Ladakh (The Land of High Passes)

Ladakh is the highest plateau in India with most of it being over 3,000 m (9,800 ft). Ladakh is a high-altitude desert as the Himalayas create a rain shadow, generally denying entry to monsoon clouds. The main source of water is the winter snowfall in the mountains. Leh is the capital and largest city of Ladakh. Leh was also the historical capital of the Kingdom of Ladakh, the seat of which was the Leh Palace, the former residence of the royal family of Ladakh, built in the same style and at about the same time as the Potala Palace in Tibet. Leh is at an altitude of 3,524 m (11,562 ft).