Leh is the capital and largest city of the Ladakhi District of Jammu-Kashmir. About 28,000 people live in the city of remarkable harmony, Leh prides itself on its history of religious and ethnic cohesiveness. Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists dominate this town known as “Little Tibet,” though Hindhi, Sikhs, and Christians call this town home as well.
Leh’s Mosque in the center of town, with Buddhist prayer flags.
Things are changing at a rapid pace for the people of Leh. 25 years ago the people in and around Leh imported about 15% of its food needs, now they import over 60%. Why? One is that young people are leaving remote villages for life and education in the city (often finding limited opportunities for work), no longer farming the remote valleys of the high mountains. The other primary reason is the new tourist economy. Almost the entire economy is based on the 3 or so months of the summer trekking season, when Leh is jammed with tourists looking to trek the stunning Ladakhi mountains. Winter is very quiet in comparison, but a simple walk around town show signs of the summer chaos.
As we walked by the main mosque, we heard the late afternoon call to prayer
Not a great video…but the live signing is amazing!
Speak, Memory 
Wow! It looks amazing! What is the reaction of the local people to foreigners, especially the Hockey players? What is your reaction to them?
We had warm welcomes the entire weekend. They certainly value what the tournament brings (equipment for adults and youth) and they love watching the hockey. I must say though, that they certainly want the local teams to win!
I felt the all to personally familiar feeling of wanted it blend in and disappear, while being unable too, due to my relative wealth and ethnicity. . I had the same feeling in Africa…I didn’t want to be a tourist, yet I couldn’t be a local…sort of in the middle of nothingness.
The warm receptions were reciprocated for sure, it was hard not to be moved by the Ladakhi reception.
What is the dominant religion in the area–Buddhism, Hinduism, or Islam? Do they all get along?
Tibetan Buddhism is the majority, with Islam a close second.
Historically they get along remarkably well, though there was a grew rowing spat (where the lines between ethnic, political and religious lines blur) back around 2000-2002. The Dali Llama came to visit and tensions cooled. hither people off Ladakh actually pride themselves on their harmonious existence over the centuries.