The Story of Ladakh: Kingdoms, Caravans and Mountain Monasteries

Early rulers and Buddhism

Records suggest Ladakh was part of the Kushan empire around the first century CE, and later came under Tibetan rule from the 7th century. After the Tibetan empire broke up in the 9th century, a Ladakhi dynasty arose. Buddhism spread here first from Kashmir and northwest India, and later, from around the 13th century, Ladakh looked more to Tibet for religious guidance.

The Namgyal kings

In the 16th century the Namgyal dynasty reunited Ladakh. Sengge Namgyal, who ruled in the early 17th century, is credited with building Leh Palace, moving the capital to Leh and expanding Ladakh's reach into Zanskar and Spiti. His successor Deldan Namgyal built a mosque in Leh and sought good relations with the Mughals, who also held Kashmir.

The caravan crossroads

For centuries, traders carrying wool, salt, tea, textiles and other goods crossed Ladakh between Kashmir, Punjab, Tibet and Central Asia. Leh was a stop on these routes. After 1949, when the border with Xinjiang closed, the old caravan trade through the Nubra valley ended.

Dogras to Union Territory

• 1834. A Dogra army under Zorawar Singh invaded and Ladakh came under the rule of the Jammu and Kashmir state.
• 1947 to 1948. After the partition of India, fighting reached parts of Ladakh, including Kargil and Zanskar, and Indian forces airlifted reinforcements to protect Leh.
• 31 October 2019. Ladakh became a separate Union Territory, administered by a Lieutenant Governor.

Living culture

Today Ladakh is home to Buddhist monasteries such as Hemis, Thiksey and Lamayuru, to mosques and bazaars in Leh and Kargil, and to villages that still hold festivals and farm on high terraces. See the Manali to Leh highway guide, the Hanle dark sky guide and the Markha Valley trek to see it for yourself.