Buddhist Monasteries of Ladakh

Government of India opened Ladakh for foreign tourist in 1975. This initiative of the Government attracted European scholars and tourists and gave a boost to economic activities. From 1975-85, large number of tourists visited Ladakh and created an inquisitiveness and interest in the Tibetan art and artifacts. Dozens of Kashmiris and locals opened kiosks and started selling local handicrafts. In the process replicas of thang-kas and ritual objects were also sold in the market. This period of ten years of commercial activity in the art objects started posing a threat and it was felt necessary by the government to support the monasteries financially and other institutions to undertake the safety and protection measures for the cultural heritage of Ladakh. For quite a considerable period this endeavour of government did not yield any tangible results, but definitely laid the beginning of a dialogue between monasteries and government. Government institutions initiated study and preservation of various monasteries and inculcated a sense of significance in the minds of Lamas and other concerned.

The present study is a molecule attempt in understanding the monasteries and the objects housed therein. Much more remains to be done in different parts of Ladakh to assess the enormous wealth of art, architecture and literature. Hope future scholars may take forward what has been done in the present study.