History of Ladakh can be traced back a rather long way. The earliest inhabitants of Ladakh in the ancient times are believed to be a mix of nomadic herdsmen from the Tibetan plateau and a small group of early Buddhist refugees from northern India called the monks. In the 5th or 6th century, these groups were frequently accompanied by tribes of Indo-Aryan origin known as the Dards. They migrated Southeast alongside the Indus Valley, bringing with them the idea of irrigation and settled agriculture. With the passage of time, the Dards, Tibetans and other races too met and inter-mingled to ultimately form a new community with its own characteristics.

According to historical evidence, in the 1st century, Ladakh was a part of the Kushana Empire. Later in the 8th century, Ladakh was involved in a clash between Tibetan expansion pressing from the East, and Chinese influence wielding from Central Asia through the passes. It remained the site for constant clashes between the Chinese and the Tibetans, and there was seen a time when Tibetan suzerainity was successfully established here. However, in course of time the Tibetans were unable to hold fort and Tibetan influenced was completely wiped off.

Following the collapse of the Guge Empire of western Tibet, a nobleman named Nyima Gon took advantage of the situation and established the first independent kingdom in Ladakh in the 9th century. With the course of time, sometime in the 18th century, trade links with Tibet was re-established, even though it never regained its former status. There were constant fights and wars and ultimately the Dogra General Zorawar Singh conquered it. After annexing the region, he presented it to the Maharaja of Kashmir in 1834. The Ladakhi royal family was banished to Stok Palace, where their descendants reside to this day.

Ladakh became a part of independent India in the year 1948. Currently, around seventy percent of the state of Jammu &Kashmir is occupied by Ladakh. There was a long period of turmoil for the Ladakhis who were dissatisfied with the state government based in Jammu and Kashmir. Finally, after years of agitation, the Ladakhis were finally successful in setting up and Autonomous Hill Development Council in September, 1995.