ROMANTIC KASHMIR & LADAKH

• Kashmir

Kashmir, a heaven on Earth, is located in the north-western region of the Indian Subcontinent. With abundant natural beauty, the destination until the mid 19th century was geographically denoted as the valley nestled between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range. However, at present Kashmir denotes a much larger area that includes the Indian administered state of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir is a magic land of silvery streams, rivers, fresh water lakes, pine, deodar and chinar forests, snow clad mountains, sparkling waterfalls, shikaras, green meadows and grassy slopes full of flowers of vibrant colours.Kashmir is one of the most popular tourist places in the country that is known for its natural beauty. From beautiful shikaras and wooden handicrafts to apples and cherries, all attract tourists from across the country to visit Kashmir.  Leh offers a wide array of sightseeing. The town is dominated by the nine-storey Namgyal Palace built by King Singge Namgyal in the grand tradition of Tibetan architecture. Above the palace, on the Namgyal Tsemo, are the ruins of a fort, the earliest royal residence. In the historic bazaar, the main sites to visit are the Jo-khang, a newly built Buddhist temple, and the imposing historic mosque founded in the late 17th century. A stroll along the main bazaar, observing the varied crowd and looking into the curio shops is an engaging experience. When tired of strolling, one can step into any of several restaurants and cafes, some of them located in gardens or on the sidewalks which serve local, Tibetan, Indian and Continental cuisine. A visit to the Shanti Stupa is a must as it offers the best view of the Leh city.