Ladakh
Phuktal Gompa – Feeling on top of the world at this Ladakh monastery
Phuktal Gompa is a centuries-old monastery in the Zanskar region of Ladakh. Renowned Buddhist scholars and teachers resided in a cave, around which the monastery has been built. The place of retreat, learning and meditation for Buddhist monks is a major attraction for tourists today.
‘Cinema can capture a way of life that may soon get lost’
Cinema has the power to show all facets of society, says Stenzin Tankong, whose Last Days of Summer is being screened at Chitrashaala Short Film Festival. He tells us how his films portray Ladakh, and more.
Melting point! Ice hockey rinks need cooling fans in Ladakh
A warmer-than-usual winter in Ladakh this year has robbed ice hockey enthusiasts of conditions favourable to the game, as fans are being used to keep the temperatures down and keep the arena frozen.
Rural fests you can attend this November
India is bursting with celebrations - from colourful traditions and rituals to music, dance, sports and delicious food. Come and experience the magic of India's festivals taking place in November 2023.
Ladakh’s age-old chuspon water-use system gives hope
As the surge of tourism threatens to tip the fragile balance in Ladakh, hope exists in villages like Sakti on the outskirts of Leh, where traditional systems continue to govern land and water use.
Dwindling snowfall leading to water crisis in Ladakh
As valleys in Ladakh rely on snowfall and glaciers for their water needs, unpredictable weather changes are leading to water scarcity, severely affecting the livelihood of villagers.
How I fell in love with rural India
Beyond the beautiful, majestic mountains of Ladakh, people’s immense love and warmth emerges as the highlight of a 10-day ‘voluntourism’ trip.
Here’s all that happened at Ladakh Nomadic Festival
The Ladakh Nomadic Festival's third edition in Hanle village was a vibrant carnival attended by locals and tourists alike. The two-day event showcased traditional dances, folk songs, cultural performances, indigenous sports, and more.
Village Square Rural Renaissance Fest at Dilli Haat
Step into the enchanting world of rural India and immerse yourself in a celebration of culture, art, and transformation! Village Square and Transform Rural India (TRI) proudly present the Rural Renaissance fest at Dilli Haat, INA, on 5 August, starting at 5 pm.
Ladakh longs for tourists who give region a miss
Suspension of flights by ultra-budget S. Airlines together with late arrival of summer trigger a decline in footfalls and a rise in anguish among tour operators.
The life of a nomadic boy in Ladakh
For 60 years, Tibetan pastoralists have been living in the mountains of Sumdho. A glimpse into a boy's life shows his dilemma about whether to pursue higher studies or continue the nomadic way of life that's fast disappearing.
First musical band of high-altitude Ladakh riding high
Blending traditional folk music with rock, Dashug is extremely popular since it also focuses on critical social issues.
Alive with the sound of music
Dashug, a music band from Ladakh that was formed in 2020, is riding a wave of popularity in the region because its music remains rooted in local folk songs.
Turtuk villagers piece together their broken pasts
The village that became a part of India overnight in 1971 stands witness to the longing felt by the residents who hold to the memories of their broken families and cultural landscape.
Ladakh mother carves Tibetan legacy on stone
Tsering Palmo, a Tibetan refugee in Ladakh, is the only woman who carves Buddhist mantras and prayers on what are popularly called mani stones – believed to make one’s passage to the next world easier – upholding an important tradition of her ancestral land.
What’s it like to run on a frozen lake?
Ladakh’s picturesque Pangong Lake hosts the world's highest frozen lake half marathon with an aim to raise awareness about sustainable tourism and ecological concerns of the region.
Ladakh’s Chipko: Mothers out on streets to save ‘sacred’ juniper trees
Women of Hanupatta high up in the Himalayas man checkpoints to stop felling and smuggling of juniper trees that are much in demand for their aroma.
Ladakh’s lute maker gives ‘dranyen’ new lease of life
Leh-based craftsman Tsering Angchuk helps to revive six-stringed slender musical instrument that once was synonymous with the nomads of the highlands of Jangthan Kharnak.
Once a ‘burden’, double-humped camel is a prized animal in Ladakh today
Once regarded as a burden and used exclusively to carry loads in the remote parts of Ladakh, the double-humped camel is now a main source of livelihood for scores of families in the region.
Modern Farming: Growing potatoes on Mars? Ask these Ladakhi women farmers
Growing vegetable crops in covered low tunnels, trenches and unique greenhouses that protect their plants from the hostile elements, women farmers of Changthang, Ladakh take up modern farming to reap huge dividends.