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Nubra Valley is about 150 km north of Leh the capital town of Ladakh India. Local scholars say that its original name was Ldumra (the valley of flowers). The Shyok River meets the Nubra or Siachan River to form a large valley that separates the Ladakh and the Karakoram Ranges. The average altitude of the valley is about 10000 ft. above the sea level. The common way to access this valley is to travel over the Khardung La from Leh. Non-locals require an Inner Line Permit (obtainable in Leh town) to enter Nubra. Nubra is a high altitude desert with rare precipitation and scant vegetation except along river beds where irrigated and on high slopes. Most of the Nubra Valley is inhabited by Ladakhis who speak Ladakhi; the majority of them are Buddhist with a minority of Shia and Sunni Muslims. In the western or lowest altitude end of Nubra Valley along the Shyok River the inhabitants are Balti speak Balti and are Shia and Sufia Nurbakhshia Muslims.
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