North India · Union territory
Ladakh
A high-altitude cold desert of monasteries, barley villages and glacial lakes, made a union territory in 2019.
- Capital
- Leh — Leh and Kargil are the two district headquarters of the union territory.
- Languages
- Ladakhi (Bhoti), Urdu, Hindi, English — major and official languages, not an exclusive list.
Cultural traditions, arts & crafts
- • Cham masked dance at Hemis, Thiksey and other gompas
- • Pashmina goat herding on the Changthang plateau
- • Thangka painting and butter sculpture
- • Ice-stupa and traditional water-sharing practices
Major festivals
- Hemis Festival — June–July (dates vary — verify current dates)
- Losar — December–January (dates vary — verify current dates)
- Ladakh Festival — September (dates vary — verify current dates)
Traditional dress & textiles
Dress varies by community, district, occasion and generation; everyday clothing today is often contemporary. These are representative traditions rather than a single state costume.
- • The goncha, a heavy woollen robe with a sash, is worn by men and women in winter
- • The perak, a turquoise-studded headdress, is ceremonial dress for Ladakhi Buddhist women
- • Kargil's communities wear their own variants of robe, cap and shawl
Where to go
Show Ladakh on the explore mapSources & verify
- Ladakh Tourism (official)
- Know India — States & UTs (Government of India)
- Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles
Last reviewed: August 2026. Cultural traditions in India vary by community, district, occasion and generation. The notes below are representative examples reviewed against government sources, not exhaustive or official definitions. Festival timings follow lunar or locally announced calendars — verify current dates with the relevant state tourism department before travelling.