In and around Leh, Ladakh

Leh, with Leh Palace in the centre


Waking up in Leh


Gateway to the Palace


Leh Palace


Tibetan books


Above the Palace


Looking over New Leh


The way to Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, the ruins of a medieval fort and a lot of prayer flags.


In the breeze


Proof of my inability to tan


Dusty Old Leh in the foreground, green New Leh behind


One of the Gompas below the palace


One of many


Mini stupas and storage in a lane in Old Leh


Chowkhang Gompa


Pointing


89 prayer wheels containing over 150m mantras at a cost of 41,772 ruppees intended 'for the welfare and ultimate enlightenment of all human beings'


Squares


Central Leh, the palace looming behind


Well-spotted


The shearing


Completed entirely with scissors and a blade


No cut without a massage


... involving much forehead thumping


Post-cut chai with our friend from Orchha


Farming


The Shanti Stupa, built by Japanese monks to promote world peace


More view


Spaceship


Epic


Japanese


Surveying


Painted walls


Entrance


The long road


Perched


Gomang Stupa, near Changspa, dating from the ninth century


Stupas, or Chortens in Tibetan


However remote, there's always people (and signs)


Screening 'Ancient Futures' daily


Vegetable sellers


A Stupa south of Leh


Pole