Leh is an interesting place to visit!

Locked between the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Ladakh and the Zanskar Ranges, Ladakh is a high-altitude desert and one of the three geo-cultural regions of the State of Jammu & Kashmir. Ladakh comprises of the two districts of Leh and Kargil. Leh is the principal town of this 'land of high passes, with the only airport in the region located here. Incidentally, this is also the highest commercial airport in the world. During the tourist season (June-Sep), Leh town becomes a melting pot of cultures and nationalities, and everything turns tourist-centric. Culturally, the Ladakhis follow an Indo-Tibetan heritage, though historic immigrants from Kashmir, Gilgit, and Central Asia point to its strategic location on the ancient Silk Route. The passes around Ladakh are snow-bound six months of the year, and the geographic isolation has perhaps been the single biggest influence in the unique culture of the region. Glimpses of the indigenous culture may be found in the villages where the role of oracles and astrologers, a simple diet of barley and wheat, yak wool, and peculiar conservation principles are a way of life. In the town, however, packed provisions and Coke are easily spotted. Buddhism and Islam are the prominent religions in the region though Ladakhis are an extremely tolerant people. In Leh, it is not uncommon to find Buddhist and Muslim families sharing common blood relations. The proximity to the troubled Kashmir appears to have had little impact. With Leh as gateway (and the acclimatization point), most visitors head out to the high-altitude lakes, the valleys of Nubra and Lower Indus, and other surrounding areas. Monasgtery-centric itineraries are a common way of doing the Ladakh circuit. Trekking and rafting on the Zanskar are preferred by the hardy. The travels mostly end in Leh, where the cafes and restaurants buzz with a blissed-out people raving about the stark beauty they were witness to. Ladakh is a huge landscape to explore: think of a week to 20-day break for a memorable holiday in Ladakh!

 Leh's town center extends to a radius of no more than two kilometers and is located about 7 km from the airport. What may be called the Town Square has a historic mosque, a new gompa, terrace restaurants, German bakeries, travel agencies, and curio shops. You can hire bikes around here, check email, refill your water bottles, and buy supplies, souvenirs, carpets, pashmina shawls, dried apricot, books on Tibet and mysticism, and much more. The town center rests against the shadow of the Leh Palace, which is situated on a hilltop. You can reach the palace after a walk through narrow bylanes and a steep 10-minute hike. A road off the main square leads to Changspa village - a little bowl greened by a glacial melt stream, where guesthouses thrive to backpacker culture. Beyond Changspa is the Shanti Stupa, a Japanese creation perched on a hillside, along the road to Khardung La. The polo ground is also in the town center. Most prominent hotels are also located in or around the town center. The town center is usually throbbing till 11 pm during tourist season. The closest historic gompas from Leh are Shey, Thikse, and Hemis. 

There are many hotels to stay in Leh.