Ladakh for tourists and Ladakh for trekkers and climbers are two different worlds. There is nothing in this world like Pangong lake or Tso Moriri lake which change colour every hour with the sun, and the brown hills behind make it appear as if from a Tolkein story world. The experience of walk across the valley of Ladakh, Zanskar and Kishtwar over high mountain passes is quite near to nirvana.

Leh, the headquarters of Ladakh, is at the crossroads of Asia. Being the central place of Ladakh and on the trade route, caravans met here in the past. Today even with plane-loads of tourists landing here, it has not lost any of its charms. There are many unknown places in the valley for trekkers and mountaineers. Across the highest motorable pass, north of Leh, lies the Nubra valley which is now easily accessible due to new roads. It is a paradise for tourists and climbers. The new trekking and climbing areas are just a couple of days away. Ahead lies the East Karakoram range with the historic Siachen glacier and trade route across Saser la.

This book, based on author's several visits to different areas of Ladakh, Zanskar and East Karakoram, tells you how to proceed about for trekking and climbing peaks. It concentrates most valuably on the wealth of extremely rewarding summits, unknown passes and remote valley, which have been hitherto neglected due to lack of information or difficulty of access.

Complete with several maps, sketches, photographs, tables of road distances and trek routes, this book is an exhaustive reference work on this area. The author's experience in Ladakh takes one to transformation of this region from an ancient civilisation to a tourist destination. The book will be essential reference for all travellers, trekkers, mountaineers and historians or as a simple arm-chair travelogue.

The Contents
List of Illustrations
1. My Himalaya: An Introduction
2. Valleys of Kashmir
3. Valleys of Kishtwar
4. Valleys of Zanskar
5. From Lamayuru to Padam and Kishtwar
6. Trek to Shingo La and Phirtse La
7. Valleys of Ladakh
8. A Trek to Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake
9. Climbing and Trekking in Southeast Ladakh, Rupshu
10. Valleys of East Karakoram
11. Exploring Valleys East of Saser La
12. Climbing and Trekking in Chong Kumdan Glaciers
13. Climbs in the Terong and Rimo Groups
14. Mountaineering and War on the Siachen Glacier

Appendices
1. Regions and History of the Indian Himalaya
2. A Note on Climbing Mountains in India
3. Major Passes in Ladakh, Zanskar and East Karakoram
4. Major Rivers in Ladakh, Zanskar and East Karakoram
5. Nomenclature and Notes
6. Major Peaks in Ladakh, Zanskar and East Karakoram
7. Road Distances in Kashmir-Kishtwar-Zanskar-Ladakh and East Karakoram

Select Bibliography
Index