A great momentum in tourist traffic has been witnessed to the cold desert land of Ladakh, cocooned amidst the remote outreaches of the Karakoram Mountains and the great Himalaya in eastern Jammu and Kashmir. Time was when the idea of taking a holiday here was as remote as its location for most holidaymakers. Closed to outsiders for about 25 years after independence for strategic reasons, it was only in 1947 that it was party opened up.

Ladakh then attracted mostly footloose intrepid western tourists, drawn to the allure of its challenging trekking trails and cultural exotica. Buddhist scholars came for its heritage of Tibetan Buddhism and practised, almost, unhindered in its centuries-old monasteries.

Indian vacationers to the region may have been slow in discovering its charms but having tasted its delights are willing to venture beyond Ladakh's capital town-Leh, the gateway town set strategically on the ancient caravan route from Punjab and Kasmir and the great silk route to central Asia.

Ladakh very remoteness and surreal vistas, combined with a dazzling range of adventure and cultural pickings have become its greatest USP, in turn, this has also become an important contribution to its economy by attracting tourists from home and abroad. It would bode well for its future as a holiday destination to initiate stringent steps by all concerned to preserve the intrinsic strengths of its rich heritage.