The Poetry of Ladakh

THE POETRY OF LADAKH

As we all know, Ladakh has become a tourist hotspot in these recent years. It is known for its high passes, beautiful lakes and picturesque landscapes. As architectural students we were interested in Ladakh for its sustainable techniques. We were interested how people managed to survive in freezing temperatures without artificial technology. The more we researched about Ladakh, the more intrigued we were. Thus, we decided to actually visit this place.

We made our visit to Ladakh in the month of May. It was the start of summer; the snow had started to melt and rivers were flowing. This month is the start of tourist season, but not a busy month. We visited three extremely beautiful villages, which are Shay, Thiskey and Nimmo To get to know the lifestyle of the people of Ladakh, we stayed in Ladakhi homes with the local citizens. What we observed from them is their utmost regard for nature. The natural resources in the region are scarce, thus they have to optimize their use. Over generations of living in Ladakh they have mastered this skill. Right from their use of their dry toilets to cooking meals on a Bukhara (traditional fireplace) everything is sustainable. Everything’s that is taken from the earth is eventually returned back. We studied and documented their lifestyle, culture, water systems, etc. In a book titled ‘the poetry of Ladakh’

The most important thing this trip thought us that if we respect nature, nature will respect us. In all of our endeavours we were supported by ASEEM foundation, an NGO who works in Kashmir and eastern parts of India

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The Poetry of Ladakh

Published on Feb 1, 2021

PIYUSH SHAH

This book presents the enchanting and enticing region of Ladakh otherwise known as the “Land of high passes” in a novel way. This work has been done under the research grant given by Satish Misal’s educational foundation. It studies its architectural fabric with a backdrop of climate, its people, physiography, customs and conducts. This book focuses on the sustainable lifestyle pursued by the locals of Ladakh. It takes into consideration their relationship with the natural surroundings. The critical dimension of the interplay between man and nature has been emphasized. The book does not go into the details of the sustainability of structures or communities. Tourism as an influential factor has been taken into consideration with its positives and negatives. The effect of tourism on social, cultural, and economical factors has been noted. The intent of the book is to sensitize people about the natural implications of a region.