Although Leh’s glory days are past, the magic of the Himalayas still lives on in this Kashmir town. Beginning in at least the 10^th century AD, the kingdom of Ladakh was an important trading-post for travelers between Tibet and Kashmir. Ever since the 17^th century, the site has been dominated by the royal Leh Palace, where the king of Ladahk made his home. Today, the nine-story ruins are open to visitors, who can enjoy an amazing view from the top of the building.Today, the Ladakh kingdom has been divided into the two districts of Leh and Kargil, with Leh being the largest district in India. Besides Leh Palace, there are plenty of other sites that continue to attract visitors from around the globeboth tourists and adventurous mountaineers, who swarm the mountain peaks between mid-May and mid-October. The Suru and Zanskar valleys are the site of the most difficult climbs, which may take up to three weeks to complete safely and may include crossing the Suru river. The Stok-Khangri Massif is also a popular temptation for thrill-seekers.Visitors with a strong endurance may also be interested in visiting some of the Buddhist monasteries which lie along the Ladakh pilgrimage trail. These sites are located within the center of Ladakh, called Zanskar, and are only accessible for four months of the year. This is due to an impressive amount of snowfall, which shuts down all access passes. You are welcome to make the trek if possiblethe city of Padum is popular among tourists for its 8^th century Buddhist rock monument, along with the Starrimo Monastery, and the Stongdey Monastery in the north is also a common destination.Those inclined toward interesting inclines will also want to investigate the Magnetic Hill, which can be reached by car. If you park your vehicle on the hill, it will be “pulled upward” of its own accord at speeds of around 20 km/hr.