The little town of Leh is home to just over 27,000 people, more than 70 percent of whom are Buddhists. Although small, it is part of the sprawling Leh district, which at 45,110 sq km is India's largest.

With strong links to Tibet, Leh is dotted with Buddhist temples and monasteries. Overlooking the town is a nine-storey imposing Leh Palace that came up in the 17th century.

The hilly region is a hit with trekkers, one reason why Western tourists come in such large numbers.

Although dominantly Buddhist, Leh is home to a large number of traders from the Kashmir Valley specialising in pashmina shawls, handicrafts, silver jewellery, stoles and scarves.

A good stole or scarf can be had for Rs.1,000 while a genuine pashmina shawl costs Rs.10,000 or more.

If this doesn't suit your pocket, don't worry.

Leh's Tibetan shops overflow with chunky jewellery, prayer wheels, singing bowls and many interesting souvenirs.

But wherever you shop, bargaining is a must. Otherwise one might end up paying double of what one should cough up.

Last but not the least are Leh's customised T-shirts.

With a bit of thread work, one can get anything written on a T-shirt. And they cost around Rs.250 a piece.

What attracts tourists to them are their catchy one liners.

One reads: 'My boyfriend went to Ladakh and all he got was this T-shirt.' Leh is capital of Ladakh. For the same money, one can also have a map of the region stitched on the T-shirt.

Syed Parvez from Bangalore has got 21 T-shirts to gift them to friends and relatives.

'This is the best thing you can get here. It tells everyone that someone went to Leh,' he said.

While you are busy buying gifts, don't forget apricots. Leh's cold desert is known for good quality apricots.

(Shilpa Raina can be contacted at shilpa.r@ians.in)