Leh

Leh, the capital of Ladakh at 3,500 metres above sea level, is one of the most extraordinary cities in the world. Perched on a high-altitude plateau between the Himalayas and the Karakoram ranges, this ancient Silk Road trading post is a land of stark, otherworldly beauty — vast blue skies, bone-dry mountains, and ancient Buddhist monasteries clinging to cliffsides.

The town itself is a delight to explore. The crumbling Leh Palace dominates the skyline — a 17th-century royal residence inspired by Lhasa's Potala Palace. The Shanti Stupa, gleaming white against a cobalt sky, is one of the most serene spots in Ladakh — climb to it at sunrise for views that stretch across the entire Indus Valley.

Surrounding Leh are some of India's finest Buddhist monasteries. Thiksey, Hemis, Diskit, Alchi — each is a living museum of Tibetan Buddhist art, housing thangka paintings, ancient manuscripts, and colossal golden Buddha statues. Come for the culture, the adventure sports on the Zanskar River, or simply for the sheer physical exhilaration of standing at the roof of the world.