Which desert is located in the rain shadow of the Himalayas in northern India?

Which desert is located in the rain shadow of the Himalayas in northern India? The answer is the Ladakh Desert.

Ladakh is a high-altitude cold desert in northern India. The Himalayas block moisture-laden Indian monsoon clouds, leaving Ladakh on the drier, leeward side of the mountains. Its landscape is dominated by barren slopes, broad valleys, high plateaus and starkly colored rock formations rather than the hot dunes associated with many deserts.

The desert’s dryness does not mean it is completely waterless. Winter snowfall and mountain meltwater feed the Indus and other rivers, allowing irrigated settlements near Leh and in valley bottoms to support crops such as barley and vegetables. Sparse vegetation is concentrated around waterways and cultivated areas.

A common mix-up is confusing the Ladakh Desert with the Thar Desert. The Thar is a much lower, warmer desert in northwestern India and Pakistan, while Ladakh’s defining features are its extreme elevation, cold climate and Himalayan rain shadow.