Ladakh heritage figures nowhere on Jammu-Kashmir map

An arid desert situated at a height of 3000-5000 metres above the sea level, Ladakh is perhaps one of the highest inhabited places on earth where Buddhism is still practised in its pristine purity. For centuries it has also been at the crossroads of trans-Asian trade.

So its cultural heritage is unique — a blend of Tibetan culture, indigenous traditions and influences from the ancient Buddhist regions of Kashmir and Central Asia.

“It is strange that despite Ladakh having such a rich heritage with its monasteries, sculptures, thangkas, wall paintings and mani walls, the state Government has never bothered to include any site in Ladakh in its list of protected structures. The talk of equitable treatment to all the three regions of the state is phoney. The fact at the ground level is that while the state government has ignored the protection and conservation of Ladakh’s heritage, the ASI, NGOs from foreign countries and local NGOs have done a commendable job in preserving its cultural, religious and architectural heritage,” said Tsering Dorjay, chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.

He noted that Ladakh’s heritage was facing a threat from changing climatic patterns and the pressures of development and tourism, and that the need of the hour was for the state Government to come forward in a major way to complement the work of NGOs and ASI.

When contacted, Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums, K A Qadri accepted that there is no state protected site in Ladakh. However, he added that as their department doesn’t have an archeological wing in Ladakh, they cannot protect any site nor include any in the list of protected sites at the moment. “We only have a registering official there, who registers the antiquities in the area,” he said. However, he promised that at least one anomaly will be removed: they intend to at least raise a museum soon.