Ladakh

Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet (2750m) at Kargil to 25,170 feet (7,672m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram. Thus summer temperatures rarely exceed about 27 degree celcius in the shade, while in winter they may plummet to minus 20 degree celcius even in Leh. Surprisingly, though, the thin air makes the heat of the sun even more intense than at lower altitudes; it is said that only in Ladakh can a man sitting in the sun with his feet in the shade suffer from sunstroke and frostbite at the same time!  The region is surrounded by high peaks and snow mountains that resemble the pillars of the sky and by ranges of multi colored hues. These fine mountains are ornamented with monasteries, temples, caves, castles and stupas built by holy persons and ancestral Dharmarajas of previous ages.