Indian Himalaya

• Holidays
• Introduction
• Key Facts
• Climate

• Capital: Gangtok
• Population: 619,000 (2012 census)
• Size of region: 7,298 sq km
• Currency: Indian Rupee
• Power supply: 220v/240v
• Sockets: two pin sockets or Indian three-round pin variety
• Language: Nepali is the most commonly spoken language
• Time difference: GMT +5.5 hours
• Visas: British Nationals require an Indian visa and this must be obtained in advance
• Popular dishes: Momos - steamed or fried dumplings stuffed with vegetables or meat
• Popular drinks: Tongba, a Himalayan millet beer
• Did you know: Sikkim is home to around 5,000 species of flowering plants, 515 of which are rare orchids
• FCDO advice: FCDO advice for India
• Capital city: Leh
• Population: 274,289 (2011)
• Size of region: 45,100 sq km
• Currency: Indian Rupee
• Power supply: 230-240v
• Sockets: two pin sockets or Indian three-round pin variety
• Language: Ladakhi
• Time difference: GMT +5.5 hours
• Visas: British Nationals require an Indian visa and this must be obtained in advance
• Religion: 50% Buddhist 45% Muslim
• Popular dishes: local breads with apricot jam and Thukpa - thick vegetable soup
• Popular drinks: Gurgur (butter) tea and chang
• Did you know: As Ladakh is situated in the Himalayan rain shadow it is protected from the monsoon rains and can therefore be trekked in the summer months – one of the few areas of the Himalaya where this is recommended.
• FCDO advice (India): FCDO advice for India