Leh
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{{Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
|native_name = Leh
|type = city
|latd = 34.17 | longd = 77.58
|skyline=View of Leh.jpg
|skyline_caption=View of Leh from Namgyal Hill
|locator_position = right
|state_name = Jammu and Kashmir
|district = [[Leh District]]
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|altitude = 3500
|population_as_of = 2001
|population_total = 27,513
|population_density =
|area_magnitude= sq km
|area_total =
|area_telephone =
|postal_code =
|vehicle_code_range =
|sex_ratio =
|unlocode =
|website = www.leh.nic.in
|footnotes =
}}
'''Leh''' ({{bo|t=གླེ་|w=Gle|script=yes}}) was the capital of the [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] kingdom of [[Ladakh]], now the [[Leh District]] in the state of [[Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]]. The town is still dominated by the now ruined [[Leh Palace]], former home of the royal family of Ladakh, which resembles a mini-[[Potala Palace]]. Leh is at an altitude of 3,500 meters (11,483ft).
==Geography==
Leh is located at {{coor d|34.17|N|77.58|E|}}<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/12/Leh.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Leh]</ref>. Its average elevation is 3,500 [[metre]]s (11,483 [[foot (unit of length)|feet]]). Average annual rainfall is 90 mm. The temperature can range from −28 °C in winter to 33 °C in summer.
Principal roads include the 434 km [[Srinagar]]-Leh highway which connects Leh with Srinagar and the 473 km [[Leh-Manali Highway]] which connects Manali with Leh. Both roads are open only on a seasonal basis.<ref>[http://www.jktourism.org/cities/ladakh/getting/index.htm The Journey from Kashmir]</ref>
==History==
[[Image:lehpalace.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The [[Leh Palace|ruined Royal Palace at Leh]].]]
The town is dominated by the '''royal palace''', known as [[Leh Palace]]. This was built by King Sengge Namgyal in the 17th century, but was later abandoned when [[Kashmiri]] forces besieged it in the mid-19th century. The royal family moved their premises south to their current home in [[Stok]] Palace on the southern bank of the [[Indus]]. The Leh Palace is nine storeys high; the upper floors accommodated the royal family, the stables and store rooms are located in the lower floors.
[[Image:Markez-Leh.jpg|thumb|The city-square in 1909.]]
The old [[mosque]] below Leh Palace is a [[Sunni Muslim]] mosque. It was constructed under the threat of military action{{Fact|date=April 2008}} by the [[Mughal]] Emperor [[Aurangzeb]] which prompted King Deldan Namgyal to build the mosque in 1661. The mosque reflects a mixture of [[Islamic]] and [[Tibet]]an architecture and can accommodate more than 500 people.
Leh was an important stopover on trade routes along the [[Indus River|Indus]] Valley between [[Tibet]] to the east, [[Kashmir]] to the west and ultimately between India and [[China]].
==Demographics==
[[Image:Leh old market.jpg|thumb|right|300px|People of Leh]]
According to 1981 Census, 81.18 % of Leh District's population is Buddhist, 15.32 % Muslim, 2.99 % Hindus, 0.27 % Sikh and 0.23% Christians. The Muslim presence dates back to the annexation of Ladakh by [[Kashmir]], after the [[Lobsang Gyatso, 5th Dalai Lama|Fifth Dalai Lama]] attempted to invade Ladakh from [[Tibet]]. Since then, there has been further migration from the Kashmir Valley due firstly to trade and latterly with the transfer of tourism from the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh.
[[As of 2001]] India [[census]]<ref>{{GR|India}}</ref>, Leh town had a population of 27,513. Males constitute 61% of the population and females 39%, due to a large presence of non-local labourers, traders and government employees. Leh has an average [[literacy]] rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 65%. In Leh, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
===Religious coexistence===
The existence of Tibetan Buddhism and Islam in Leh resulted in conflict between the two religions. Mosques and Buddhist Gompas were destroyed whenever a religious war was initiated. Because the main Mosque, Jama Masjid and the Gompa Soma are situated not very far from one another, broadcasting of the Muslim prayers and Buddhist prayers have resulted in a cold war between these two communities. The Dalai Lama made a visit to Leh in August 2003 to temples and mosques, and made a speech to stress religious pluralism among locals, to promote religious harmony.
<!----24 families in Leh are Christians, all of whom belong to the top ranks of Ladakhi society.!---->
The Christian community in Leh were converted from Tibetan Buddhism by German [[Moravian]] missionaries who first established a church in 1885.<ref>[http://www.oktrails.com/India/people_groups.htm People Groups in Ladakh ]</ref><ref>[http://www.1upindia.com/states/jammu-kashmir/laddakh/ Ladakh city]</ref>
== Pictures ==
{{wide image|Lehpanorama.jpg|1000px|A panoramic view of Leh valley from the Shanti Stupa}}
<gallery>
Image:Leh Bazaar.jpg|Leh Bazaar prior to 1871
Image:Leh Ladakh 002.jpg|View of Leh
Image:lehpalace.jpg|The ruined Royal Palace at Leh.
Image:Leh, capital of Ladakh ca. 1857.jpg|Leh, capital of Ladakh ca. 1857
Image:ShantiStupa.jpg|Shanti Stupa, constructed in 1983 by the Japanese
Image:LehPalace.jpg|Leh Palace
Image:LehMosque.jpg|Leh Mosque
Image:Leh old market.jpg|Old Market
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]]
== Further reading ==
* Lonely Planet: Trekking in the Himalayas (Walking Guides) [http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm?S=R&qwork=-95980804&qsort=p&siteID=KLVmR9fE2yU-TEwzp.noGLx.y05XqpWKXQ]
==References==
<references/>
== External links ==
{{commons|Category:Leh|Leh}}
*[http://wikitravel.org/en/Leh Leh at Wikitravel]
*[http://saos.org/egotrips/trips.php?trip=6 Manali-Leh Bicycle Adventure, documenting the region through photographs]
*[http://www.indiatravelvacation.com/leh-ladakh-tour/index.htm Leh Ladakh Travel information]
*[http://www.leh-ladakh.com/ Leh Ladakh Travel]
* [http://leh.nic.in/profile.htm Population Figures]
* [http://leh.nic.in/ Indian Government website of Leh]
* [http://www.bharatonline.com/kashmir/ladakh/culture/index.html Ladakh Culture]
* [http://pipimaru.dyndns.org/ladakh_200105/] Images of Ladakh encompassing Leh by [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pipimaru User:Pipimaru]
* [http://www15.brinkster.com/amdou/tourism/leh.html Facts and Figures of Leh]
* [http://www.islamicvoice.com/september.2003/mheritage.htm Ladakh Muslims At A Glance: Islam in Ladakh]
* [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/02/0227_030227_tvleh.html City of Leh Thrives as Oasis of Peace in Kashmir]
* [http://ladak.free.fr/commun/html/rapp01fr.htm Ladakh: Rapport n~1]
* [http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03aug03/state.htm Daily excelsior...state]
* [http://www.yamatreks.com/AboutLadakh.htm Religious groups in Ladakh]
* [http://www.tjresearch.info/Trebst.htm International Association for Ladakh Studies 11th colloquium Leh, 21-25 July 2003]
* [http://www.highasialadakh.com/ History, Regions, Places of Interest and Climate of Leh Ladakh]
* [http://www.jullay.com Jullay.com Community portal of ladakh]
* [http://www.dirttrackproductions.com/ Film on Leh]
* [http://miretlouise.site.voila.fr/banque_de_photos/Inde_06/index.html Ladakh seen by two amator photographers (2006)]
* [http://blogs.wanderingscapes.com WanderingScapes: A travel blog and photographs featuring Ladakh (2007)]
* [http://sss.vn.ua/india/kashmir/leh/indexen.htm Photos of Leh & Ladakh, 1280x960]
{{Leh-Manali Highway}}
[[Category:Cities and towns in Jammu and Kashmir]]
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