From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Leh is the capital of the former Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh - the two is still dominated by the now derelict Royal Palace, which resembles a mini-Potala Palace. Leh is a largely Buddhist town, but with a large Sunni Moslem minority, dating back to the annexation of Ladakh by Kashmir, after the fifth Dalai Lama attempted to invade Ladakh from Tibet, with further migration from the Kashmir Valley due to firstly trade, then latterly, with the transfer of tourism from the Kashmir Valley to Buddhist Eastern Ladakh.
Leh formed an important stopover on trade routes along the Indus Valley between Tibet to the east, Kashmir to the west and ultimately between India and China.
Leh should not be confused with a lei, a flower necklace used by Hawaiian in greetings.
