Ladakh is one of the few regions of India where Buddhism still retains a strong influence.
The magical landscape of Ladakh is situated on the highest plateau of the state of Kashmir, with much of it being over 3,000 m (9,800 ft). It extends from the Himalayan to the Kunlun Ranges and includes the upper Indus River valley.
Ladakh ("land of high passes") is a region in Jammu and Kashmir that currently extends from the Kuen Lun mountain range to the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent. It is one of the most sparsely populated regions in Jammu and Kashmir and its culture and history are closely related to that of Tibet.