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Ladakh
(Outlined in black)
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Overlooking the city of
Leh, is the nine storey Leh Palace which was the royal residence of Tshi
Namgyal, the first king of Ladakh. Pictured on the right, silhouetted
against the sky are Victory Fort and the temple of Namgyal Tsemo. |
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| View from Leh Palace of the patchwork
farms surrounding the city. Ladakhi farmers utilize the rich soil of
these alluvial (soil) fans jutting out from the Himalayan mountains to plant
their vegetable gardens and field crops. |
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Ladakhi fields and home gardens |
Below are house gardens and a woman walking among her mustard plants.
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 Barley and wheat
are the principal field crops. Peas and turnips in small gardens. |
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Above is a small farm located near the head waters of the Indus River and
resident family members cleaning fine, soft pashm wool, which is the
growth under the shaggy hair of the pashmina goat. The raw material will be sold and sent to Kashmir and
woven into cashmere shawls and scarves.
| Typical dress of Ladakhi
women. (Left) Common apparel on the streets of Leh. (Middle) Women
dressed for celebration during traditional dance. (Right) Working
apparel while in the garden. |
| For formal wear, this lady is wearing
her peyrak, the traditional headdress. This is a long strip of
leather which is covered with cloth to which are stitched rows of turquoises
stones graded in order of size, together with an amulet box and silver
chains. By custom, a mother hands her peyrak down to her eldest
daughter when she marries, insuring that the family wealth remains in the
wife's possession. |
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Tikse Monastery
Several miles south of Leh is Tikse
Monastery (gompa), which was founded by Sherab Zangpo and his disciples in
the 15th Century AD. Tikse is one of the largest and most impressive
of the central Ladakh monasteries. Its library contains an important
collection of Tibetan books and exhibits an excellent collection of
Tibetan/Buddhist artwork. The roof-terrace provides the observer with
a wonderful view of the fields and villages of Ladakh's most extensive
fertile valley. |
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Found within the central
prayer room of the now deserted and deteriorating Leh Palace is this
beautifully adorned and gilded Buddha.
On the right is a picture of Buddhist monks assembled
for a puja, which consist of rhythmic prayer, chanting, music and
ritual offerings.
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| Ladakhi families will often encourage a
young son to become a monk. The relationship between the family and
monastery thus becomes one of interdependence. The lamas provide
religious services which benefits the families, (villagers), in different
ways, while the villagers will provide for the material well-being of the
family member and the monastery which he belongs. |
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