5 LOCAL DISHES YOU MUST TRY

Tsong thaltak (whole wheat onion bread) Lama pakthuk (monk thukpa) O-chutagi (a local pasta) Drapu (whole wheat dumplings) Chhurpi (cheese made from yak milk)

GETTING THERE

You can drive to Ladakh via Manali or Srinagar. Bear in mind that roads are closed during winter. Leh is well connected by air to different parts of the country.

STAY

The Grand Dragon Ladakh is one of the first five-star luxury hotels in Ladakh. From `9,000 per night; thegranddragonladakh.com

Stok Palace Heritage Hotel is a 200-year-old mud palace that offers six restored rooms in the palace building and three two-bedroom villas amid an apricot orchard. From `12,000 per night for a single room suite; stokpalaceheritage.com

TOURS

You can book a tailor-made Ladakhi cuisine experience at the Jade House, Ladakh. It is organised by Artisanal Alchemy (Instagram: @artisanalalchemy).