.webm|view of Leh City from Old castle
</gallery>

===Buddhist monasteries===

* Namgyal Gompa (also called "Tsemo Gompa" (Red Gompa), or ''dGon-pa-so-ma'' (New Monastery),<ref name="Francke 1914, p. 70">Francke (1914), p. 70.</ref> a temple, is the main Buddhist centre in Leh.<ref>Rizvi (1996), pp. 41, 64, 225-226.</ref> There are some older walls of fortifications behind it which Francke reported were once known as the "Dard Castle." If it was indeed built by [[Dards]], it must pre-date the establishment of Tibetan rulers in Ladakh over a thousand years ago.<ref>Rizvi (1996), pp. 226-227.</ref>
* Sankar Labrang (Bsam dkar bla brang) is a small, two-storeyed building owned by [[Sankar Monastery|Sankar monastery]]. ''"Sankar monastery is the seat of Bakula Rinpoche, immediately to the northwest of Leh. The monastery's Labrang building is located in the old town of Leh, in the Manikhang neighbourhood. Manikhang is the area between the main bazaar of Leh and the historic Stalam path that leads up to the royal palace. Four huge ''stūpas'' standing at this point mark the beginning of historic Leh. In recent memory, the Sankar Labrang had a metalsmith's workshop downstairs, while upstairs lived the monk caretaker of the White Maitreya Temple (Byams khang dkar po), also known locally as "Street Maitreya". The White Maitreya Temple dates back to the reign of King Drakpa Bumd´e (Grags pa 'bum lde, r. ca 1410–1435), following the arrival of a mission sent to Ladakh by the Tibetan lama [[Tsongkhapa]]"''.<ref>Alexander, André, and Van Shaik, Sam. (2011).</ref>
* Chamba monasteries (Byams-pa, ''i.e.'', [[Maitreya]]) and Chenresi (sPyan-ras-gzigs, i.e. [[Avalokiteshvara]]) monasteries which are of uncertain date.<ref name="Francke 1914, p. 70"/>
* Stone Maitreya of Leh:<ref>''The Rediscovery and Recovery of an Early Tibetan Monument''. ''JRAS, Series 3, 21,'' 4(2011), p. 421.</ref>

===Annual Sindhu Darshan Festival===

Every year [[Sindhu Darshan Festival]] is held at [[Shey]], 15&nbsp;km from town, to promote religious harmony and the glory of the ''[[Indus River|Sindhu]]'' river. Many tourists come to Leh for this.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fountainheadindia.com/festivals_details.php|title=Sindhu Darshan Festival|access-date=22 January 2011|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930201832/http://www.fountainheadindia.com/festivals_details.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{wide image|Indus Valley near Leh.jpg|1250px|The Indus River in Leh|center}}

==Transport==
[[File:Leh, Ladakh Festival, Ladakh, India.jpg|thumb|Leh City Market]]
[[File:National Highway 1D near Leh.jpg|thumb|right|[[National Highway 1 (India)|National Highway 1]] near Leh]]

===Road===

==== Modern highways==== 
* [[National Highway 1 (India)|NH-1]] Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Highway:
: 434-km long route from Kashmir valley, via the [[Zoji-la]] ({{convert|3505|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}}, tunnel is being constructed for all-weather connectivity). The [[Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation]] (JKSRTC) operates regular deluxe and ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this route, with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis (cars and jeeps) are also available at Srinagar for the journey.

* [[National Highway 3 (India)|NH-3]] [[Leh-Manali Highway]]:
: Since 1989, the {{convert|473|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} Leh-Manali Highway has served as the second road to Ladakh. Open from June to late October, this high road traverses the upland desert plateaux of Rupsho, whose altitude ranges from {{cvt|3660|m}} to {{cvt|4570|m}}. There are a number of high passes enroute among which the highest one, known as [[Tanglang La]] ({{convert|5325|m}})<ref>[[Khardung La]] for a discussion of the world's highest motorable passes.</ref> As of 2025-26, tunnels are being constructed on this route for all-weather connectivity.

* [[Nimmu–Padam–Darcha road]]:
: As of 2026, this third all-weather road to Leh is currently under construction including the under-construction [[Shinku La#Shinku La tunnel|Shunku La Tunnel]] which will provide all-weather connectivity.<ref name=opbrd1>[https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/linking-frontiers-with-the-nation-1503507700.html Linking frontiers with the nation], The Statesman, 5 Nov 2025.</ref>

* [[Hanle (village)#HKTR|Hanle-Kaza-Tabo Road]] (partially overlaps with the 125&nbsp;km long [[Salt Valley#KKR|Kiato-Karzok Road]]):
: This highway is being constructed as the fourth all-weather road to Ladakh, connecting [[Kaza, Himachal Pradesh|Kaza]] in [[Lahaul and Spiti district#Physical|Spiti Valley]] in [[Himachal Pradesh]]) through the [[Takling La]] Tunnel (5575 m) to Ladakh.<ref name=opbrd1/><ref name=kart1>{{Cite web
| url = https://www.amarujala.com/shimla/kyato-korzok-road-will-connect-himachal-to-ladakh-army-will-have-easy-access-to-china-border-2025-04-21?pageId=1
| title = Kyato-Korzok road will connect Himachal to Ladakh, army will have easy access to China border
| last =
| first =
| website = Amar Ujala
| date = 2025-04-21
| accessdate = 2025-04-22
}}</ref> A road is being constructed over the Takling La, and simultaneously a tunnel will also be built under the Takling La for the all-weather connectivity from mainland India to Hanley and beyond in Ladakh for which DPR is being prepared.<ref name=opbrd1/>

==== Historic routes====

Traditional trade routes have traditionally converged on Leh from all four directions.

* The route from Srinagar was roughly the same as the road that today crosses the ''[[Zoji La]]'' (pass) to [[Kargil town|Kargil]], then up the Indus Valley to Leh.
* From [[Baltistan]] there were two difficult routes: the main one ran up the Shyok Valley from the Indus, over a pass and then down the Hanu River to the Indus again below [[Khalsi, Leh|Khalsi]] (Khalatse).
*  From Baltistan, the other traditional route ran from [[Skardu]] straight up the Indus to Kargil and on to Leh. Both summer and winter routes ran from Leh to [[Yarkant County|Yarkand]] via the [[Karakoram Pass]] and [[Xaidulla]].
*  A couple of possible routes also ran from Leh to [[Lhasa]].<ref>Rizvi (1996), pp. 109-111.</ref>

===Air===
[[File:IXL Front 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport]]]]
[[Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport]] has flights to and from [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Jammu Airport|Jammu]], [[Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport|Srinagar]] and [[Chandigarh Airport|Chandigarh]]. [[Air India]], [[SpiceJet]], and [[IndiGo]] operate Delhi to Leh daily with multiple flights at peak times.

===Rail===
{{see also | Jammu_railway_division#Future | l1 = Planned rail lines in J&K and Ladakh}}

There is currently no railway service in Ladakh, however two railway routes are proposed: the [[Bhanupli–Leh line]] and Srinagar–Kargil–Leh line.<ref name=featup1>[https://www.theweek.in/theweek/current/2025/04/05/bilaspur-manali-leh-rail-project-details.html India’s costliest rail line will change how we view travel], theweek.in, 13 Apr 2025.</ref>

==See also==

* Kashmir
** [[Dal Lake]]
** [[Gangabal]]
** [[Gulmarg]]
** [[Pahalgam]]
** [[Mughal Road]]
** [[Sonmarg]]
* Ladakh
** [[Zanskar]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*Alexander, André, and Van Shaik, Sam. (2011). ''The Stone Maitreya of Leh: The Rediscovery and Recovery of an Early Tibetan Monument.''. ''JRAS, Series 3, 21,'' 4(2011), pp.&nbsp;421–439.
*Janet Rizvi. ''Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia''. Second Edition. (1996). Oxford University Press, Delhi. {{ISBN|978-0-19-564546-0}}.
*Cunningham, Alexander. (1854). ''LADĀK: Physical, Statistical, and Historical with Notices of the Surrounding Countries''. London. Reprint: Sagar Publications (1977).
*Francke, A. H. (1977). ''A History of Ladakh''. (Originally published as, ''A History of Western Tibet'', (1907)). 1977 Edition with critical introduction and annotations by S. S. Gergan & F. M. Hassnain. Sterling Publishers, New Delhi.
*Francke, A. H. (1914). ''Antiquities of Indian Tibet''. Two Volumes. Calcutta. 1972 reprint: S. Chand, New Delhi.
*{{Cite journal |author=Hilary Keating |date=July–August 1993 |title=The Road to Leh |journal=[[Saudi Aramco World]] |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=8–17 |publisher=[[Aramco Services Company]] |location=Houston, Texas |issn=1530-5821 |url=http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199304/the.road.to.leh.htm |access-date=2009-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928193954/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199304/the.road.to.leh.htm |archive-date=28 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}

==External links==
*[https://www.ladakhdaily.in Visit Ladakh Daily website – Ladakh Leading News Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060601222732/http://leh.nic.in/profile.htm Population Figures]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030305201121/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/02/0227_030227_tvleh.html City of Leh Thrives as Oasis of Peace in Kashmir]

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{{Leh district}}
{{Municipalities of Ladakh}}
{{Leh-Manali Highway}}
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[[Category:Leh| ]]
[[Category:Ladakh]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Leh district]]
[[Category:Indian union territory capitals]]
[[Category:Geography of Ladakh]]