Your Guide to Shopping and Eating in Ladakh

One of the highlights of travelling to a new place is sampling the local cuisine and bringing back souvenirs to remind you of your holiday. Leh, Ladakh doesn’t disappoint on both counts. We’ve picked out the best places where you can shop to your heart’s content and try out the best Ladakhi delicacies.

 

What to Buy

The bazaars of Leh have their own charm and you can spend hours just browsing through the curios and souvenirs available here. The hottest selling souvenir in Leh is the pashmina shawl. Other pashmina wool garments such as sweaters, caps, gloves and socks are also worth a look. The Tibetan influence on Ladakh is apparent in the number of shops and stalls selling handicrafts such as prayer wheels, choktse (Tibetan tables) and Buddhist masks. Beautiful thangka paintings on silk with delicate embroidery make great gifts. Tibetan silver jewellery is also worth buying as is the turquoise jewellery commonly worn by Ladakhi women. Other souvenirs that you can pick up in Ladakh are beautiful hand-woven carpets and rugs. Traditionally woven with floral or geometric designs, these also make nice wall hangings. The dragon motif is very popular and can add a dash of colour and drama to any room.

Where to Shop

Leh’s main Bazaar Road is lined with shops and stalls selling these products. Ladakh Art Palace is a good place to start looking for Tibetan handicrafts and jewellery. The Buddhist Thangka House has a variety of thangkas as well as other items such as Ladakhi hats and jewellery. The Tibetan Handicraft Emporium on Bazaar Road and the Tibtan Handicraft Community Showroom in Choglamsar are other places where you can buy souvenirs. Be warned that these shops have fixed prices that are somewhat inflated at times. If you are looking for bargains, head to the open markets – Tibetan Market (off Old Leh Road) for clothes and antiques (genuine and otherwise!) and Moti Market (near Leh bus stand) for handicrafts, semi-precious stones and jewellery. Running parallel to Bazaar Road is the Shar Market where you can buy traditional Ladakhi dresses.

Since apricots grow aplenty in the region, they make for great gifts to purchase from Ladakh. Ladag Apricot Store is your best bet for buying fresh apricots, jams, apricot oil as well as other organic products.

​Try local delicacies and experience good but inexpensive dining in some of the best restaurants in Ladakh.

Where to Eat

There are several places in Leh where you will find local food such as thukpa, a thick broth with vegetables or meat. Another favourite is momos, steamed dumplings stuffed with vegetables or meat. The Ladakhi bread, khambir, is also worth trying especially with local apricot jam. Since Leh, Ladakh caters to many foreign tourists, you will find restaurants offering international cuisine as well – Continental, Italian, Chinese, Israeli – take your pick! Popular restaurants include Tenzin Dickey Tibetan and Tibetan Kitchen for local delicacies, Chopsticks and Lamayuru for Chinese and Pan-Asian and the garden restaurant La Pizzeria for excellent pizzas and soups. Also try Pumpernickel German Bakery for homemade cakes, tarts and a hearty breakfast menu.

Are you ready for some serious food and retail therapy in Leh Ladakh? MakeMyTrip has several holiday packages for you to choose from. Also, our flight and hotel deals will ensure guaranteed savings. Book now!