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The people of Ladakh bore much resemblance to Tibetans and Central Asians with their round faces, short stubby noses and small 'chinki' eyes with pronounced cheekbones. The people of the mountains, they have good stamina are accustomed to manual labor. However, they are considered to be soft and plain at heart. Originally, Ladakh was believed to be inhabited by the Indo-Aryan race of Dards, who originated somewhere down the River Indus, the regular influx of Tibetan people has resulted in the disappearance of racial characteristics of 'Dards' here and most of the population of eastern and central Ladakh wears Tibetan facial features. However, to the west and around Kargil, one can see the fusion of the facial features of different origins. 'Arghons' of Leh are a community of Muslims that are believed to be the descendants of the mixed marriages of local women and merchants who came here from Kashmir and Central Asia. Buddhism - The main religion Lamaist Buddhists inhabit most of Ladakh and have been believed to come from Tibet originally. The ancient Buddhist inscriptions and frock engravings are found all over Ladakh including the now Muslim-majority areas of Drass and lower Suru valleys. The 'Mani' walls mark the beginning of the Buddhist villages and Gompas or monasteries can abundantly be seen here ranging from a tiny hermitage to the large temple complexes of the monks. The culture and lifestyle of the people of Ladakh is deeply influence by their religion. However, there are a number of Muslim inhabitants here too, especially in the valleys of Drass, Kargil and Suru, mosques and Islamic-style 'Imambaras' can often be seen. More. Buddhism spread into Ladakh from Kashmir perhaps as early as the first or second century AD, and flourished in the area around Kargil. Kashmir had become an important center of Indian Buddhism. When the Tibetans overtook Ladakh in 950 AD, they brought with them the Tibetan Buddhism that had originally come from India through the efforts of the Tibetan Kings Songsten Gampo in the seventh century and Trisong Detson in the eighth century. It was the latter who invited several Indian Buddhist masters to Tibet, including Padmasambhava, who was highly successful in suppressing the widespread Bon religion with the Vajrayana form of Buddhism. Part of his success was attributed to the incorporation of aspects of the Bon religion, such as the fierce deities, into Buddhism. The followers of this school of Buddhism were called the Nyingmapa order. The monks wore red hats during many ceremonies. Today, the only remaining monastery from this order in Ladakh is Tak thok. The Tibetan monarchy, who migrated to the Kingdom of Guge and Ladakh after the breakup of the central Tibetan empire in 842, looked not to Lhasa but to Kashmir for help in establishing Buddhism in their new kingdoms. Yeshe O, King of Guge, sent a number of his young scholars, including Rinchen Zangpo, to Kashmir and other centers of Buddhism in northern India to study the religion, and then return and spread it in western Tibet. He also invited the great teacher, Atisha, who was greatly responsible for reestablishing the Vajrayana form of Mahayana Buddhism in Tibet. He formed the Kadampa monastic order that was the precursor to the Gelukpa order. The Indian sage Naropa was thought to have established the first monastery in Ladakh at Lamayuru in the 10th century. The monastery at Alchi, with its Kashmiri style of artwork, is probably the best surviving example of the Indian Buddhism iconography of that period. Many of the early monasteries in Ladakh, including Alchi, were attributed to Rinchen Zangpo, who

became known as the great translator. But inscriptions at Alchi show that it was founded in the 11th century by a member of one of the Tibetan noble families that migrated from central Tibet. These early monasteries predate the formation of Buddhist orders in Ladakh. The Sakyapa sect was formed in the 11th century and named after its most important teacher. They also wore red hats. The only Sakyapa monastery in Ladakh is Matho. The Kagyupa sect, or School of Oral Tradition, was established towards the end of the 11th century. This was another Red Hat sect. Marpa, a student of Naropa, carried the teachings into Tibet and was succeeded by his disciple, Milarepa, who was also a famous poet. The next two centuries saw Buddhism become well established in Ladakh and Tibet, but pushed out of India by the resurgence of Hinduism, and pushed out of Kashmir by Islam. Ladakhi monasteries formed a strong bond with those in Tibet. This continued for the next 700 years until the Chinese occupation. The Kagyupa sect split into several other sub-sects, of which two are represented in Ladakh. The Drigungpa order is represented by the Lamayuru and Phyang monasteries. The Drugpa order was favored by the Namgyal Kings and runs the monasteries of Hemis, Hanle, Chemdey, and Stakna. These were all founded in the 17th century about the time of King Sengge Namgyals reign. Meanwhile, in the 14th century, The Tibetan saint, Tsongkhapa, started a reform movement based on the teachings and monastic organization of the Kadampa order. He believed in doctrinal purity and that tantric practices should be reserved for advanced students. He formed the Gelukpa order (Model of Virtue). This is the only order that wore yellow hats. This became the predominant order in Tibet and was led by a succession of Dalai Lamas. The first Gelukpas arrived in Ladakh in the early 15th century and established the Spitok monastery. The monasteries of Thiksay and Likir, which were founded earlier by the Kadampa order, were soon taken over by the Gelukpas. After escaping from the oppressive Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama established a new center for Tibetan religion in Dharamsala, India. Major monasteries were also established in Dera Dun and Karnataka in southern India. The 14th Dalai Lama is still revered in Ladakh today, where he visits often. Islam Throughout Ladakhs history, Muslim invaders sought to convert the whole of Ladakh to Islam. They were only successful in western Ladakh around Kargil and Drass, where today 85% of the population is Shia Muslims with their roots in the old Baltistan. There is a small population of Sunni Muslims in Leh who are descendants of traders from Kashmir and central Asia. Christianity The Christian church came to Leh in 1885 with the establishment of a Moravian mission. They built churches in Leh and Shey. In addition to Christianity, the missionaries introduced the growing of vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, and spinach. They also introduced the method of storing root vegetables in underground chambers to extend their edible life. Culture The Buddhist influence on Ladakh culture started as early as the 7th century. And now, this faith

has gained dominance in this entire region. All over Ladakh, you will find ancient Buddhist rock engravings, even in the few areas dominated by Muslims. You will identify Buddhist villages by a distance, as Mani walls customarily mark the approach to these villages. These walls are long chest-high structures with engraved stones opposite them. The stones are inscribed with the mantra in mane paddle hum and by shorten, commemorative cairns, like stone pepper pots. One of the major highlights of the culture of Leh Ladakh are the monasteries that you will find in almost every village. They may range from huge complexes consisting of a number of shrines, prayer halls, etc to a tiny hermitage housing a single image. The other dominant faith, that of Islam, finds a presence mainly in the western areas of Ladakh. The early conversion of the subrulers of Drass, Kargil and the Suru Valley led to the penetration of the Shia sect in Ladakh. In the areas dominated by the Muslims, you will mainly find mosques, ranging from the small unpretentious buildings to the huge Imambaras. Rather than rest of the Indians, the Ladakhis look more like the residents of Tibet and Central Asia, be it their physique or their facial features. Even though the original population of Ladakh consisted of Dards, an Indo-Aryan race, but large-scale immigration from Tibet changed the cultural heritage of Ladakh. The only people that resemble the mainland Indians are the Muslims, residing mainly in the Leh area. Songs and poems for every occasion, as well as local versions of the Kesar Saga (the Tibetan national epic) also form a part of Ladakh culture. Ladakhis are known for their cheerful disposition and most of their festivals fall in winters, which serve as an excuse for social and convivial gatherings. In summers, archery competitions and native version of polo are quite common and especially among the Buddhists, these competitions are often a local ball where folk songs and dances add to the jovial atmosphere and 'Chang', the local barley beer is amply used. The rich collection of oral literature of the region is full of occasion-special songs and poems and includes the localized versions of the Tibetan epic, 'Kesar Saga' Climate The weather and climate of Ladakh display great diversities. On one hand, you can get frostbite because of the extremely cold weather conditions while on the other the blaring sun can give you sunburn, if you're not well protected. The summers in Leh Ladakh experience an average temperature in the range of approximately -3 C to 30 C. Climate of Leh Ladakh experiences extremely cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average temperature in the winter season is somewhere around -20 C to 15 C. While packing for a trip, you should keep the weather and climate of Ladakh in mind. Some of the things that you should carry are windcheaters, woollen clothing, thick socks, gloves, scarves, a hat or woollen cap, boots or walking shoes, sunscreen, goggles, etc. Flora and fauna

Most common animals found here are - Yak (a wild ox), the largest animal found in Ladakh, Nyan, the largest sheep in the world, Bharal, the blue sheep and Urial, the smallest sheep in the world. The wild yak is to be found only here. The snow leopard is Ladakh's most rare animal. Another one that is unique is the Kyang or the wild horse; while at lower altitudes the musk deer too is a rare sight, precious by virtue of its expensive musk. Visitors are likely to spot many marmots, mouse hares, stone martens, red foxes, wolves, ibex, bharal and shapu during the course of their journey but the habitat of the nyan (big horned sheep), chim (Tibetan antelope famed for its fleece-Shahtoosh), goat (Tibetan gazelle), lynx, pallas cat, kyamg (wild horse) and brong dong (wild yak) are still outside the tourists' sphere. The Kyang, or Tibetan Wild Ass, is common in the grasslands of Changthang, numbering about 1,500 individuals. Language The Ladakhi language is the predominant language in the Ladakh region of the Jammu and Kashmir state of India. Ladakhi is closely related to Tibetan, and the Ladakhi people share cultural similarities with Tibetans, including Tibetan Buddhism. Script Ladakhi is usually written using Tibetan script. Some words of Ladakhi - Tibetan language Almost everyone speaks english in ladakh, but approaching someone with just some words of ladakhi speaking is a good way to inspire confidence and sympathy, a first step toward a new friendship. Hello What's your name My name is John No, I don't understand I am a tourist Thank you I'm hungry Is it far from here? How much is this? It is expensive / It is cheap Where is Shey monastery? How much cost to go to Hemis? Wait Yes No Julley nye-rang-ngi-tsan-la-chi-zu-chan nye ming-nga John zer-chan ha-goa-met nga-skor-yangs-pa yin thugs-je-che Nga-stok-sa-rag I-ne-thang-ring yod-da? I-bo-a-tsam-yin-nok Rin-chan-rag / Khe-mo-rag Shey Gompa-kane yot? Himis la cha-chas la tsam yin nog? Sring Ohley Man ley

Festivals

Dosmochey Dosmochey is celebrated in Leh (Leh Palace), Liker (Lower Ladakh) and Deskit (Nubra valley) monasteries in February. The most famous among all is Leh Dosmochey, which is celebrated for two days in the courtyards of the Leh palace. The monks from different monasteries perform the Chams every year turn by turn. The festival takes place in the end and starting of the Tibetan New Year. The monks of Takthok monastery prepares the offering with Thread crosses which binds all the evil, hungry ghosts and guard against natural disaster in the coming year. On the second day of the festival, the offerings are taken out of the town in a procession and burn it while people whistle to chase away the evil spirits.

Hemis Festival Hemis festival is one of the most famous monastic festivals in June to commemorate birth of Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tantric Buddhism in Tibet. The sacred dance drama of the life and mission is performed wearing facial masks and colorful brocades robes. The three-day festival takes place from 9th to 11th. Especially the monkey year festival, which comes in a cycle of 12 years. During it the four-storey thanka of Guru Padma Sambhava is hung in the courtyard and other precious thankas are also exhibited.

Thiksey, Karsha and Spituk Gustor Gustors take place at Thiksey, Spituk and Karsha in different months of the year. The festival takes place for two days. The celebration is to mark the victory over evils. The mask worn by the dancers represent the Guardians, Protectors and the Gods and Goddesses. The festival ends with the symbolic assassination of evils and burning of the effigy of evils.

Matho Nagrang Matho Nagrang is celebrated on the 15th day of the 1st month of Tibetan calander, at Matho monastery, the only monastery of the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism. During these two days of festival mask dances are performed by monks of the monastery wearing colorful silk brocaded

robes and mask in different forms of God and Goddesses. The festival is famous because of appearance of the two oracles during the festival after full month meditation in complete isolation. The two oracles appear in the courtyard accompanying mask dancers and predict future events and people from far and away come to seek advice to perform ritual to tackle with disasters.

Stok Guru Tsechu The monks of Stok and Spituk monasteries also celebrate Stok Gruru Tsechu for two days with mask dances performed. It is also held in Feb. around a week before the Matho Nagrang. During the festival two oracle appears, but they are laymen from the same village prepared by monks to receive the spirit of the deities.

Phyang Tsedup Phyang Tsedup takes place in July / August. Like other monasteries, monks wearing colorful brocade robes and Mask in the form of different god and goddesses perform mask dances. The huge thanka of Skyoba Giksten Gonbo is hung in the courtyard during the festival.

Yuru Kabgyat The 2-day festival takes place in July in Lamayuru monastery around 125 kms. from Leh. Monks like other monastic festival perform mask dances. During the festival monks perform prayer and rituals to get rid of disaster and peace in the world.

Losar Celebration The Losar (New Year) celebration is followed by Galdan Namchot, the birth anniversary of Tsogkha pa who introduced Gelukpa School of order. During Namchot people illuminate their houses, monasteries and mountains and make offerings in the houses and monasteries.

The Losar festival is celebrated in the eleventh month of Tibetan calendar, two months ahead of Tibetan New Year. In early 17th century, King Jamyang Namgyal decided to lead an expedition against the Baltistan forces in winter; therefore he decided to celebrate the festival two months before. Later it became a tradition and being celebrated in the eleventh month.

The festival lasts for around a month, during which Gods, deities, ancestors and even the animals are fed without fail. Images of Ibex are made as auspicious symbol, walls of the kitchens are dotted and are believed to bring prosperity in coming year. The Metho (procession of fire) is thrown out chanting slogans and chasing hungry ghosts and evil spirits, and they return with rocks of ice as auspicious symbol and these are kept in the store. In some villages there is a tradition of making Old men and women, from this snow which last for a week. Over all the Losar all children and young and olds enjoy and celebrate the festival. All family members get together to celebrate if someone missing will have their cups filled with tea by their name. Ladakh Festival Ladakh festival takes place in September 1-15 every year in Leh and villages. The inauguration ceremony takes place in Leh on large scale with the procession of various cultural troupes from different part of Ladakh. It passes through Leh Market dancing, singing with traditional music, in colorful traditional Ladakhi dresses, and finishes at Polo ground after performing their best dances and songs. The festival last for 15 days with regular program in different villages. The program includes Archery, Polo, and Mask Dances from the monasteries, traditional dances by cultural troupes from Villages. There are series of musical concert and dance program in Leh town.

Sindhu Darshan Festival Sindhu Darshan is three-day festival held from 1st to 3rd June, in Shey Manla around 8 kms. from Leh on the bank of Indus river. For the first time it was organized in October 1997, as a symbol of unity and Communal harmony and national integration. Whilst promoting domestic tourism in Ladakh. It is also a symbolic salute to brave soldiers of India who have been fighting not only with enemies in the in the human form but also in the form of nature.

During this festival artists from different parts of the country perform traditional dances and people from all religions, castes and regions participate. Education For almost 50 years the education system in Ladakh has been in chaos. It is based on the Indian education system which is a poor copy of the British system. Schools are now well distributed throughout Ladakh but 75% of them are primary only (5-11 years). These are attended by about 65% of the children, but there is a high level of absenteeism, especially in the busy agricultural seasons when the children's help is needed on the farms. As there are fewer middle and high schools, study beyond the age of II often involves leaving home. Low salaries (Rs.1500-3500 per month) attract poor quality teachers, most of whom have to be recruited from outside Ladakh.

Teacher absenteeism is also a problem and it is not unheard of for teachers to charge for private tuition on subjects that they themselves failed to teach in school. As if this were not enough, the Western-biased curriculum teaches the pupils nothing of their own land or history and they aren't even taught in Ladakhi. Until the age of 14 they learn in Urdu and after that in English. They then have only two years to master this new language before taking the all important matriculation exam, in English. This is their passport to jobs and further education: 95% fail it. It seems that for the vast majority, schooling has served only to alienate them from their native culture. The long-term outlook is a little more promising. In 1993 the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) launched 'Operation New Hope', a campaign to provide 'culturally appropriate and locally relevant education' by a number of means which include producing Ladakhi textbooks, adopting one language for the teaching of maths and science at all ages, and the regular training of teachers. A government degree college has been opened in Leh, thus providing further education students with the option of staying in Ladakh, rather than having to move to Delhi or Kashmir.

Ladakhi food has much in common with Tibetan food, the most prominent foods being thukpa (noodle soup) and tsampa, known in Ladakhi as ngampe (roasted barley flour). Edible without cooking, tsampa makes useful trekking food. A dish that is strictly Ladakhi is skyu, a heavy pasta dish with root vegetables. As Ladakh moves toward a cash-based economy, foods from the plains of India are becoming more common. As in other parts of Central Asia, tea in Ladakh is traditionally made with strong green tea, butter, and salt. It is mixed in a large churn and known as gurgur cha, after the sound it makes when mixed. Sweet tea (cha ngarmo) is common now, made in the Indian style with milk and sugar. Most of the surplus barley that is produced is fermented into chang, an alcoholic beverage drunk especially on festive occasions.[46]

Goncha, a voluminous robe of thick woollen cloth with a colourful

cummerbund tied at the waist, is the most common Ladakhi dress; loose pyjamas, a top hat and long felt boots complete the ensemble. Slight dress variations exist for men and women. Buddhists mainly wear brick red robes but the nomads of Chang Thang and the Kargil Muslims wear undyed clothes with the latter also using the round knitted Balti cap with a rolled brim. Ladakhi women wear an attractive headgear called perak, made of black lamb skin studded with semi precious turquoise stones, covering the head like a cobra's hood and tapering to a thin tail reaching down the back. For ceremonial purposes, colourful robes in silk and brocade are worn.

9 The national dress of Ladakh is termed as `goncha` which is a practical dress for the harsh cold climate of Ladakh. Men wear is a distinctly stylish garment. It is a double-breasted calf-length coat. It is cut wide and the extra material is pulled to the back to form two pleats. It is fastened on the right shoulder and down the right side with brass buttons and loops. The edges of the stand-up collar are piped with silver brocade. The `gonchas` which are worn by poor people is made from coarse homespun woollen cloth which is a dark shade of maroon. In formal occasions there are few more stylish garments like a `goncha` in black velvet, silver gleam of piping at the border and collar. The women`s `goncha` is much more elegant than that worn by men. It has a full skirt with several small pleats which is secured with a bright cummerbund. Older women tie a goatskin around the shoulders. For formal wear, the outfit is completed by wearing a hat, or by the `perak` which is the traditional head-dress of Ladakh. Silver chains and strings of coral beads complete the decoration of the head-dress. According to the Ladakhi tradition, the head dresses are the fortune of the women. The women purchase it and attach more stones to it. This is later passed from mother to daughter through generations. The head dress is much of the appearance of a cap with ear-flaps. The head dress of the women is straight and the men`s is at a casual angle.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

Ladakh is a small town in J & Kwhere as kerla is a state. Ladakh is a hill station or you can say a mountain desert, is very cold place and is sarounded with mountains, where as kerala is famous for its greenry.Ladakh is in the north where as kerala is in thb south.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_Kerala_and_Ladakh#ixzz20xM15j II Ladakh is dry and COLD desert and is entirely different than climate of Kerala which is havng tropical weather. There is no RAINS in Ladakh and terrain has no green tint...this leads to it's name... Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_Kerala_and_Ladakh#ixzz20xMM9 RqB

Ladakh is a hill station and has very cold weather and snows in winter time however kerala is a large state and has tropical climate and is covered with trees and has very high rainfall

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Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_Kerala_and_Ladakh#ixzz20xMQg OUe

KERALA

To the South West extreme of India, lies a land, rich in every aspect imaginable; lush green, fertile land crisscrossed by seething rivers; beaches- stunningly beautiful where the waves seem to well up and kiss the golden sands; backwaters and marshlands where the flora seems to have tamed the Ocean itself; and above all a race of people, who seem to have mastered the essence of civilization. Rich in culture, cuisine and, capabilities, excelling in education, sports and unique martial arts, yes, this is the blessed land of Kerala indeed. Maps of India brings you complete information on the people, culture and Festival ofKerala

People of Kerala: An amazing race of people, following a unique lifestyle-the perfect blend of traditional, time-honored practices and progressive, innovative trends. Kerala Food: A delectable cuisine, unique to the region which involves the locally available ingredients such as coconuts, seafood, rice etc.

Festivals of Kerala: Kerala is the land of high festivities and cheer. A number of Festival like Onam, Vishu and Thiruvathirai are celebrated. They are usually marked by family get together, cheer and festivity.

Keralas climate is broadly tropical and humid, moderated by its proximity to the coast. The climate is also heavily influenced by the seasonal heavy rains brought by the monsoon. But its mountains which line the interior mean a larger variety of climate than on other tropical coasts. While a night spent up in the mountains may be cool and even showery, just a few hours below will almost always be the baking heat. Kerala receives an average annual rainfall of 3107 mm and approximately 7,030 crore m3 of water. Kerala's rains are mostly the result of seasonal monsoons. As a result, Kerala has 120 to 140 rainy days per year. The winter runs from December to the end of February, the summer starts in February and continues until May, when the monsoons begin. In summers, most of Kerala is prone to galeforce winds, storm surges, and torrential downpours accompanying dangerous cyclones coming in off the Indian Ocean.

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The South West Monsoon starts in late May and lasts until September, drenching and buffeting the state as it sweeps eastward from the Lakshadweep Sea. There is a second, smaller monsoon from October to early December, which comes from the northeast. Keralas average maximum daily temperature is around 36.7 C and the minimum is 19.8 C.