Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh (IXL)

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL) is the airport serving Leh in Ladakh, at about 3,256 metres one of the highest commercial airports in the world. Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is named after the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, a respected Ladakhi lama and statesman who served as a member of India's Parliament and as India's ambassador to Mongolia.

The airport shares its runway with the Indian Air Force, so security is strict and photography around the airport is restricted. Flights from Delhi take about an hour and a quarter and cross the main Himalayan range, with snow peaks close below the wings on a clear day. Flights also run from Mumbai, Srinagar and Jammu, some only in season. Because winds build in the afternoon, flights run mainly in the morning, and delays for weather are common. There are no direct flights from Singapore, so travellers usually connect through Delhi. Your driver meets you on arrival, and most hotels in Leh are only 10 to 15 minutes away.

What to see

• The view on the approach, with the plane flying low over the Indus valley
• The Stok range and Leh town visible from the apron
• A basic cafe and snack counters in the terminal
• Taxi counters and hotel pick-ups outside arrivals
• Army convoys and aircraft around the field

What to wear

Pack warm: even in summer, Leh mornings are cool, and from October to April they are below freezing. Wear layers you can add to on arrival, and keep a fleece or down jacket in your cabin bag. Sunglasses and sunscreen are needed from the moment you land. Ladakhis traditionally wear the goncha, a long woollen robe tied with a sash, and you will see it in Leh town.

Local food to try

The airport has only snacks and tea. In Leh, try thukpa noodle soup, skyu (a hearty stew of thumb-pressed wheat pasta and vegetables), momos, khambir flatbread with apricot jam, and salty butter tea. Vegetarian food is widely available, and halal food can be found near the Jama Masjid in the Main Bazaar.

Good to know

• Best from May to September; winter flights are fewer and cold
• Flights operate mainly in the morning
• No entry fee; only ticketed passengers may enter the terminal
• Allow at least two hours before departure for security checks
• About 4 to 5 km from the Main Bazaar, 10 to 15 minutes by road
• Rest for 24 to 48 hours after landing to acclimatise; no photography of the airfield

Nearby places

The Hall of Fame is right beside the airport, and Leh Palace and the Main Bazaar are a short drive into town.