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Welcome to Himalaya Insight. I am Abid and I grew up in the beautiful Leh-ladakh India. I have been in the adventure travel service industry for more than 15 years. I like the mountains and the neighboring flora it brings. Please feel free to ask me any questions about travel to Ladakh

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

RIMO DEFEATS ITBP IN SECOND WINTER TOURISM PROMOTION CUP.

Rimo club deafeated ITBP two goals to one in II Winter Tourrism Promoition Cup in a close fought match at Karzoo Ice rink today in Leh.

After the match, in his address Chief Guest Rigzin Spalbar promised to make the professional ice hockey stadium, being constructed close to the Council complex, at least ready to begin playing though it would take couple of more years for this stadium to become full fledged.

He also mentioned about the potential in this game to promote winter tourism, and in order to spread publicity about this game worldwide and attract teams from foreign countries plans are under way with various collaborations such as with Canadian Embassy team, who has been visiting to play in Leh for many years.

Later prizes were given away to winner, runner up and second runner up Skara team, apart from felicitations to speed skaters for winning many medals in an international meet at Dehradoon earlier this winter. The organisers Ladakh Winter Sports Club and District Sports and Youth Welfare department also announced on the occasion the Women ice hockey competition and CEC Cup tournament to begin soon.

WINTER TOURISM PROMOTION ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 BEGAN AT LEH

The Executive Councilor Tourism, Mr. Gyurmet Dorjey inaugurated the 2nd Winter Tourism Promotion Cup 2011 at Karzoo Ice Rink yesterday. The inaugural match was played between Rimo Club and ITBP and the later won by 3 goals to 2.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gyurmet said that though Ladakh has tremendous potential in promotion of winter games and great prospect of producing national as well as international players, but unlikely Leh failed in exploring its potential to the fullest till this date because of lack of apposite Ice Rink here. He said that the LAHDC Leh would make every effort for the earliest completion of the Ice Rink in Leh so that the players especially the younger lot would get the best opportunity to polish their talents and earn name and fame for Ladakh at National and International levels.

Welcoming the Canadian Embassy team in Leh, who will play some friendly matches with local teams, Mr. Gyurmet extended gratitude to them for their regular visit to

Ladakh and continuous support and guidance to the local teams. He said that the contribution of Canadian Embassy team has resulted in sharp improvement in the quality of Ice Hockey in Ladakh and adding that it was reflected by the results of National Championship and Asian Federation Games held recently at Shimla and Dehradun, where most of the medals were hauled by the Ladakhis.

Appreciating the tireless efforts of Ladakh Winter Sports Club who are the pioneering contributors in promotion of winter games at this height, Mr Gyurmet urged them to fully dedicate their abilities for further boosting of winter games in Ladakh.

He assured that LAHDC would make the winter games a major cause for promoting winter tourism in Ladakh.

Earlier, the Advisor, Ladakh Winter Sports Club Mr. PT Kunzang gave a detail summery of the championship and greeted the local participants and the Canadian team.

The Councilor, Upper Leh Gelong Lobzang Nyantak, Canadian Deputy High Commissioner in India, Mr. Jim Nickel, the Chief Executive Officer, Leh Development Authority, Mr. Tsering Morup, President Ladakh Winter Sports Club, Gyalpo Namgyal Wangchuk, Deputy Chief Education Officer, Mr. Dorjey, District Youth Service and Sports Officer Mr. Fida Hussain Khan and large spectators witnessED THE INAUGURAL MATCH

Monday, February 7, 2011

LADAKHIS ENJOY WINTERS DESPITE ENDURING HARDSHIP

Leh (Ladakh) : Despite the mercury dipping in the winter months, Ladakhis have learnt to endure adversities, and choose to deem this period as a season to relax and take a break from all the toil that they undertake during the rest of the year.

Totally cut off from the rest of the world, the 434 kilometres long Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway remains closed for six winter months due to heavy snowfall. The other route towards Manali in Himachal also remains closed due to snowfall.

Thus life almost comes to a halt for almost four months here as such the locals stock all the needs of daily use well in advance.

The hydro-power generation is also affected due to freezing of the water. The alternative source power through diesel engines is also restricted. It is limited to just six hours in the evening.

As such use of heavy electric gadgets is strictly banned from the middle of December and a fine of rupees five thousand is imposed in case one is found guilty of misusing electricity.

Alongside, water supply and sanitation are also some of the major problems faced by the people here.

Inspite of all these odd trends, the locals enjoy the winter months by hosting neighbourhood get-togethers where they feast on chang
(rice brew), good food and perform traditional dances, sing songs and also recite folk stories.

"People enjoy in the winters. Chilly winters and snowfall are important because people get to rest in winters. Ladakh people perform traditional dances, sing songs and retell folk stories, enjoying every bit of these refreshing items," said Tsering Norboo, a local.

The locals here rely on room firewood fed heating systems like bukharis which keep the rooms warm and do not emit smoke.

People of Ladakh store all essential commodities, including rice, flour, cooking gas, kerosene oil and other eatables in advance for the times when they literally go into a sort of hibernation.

During winters, the Ladakhis concentrate more on indoor activities and these could be weaving, knitting and allied handicrafts.

"Winters in Ladakh are different from the winters in other places. Here the temperature goes down from minus 10 to minus 30 degree Celsius. One can hardly venture out to do any work. But one can sit at home and do many indoor handicraft activities," said Sonam Sopari, a local.

During winter months, the minimum temperature in the daytime may range between 10 and 12 degree Celsius while the night temperature touches the minus mark of 25 to 30 degrees.

The resourceful among the Ladakhis prefer to take a break and holiday in warmer places lie Delhi and Chandigarh among other places.

LADAKH ICE HOCKEY TEAM FELICITATED FOR WINNING IIHF GONG

In a rare honour, the Indian Ice Hockey team was felicitated on its return from Abu Dhabi (UAE), where it participated in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Challenge Cup of Asia.

Ajit Kumar Sahu, Deputy Commissioner, Leh in Jammu and Kashmir did the honours.

This was the first time that the ice hockey team led by Tundup Namgyal had gone abroad to participate in an event of such a scale
Terming the step as a beginning, Gyal Wangyal, the team manager, said, "More than the performance, the exposure which the players have got has been good. We would have been playing here at district level. We would not have been aware about the rules of the game nor the manner in which the game is played or the approach of the coach to instruct the players."

Ice hockey as a sport is popular in the region, but due to lack of adequate facilities its development and progress has been slow.

This first ever-international exposure has acted as a morale booster for both the players and the game.

"When we played our first match against Thailand, we did not know how the game was played. But in the 2nd and 3rd match, we played much better scoring a goal and played a very good game against Macau," said Aman Ali, player of the team.

The players are hopeful that the sport from here would only get better. With the formation of a District Olympic Association, things should get better from here. (ANI)