Leh, capital and largest city of Ladakh, a division in the Indian-held portion of the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir (commonly called Kashmir), in the extreme northwest of the Indian subcontinent. Both India and Pakistan lay claim to all of Kashmir, although the territory has been partitioned since 1947. Leh has an elevation of 3,520 m (11,550 ft) above sea level and lies at the foot of a small range of mountains south of the larger Karakoram Range. The city is located just north of the Indus River, 260 km (160 mi) east of Srinagar, a trek of several weeks by road. The climate of the region is cold and dry, with annual temperatures averaging 5° C (41° F), summer daytime temperatures peaking at 31° C (88° F), and winter temperatures averaging -9° C (15° F). Rainfall is scanty and does not exceed 180 mm (7 in) per year. Grass and scrub constitute most of the vegetation, although a few trees and some gardens are cultivated.
Among the notable buildings in Leh are the old palace and monastery of the Rajas of Leh and Stok, and the monasteries of Spitok and Shamker. The town is the administrative headquarters of an area of nearly 78,000 sq km (30,000 sq mi).
