LadÄkhÄ«
Quick Summary
The term "Ladakhi" refers to the people native to or inhabiting Ladakh, a region in eastern Kashmir. It can also refer to the Tibetan dialect spoken in Ladakh.1
Ladakh itself is a large territory in the northern Indian subcontinent, divided between India, Pakistan, and China. It is characterized by high plains, deep valleys, and mountain ranges like the Karakoram Range and the Himalayas. The climate is cold and dry, though recent years have seen impacts from climate change leading to unpredictable weather.23
The inhabitants of Ladakh are predominantly Buddhists of Tibetan ancestry who speak the Ladakhi language, a Tibeto-Burman language. In contrast, the western part of Ladakh, the Kargil district, is primarily inhabited by Muslims who speak Purik, a language related to Ladakhi.43
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