Ladakh is a region administered by India as a union territory and constitutes an eastern portion of the larger Kashmir region that has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947 and India and China since 1959. Ladakh is bordered by the Tibet Autonomous Region to the east,the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh to the south,both the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan to the west,and the southwest corner of Xinjiang across the Karakoram Pass in the far north. It extends from the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram range to the north to the main Great Himalayas to the south. The eastern end,consisting of the uninhabited Aksai Chin plains,is claimed by the Indian Government as part of Ladakh,and has been under Chinese control since 1962.
Leh is a city in Indian-administered Ladakh in the disputed Kashmir region. It is the largest city and the joint capital of Ladakh. 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. 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 3,524 m (11,562 ft),and is connected via National Highway 1 to Srinagar in the southwest and to Manali in the south via the Leh-Manali Highway.
Kargil district is a district in Indian-administered Ladakh in the disputed Kashmir-region. It is one of the two districts comprising the Indian-administered union territory of Ladakh. The district headquarters are in the city of Kargil. The district is bounded by the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir to the west,the Pakistani-administered administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan to the north,Ladakh's Leh district to the east,and the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh to the south. Encompassing three historical regions known as Purig,Dras and Zanskar,the district lies to the northeast of the Great Himalayas and encompasses the majority of the Zanskar Range. Its population inhabits the river valleys of the Dras,Suru,Wakha Rong,and Zanskar.
Leh district is a district in Indian-administered Ladakh in the disputed Kashmir-region. Ladakh is an Indian-administered union territory. With an area of 45,110 km2,it is the second largest district in the country,second only to Kutch. It is bounded on the north by Gilgit-Baltistan's Kharmang and Ghanche districts and Xinjiang's Kashgar Prefecture and Hotan Prefecture,to which it connects via the historic Karakoram Pass. Aksai Chin and Tibet are to the east,Kargil district to the west,and Lahul and Spiti to the south. The district headquarters is in Leh. It lies between 32 and 36 degree north latitude and 75 to 80 degree east longitude.
Ladakh has a long history with evidence of human settlement from as back as 9000 b.c. It has been a crossroad of high Asia for thousands of years and has seen many cultures,empires and technologies born in its neighbours. As a result of these developments Ladakh has imported many traditions and culture from its neighbours and combining them all gave rise to a unique tradition and culture of its own.
Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) is an organization in Ladakh,India concerned with interests of Buddhists in Ladakh. It was founded in 1933 by King Jigmet Dadul Namgyal,Kalon Tsewang Rigzin,lachumir Munshi Sonam Tsewang and Kalon Bankapa Morup Gyaltsan
The Namgyal dynasty was a dynasty whose rulers were the monarchs of the former kingdom of Ladakh that lasted from 1460 to 1842 and were titled the Gyalpo of Ladakh. The Namgyal dynasty succeeded the first dynasty of Maryul and had several conflicts with the neighboring Mughal Empire and various dynasties of Tibet,including the Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal War. The dynasty eventually fell to the Sikh Empire and Dogras of Jammu. Most of its known history is written in the Ladakh Chronicles.
Ngawang Lobzang Thupstan Chognor,commonly known as 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche was a Buddhist lama,who also served as India's ambassador to Mongolia. He is mainly known for his efforts in reviving Buddhism in Mongolia and Russia by linking them with the community of Tibetan exiles in India.
Sankar Monastery,or Sankar Gompa is a Buddhist monastery within an easy half-hour walk from Leh in Ladakh,northern India. It is a daughter-establishment of the Spituk Monastery and the residence of the Abbot of Spituk,the Venerable Kushok Bakula,who is the senior incarnate lama of Ladakh due to his ancient lineage and personal authority.
Shey Monastery or Gompa and the Shey Palace complex are structures located on a hillock in Shey,15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the south of Leh in Ladakh,northern India on the Leh-Manali road. Shey was the summer capital of Ladakh in the past. It contains a huge Shakyamuni Buddha statue. It is the second largest Buddha statue in Ladakh.
Maryul also called mar-yul of mnga'-ris,was the western most Tibetan kingdom based in modern-day Ladakh and some parts of Tibet. The kingdom had its capital at Shey.
Colonel Sonam Wangchuk,MVC is an Indian Army veteran,who served with the Assam Regiment and the Ladakh Scouts. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra,India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy,during his successful operation in the Kargil War. Due to his exemplary feet as a Major during Kargil War,he is known as the Lion of Ladakh in the Indian Army.
The Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal War of 1679–1684 was fought between the Central Tibetan Ganden Phodrang government,with the assistance of Mongol khanates,and the Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh with assistance from the Mughal Empire in Kashmir.
Nawang Rigzin Jora is an Indian politician and former Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies,Ladakh,India.
Chering Dorjay is an Indian politician and was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Dorjay was a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council from the Assembly Kashmir (Ladakh). He was Minister for Cooperatives and Ladakh Affairs in Jammu and Kashmir till 19 June 2018.
Rani Parvati Devi Deskit Wangmo is the Queen mother of Ladakh and a former member of the 6th Lok Sabha (1977–80).
The 2004 Indian general election in Jammu and Kashmir to the 14th Lok Sabha were held for 6 seats. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference won 2 seats,Indian National Congress won 2,Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party won one seat and one was won by an Independent politician Thupstan Chhewang from Ladakh.
Jamyang Tsering Namgyal is an Indian politician and Member of Parliament from Ladakh,India's largest parliamentary seat geographically. Namgyal was elected,on 9 November 2018,to be the youngest and 8th Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council,Leh. He belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Politics of Ladakh is exercised within democratic setup of the Indian-administered union territory of Ladakh. Major power centres are Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council,Leh and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council,Kargil alongside Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency. Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party are major political parties. Ladakhi religious organisations like Ladakh Buddhist Association,Imam Khomeni Memorial Trust and Anjuman-e-Jamiat-ul-Ulama Asna Asharia have major influences as well.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Ladakh:
