Ladakh the Moonland

Ladakh has been thrown open to the tourist traffic and the number of tourist, trekkers, travelers and antiquarians to this Moonland on earth has been increasing steadily every year. Some like to see its rich culture, some visit this roof of the world for meditation but many more come to meet the cheerful and charming people of Ladakh.

It has fascinated many a traveler and visitors form far-off lands. Some are fascinated by its unique geographical position, as the highest elevated land in the world. Some want to trek on its barren mountains, which had been under the sea during ancient periods of the earth's history. Some of the experts want to study its geology, ethnology and anthropological antiquity. Some of them are of the opinion that this roof of the world was the earliest habitation during pre-historic times. Many come to study Buddhism here, a few to learn Tantric rituals and many more for meditation, away from the busy life. But numerous visitors, only come to Ladakh to receive the hospitality of the people.

Sufi mystic Haji Fida Mohammad Khan Hassnain was born in the year 1924 at Srinagar, Kashmir, India. Having graduated from the University of Punjab, Lahore he completed his post graduation in history and law at the Muslim University, Aligarh, India. He started his career as a Professor of history in S.P.College, Srinagar, Kashmir, 1947. Later he joined the national archives of India, New Delhi and obtained diploma in archives. He was promoted by government of India as the Director of Archives, Archaeology, Research and Museum in 1953 and Continued as such as till his retirement in 1983. He is credited with the having salvaged hundreds of manuscripts in Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian and Urdu by preserving this heritage in the oriental research libraries and the three archives repositories at Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Srinagar.

In 1969 he was invited by several Japanese Universities to give extension lectures on Buddhist culture and history. Since then he has visited various cities in Asia and Europe and has given lectures on history, culture and Sufism. He is a recipient of several degrees and awards from various institutions in India, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Mexico. He was granted the title of Rastra Sanskrit Samrat or the Emperor of National Culture in 1987. The Jammu and Kashmir government has bestowed upon him the prestigious lifetime achievement award on January 25, 2009.

He is the author of about two dozen books on history, culture and mysticism which have been published in India, UK, Russia, Italy, Spain USA.

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