Leh sits at an average elevation of 3,524 meters (11,562 feet) above sea level. The topography is rugged and undulating. The city itself is built on a sloping plateau that rises from the floor of the Indus Valley toward the mountains.
The skyline is dominated by steep hills; the most prominent within the city is Namgyal Hill, upon which the Leh Palace and the Tsemo Gompa are situated. Just north of the city lies the formidable Khardung La pass (at an elevation of 5,359 meters), which serves as the gateway to the Nubra Valley. Deep gorges and alluvial fans carved by seasonal glacial streams characterize the immediate outskirts of the urban area.
