Leh - City Things

Sunday, 6 September 2015

After a brief afternoon siesta, we visited the main bazaar in Leh and the Shanti Stupa that overlooks the city.

The main bazaar street in Leh. Despite the population being overwhelmingly Buddhist, there were two prominent mosques in the bazaar. The largest one can be seen at the end of the street. The Leh palace is at the top of the hill.

The elaborate door at the other mosque.

As in most cities/towns/villages in India, women sell vegetables on the street.

This woman is of the Brokpa tribe, which has distinctive headgear. They are a distinct ethnic/genetic group that claims ancestry to the original "Aryans" and possibly Alexander the Great's army.

The large modern Shanti Stupa ("Peace" Stupa, built by Japanese Buddhists in 1991) overlooks Leh. The round shape is unusual in Ladakh. Most stupas ("chortens") here have a square base.

A closer view of the artwork on the front of the stupa.

Weather takes a toll on the paintings on the stupa, so they are repainted regularly.

Overlooking Leh.

It's difficult to believe that anyone would want to play on Leh's barren golf course.