The Grand Dragon
75
The Grand Dragon Ladakh, Union Territory of Ladkah
Living on the roof of the world!
The Grand Dragon

Whether its white-water rafting on the Indus or Zanskar rivers, hiking through the Himalayas and trekking to some of the highest mountain passes or exploring quaint mountain villages and old monasteries, Ladakh has much to offer. Leh, a complete destination in its own right, makes for a comfortable base for day trips to Hemis monastery, Thiksey monastery, Likir and Alchi monastery, Pangong lake, Khardung La pass. Leh is also the first destination and the only airport people fly into, hence making it a hub for cultural interactions and site visits, museums etc. 

 

Perfectly Rare

Nestling  in the cradle of the Himalayas with spectacular views of the Stok Kangri range, Khardong La pass, Leh palace and Shanti stupa, the Grand Dragon is both a destination and an experience. One of the first of its kind, it has been the preferred choice of the discerning traveler for close...

Know Your Host

Presently run by Danish and his siblings, the third gerneration of the Abdu family in Leh,  the hotel opened with three rooms in 1974. The Grand Dragon  came into its present form in 2007.  Danish is the face of the brand. A consumate hotelier,  he is one of...

Located 11,562 ft above the sea level in the centre of the old city of Leh, the Grand Dragon is built in the traditional Ladakhi style and decorated with handmade paintings by one of the first modern artists of Ladakh.  Possibly one of the largest hotels in Ladakh, the hotel also has venues for conferences, outdoor areas for dining and cultural activity. The hertiage rooms and suites are really beautiful and bring in the textile tradtions of Ladakh to create warm and comfortable spaces. 

 

Well-appointed with all the modern facilities a traveller would need, the rooms and suites reflect typical Ladakhi ambience. The hotel has four categories of rooms, all of which offer spectacular views. 

The 36 deluxe or twin rooms with large  picture windows offer uninterrupted views of the snow-capped Stok Kangri mountains, Khardung La pass and Leh palace.The 28 premier heritage rooms overlook the gardens and offer breathtaking views of the Stok Kangri mountains or Khardung La pass, Leh pass and Shanti stupa, depending on the location of the room. Tastefully done 6 family suites overlook the gardens, Leh palace, Shanti stupa and Khardung La pass and are ideal for small familes, celebrations and long stays. 

Adorned with teak ceilings, the suites come with a large master bedroom that connects to a separate living room. Bathed in luxury, the 6 spacious luxury suites with a master bedroom and a separate interconnecting living room offer a stunning view of the snow-capped Stok Kangri glacier. The suites standout for the elegant teak wood cornices and furnishings in jewel-toned brocades embossed with floral designs and geometric motifs. 

All rooms are equipped with modern en suite facilities and have amazing views depending on the Shanti stupa, Stok Kangri mountains, Stok palace and Leh palace depending on the location of the room. The family suites and the luxury suites can both accommodate couples travelling with children. The luxury and family suite both have interconnected living rooms

Dining

The Grand Dragon has a fully equipped F&B service and offer  cuisines from around the world in addition to authentic Ladakhi, Tibetan and Chinese cuisine. The hotel has two dining options and SOLJA, the in-house bakery. TUSRABS offers authentic Tibetan, Ladakhi and Chinese cuisine ZASGYATH, the hotel’s coffee shop cuisines from around the world that change with season. They do not serve alcohol. 

There are a variety of things that one can do at The Grand Dragon. Visit ancient monasteries and heritage sites like the Stok palace and museum, and the Leh palace. For the adventure seekers also, there’s plenty to do - white-water rafting on the Zanskar or Indus river, rock climbing and hiking, and camel and jeep safaris. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot a snow leopard or blue sheep. For those looking to enjoy a slower break too, there are choices, from meditation and yoga to learning about the traditional healing techniques. Or check out the authentic Ladakhi cuisine. If shopping be your interest, local handicrafts make for much sought after souvenirs.

Perfect For

The property is fully wheelchair accessible.

Operational Status

The Grand Dragon is one of the few hotels that is open throughout the year, hence also ideal for the snow leopard season of November to April as well as the trekking months. 

 

The Grand Dragon, Ladakh has been in operation for nearly five decades. Built in the traditional Ladakhi style, it conforms to Green Architectural standards.

No Single Use Plastic: All rooms and dining areas offer RO water in glass bottles thereby reducing plastic use. Additionally bulk purchasing is practiced. Bathroom and room amenities include use of bamboo products.

Safe Garbage Disposal: Garbage is segregated with wet waste being donated to a dog shelter, and other waste is sent for recycling.

Water Conservation: Water conservation is practiced through special flushes and aerators in taps that reduce water consumption. Additionally recycled grey water is used for gardening purposes.

Energy Efficiency: Sunlight that is abundant in this region is welcome with the use of large windows. Additionally, the staff quarters are equipped with solar heaters.

Local Community Engagement: Amongst the early hotels in Ladakh, the community engagement is high with nearly half the staff employed locally. Additionally, local businesses are used as suppliers for ingredients, groceries, meats and dairy and preference is given to local suppliers for other tourism related activities. By imbibing local art as décor, it has ensured that local artists have been engaged.

Heritage Preservation: Built in the traditional Ladakhi style, the hotel uses local heritage and culture as décor. One can see examples of Ladakhi ceilings and teak wood cornices & flooring in the rooms. The décor includes elegant teak ceilings, artistic walls that portray the authentic jewellery of the region and using the regional motifs in the furnishings. Experiences include The Momo Story, designed to learn to make momos – an  intrinsic staple in this region, understanding traditional medicine and insights in to this unique culture.

Sensitive Destination Discovery: The Grand Dragon was amongst the early hotels to open in Ladakh and there was an emphasis from the beginning to showcase Ladakh’s unique culture through the experiences offered.

Human Touch: The hotel follows a policy of no gender bias, fair wages and practices for employees.

The RARE Sustainability Quotient is a self-audit tool that is used by our hotel partners to measure, document and assess their planet and people friendly practices and is based on the RARE Touchstones.

No Single Use Plastic Safe Garbage Disposal Water Conservation Energy Efficiency Local Community Engagement Sensitive Destination Discovery Heritage Preservation The Human Touch
RARE Tip
A dream hotel on the roof of the world, two to three nights here will allow you to aclimatize as well as take in the cultural hot spots of Leh including fine dining, music and art engagements and the Leh market.
Facilities

Reviews and Location
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Best place to stay in Leh
by NitinJ218 on 03/26/2024

We stayed here for 4 nights and these were possibly the best 4 nights of our overall trip to Leh. Right from welcome to very prompt service, courteous staff who is always ready to go out of their...

“just right!”
by Jill1108 on 02/26/2024

great food, convenient location, nice views, excellent service. one odd note to management - may not bother everyone and definitely did not change my overall experience: the lights on the thermostat...

Luxury with great customer experience
by christy_southafrica on 02/26/2024

This hotel goes above and beyond and are specialists in dealing with clients who are new to altitude and going trekking. All meals included - the restaurant staff and food was wonderful. Special...

Nearest Airport : Leh
Nearest Railway Station : NA
Nearest Bus Station : NA

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