Ladakh is one of the lowest population densities in the world: 2 inhabitants per kilometer, 59,000 square kilometers of rocky desert, apparently inhospitable mountains, a world of bewitching silence, framed in a parallel fashion by two of the most imposing mountain ranges, the Karakoram to the North, the Himalayas to the South.

Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and Buddhist culture. It is sometimes called "Little Tibet" as it has been strongly influenced by Tibetan culture. In the past Ladakh gained importance from its strategic location at the crossroads of important trade routes, but since the Chinese authorities closed the borders with Tibet and Central Asia in the 1960, international trade has dwindled. Since 1974 the Indian Government has encouraged tourism in Ladakh.

Ladakh lies on the rain shadow side of the Himalayan. Where dry monsoon winds reaches Leh after being robbed of its moisture in plains and the Himalayan mountain. The district combines the condition of both arctic and desert climate. Therefore Ladakh is often called “ COLD DESERT”

The largest town in Ladakh is Leh. A majority of Ladakhis are Tibetan Buddhists and the majority of the remainder are Shia Muslims. Ladakhis have in recent times called for Ladakh to be constituted as a union territory because of its religious and cultural differences with predominantly Muslim Kashmir. It is at distance 434 Kms from Srinagar and 474 Kms from Manali.

Then the only route accessible to Ladakh during the winter is air, Indian Air Lines operates three days in a week. More over in winter months the air services is not frequent as there is too many cancellations of flights due to fog in Delhi and Leh. Life in Ladakh comes to a stand still in winter months and remains cut off rest of the world.