Leh is at an altitude of 3524 metres (11,562 ft), and connects via National Highway 1D connects it to Srinagar in the southwest and to Manali in the south via Leh-Manali Highway

Several trade routes have traditionally converged on Leh, from all four directions. The most direct route was the one the modern highway follows from the Punjab via Mandi, the Kulu valley, over the Rohtang Pass, through Lahaul and on to the Indus Valley, and then down river to Leh. The route from Srinigar was roughly the same as the road that today crosses the Zoji La (pass) to Kargil, and then up the Indus Valley to Leh.

Shanti Stupa.     Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist white-domed stupa (chorten) on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh district, Ladakh, in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.  It was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura . The Shanti Stupa holds the relics of the Buddha at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama himself. The stupa has become a tourist attraction not only due to its religious significance but also due to its location which provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

The Victory Tower.      Situated at a height of 4,267 metres (13,999 ft), the stupa is located 5 kilometres (3.1mi) from Leh - the former capital of Ladakh - on a steep hill facing the Leh Palace. The stupa can be reached by a drivable road or on foot using a series of 500 steep steps to the hilltop.

A couple of hundred feet above the Leh Palace, on the peak of the Namgyal Hill stands the Victory Tower of Leh overlooking the Leh city. The tower was built to commemorate Ladakh s victory over the Balti Kashmir armies in the early 16th century.

Jama Masjid.    Right in the heart of the city of Leh, is the Jama Masjid - a Muslim place of daily worship. Built to accommodate 500 worshippers at a time, this mosque is a favourite of Sunni Muslims of Leh and its surrounding villages.
 

Chamba Temple.    Amongst the market-scape of the city of Leh enroute to the Leh Palace, stands the White Chamba Temple which is dedicated to Maitreya in Sanskrit, also known as Jampa in Tibetan – the ‘future Buddha’ or ‘the Buddha to come’. The temple houses a 14 metres high statue of Maitreya.

Trekking Trails.    Apart from the scenic splendour, pleasant weather and diversified international history, Leh also has to offer mind and body challenging activity such as trekking. The city takes advantage of its surrounding hills and mountains of rock and snow. Scaling a rocky or snowy sloping terrain has been challenging for body and mind in terms of stretching the limits of physical fitness (that too against gravity as opposed to flat terrain walking) and mental determination to continue the path when one hits a road block. You can avail of both structured and organized trekking trails as well as random ones from the city of Leh. Trekking trails from Leh can be as short as daylong or extend upto a few weeks depending on the routes and time you wish to invest in this activity.

Few of the longer, established and organized popular and strenuous trekking trails originating at Leh are:

1. The Nubra Valley Trek - could take about 3 weeks round trip.

2. The Indus Valley Trek - takes about 2 weeks round trip.

3. The Markha Valley Trek - could take about 10 days round trip.

4. The Zanskar Valley Trek – could take about 2 weeks round trip.

5. The Suru Valley Trek – could take about 3 weeks round trip.

6. Khardung La Trek – can be done in 4 days round trip.

Zorawar Fort.    Above the Leh Palace and the Namgyal Tsemo Gompa stands the imposing Zorawar Fort overlooking the valley of Leh and the snow-capped mountains beyond. The Zorawar Fort also known as the Riasi Fort and the Leh Fort was named after Zorawar Singh – a General of Maharaja Ranjit Singh – the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.

Sprawled over 28 acres of land atop the Namgyal Hill, the Zorawar Fort contains a Natural Spring, a Mosque and a Temple which is dedicated to goddesses Kali and Durga within. The fort is circumferenced by a 5-metre deep moat and the Fort Entrance is over the Moat on a bridge and through a wooden doorway. The Fort was built as a resting place and transit halt holding troops of 300 soldiers and 30 artillery operators. Artillery rooms, Food storage rooms and stables apart from other resting rooms constitute the Fort. Military Parade Ground is central to the Fort.