Wikipedia Article Entry - Changes in Ladakh

Basics

Ladakh is a remote region of the Himalayas located in the northernmost Indian province of Jammu and Kashmir.  Ladakh is located between the actual Himalayan mountain range to the south and the Kunlun mountain range to the north.  Ladakh is mainly populated by peoples of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent.  Historically, Ladakh occupied a location of great strategic importance because of trade routes in the area, but China’s border closure and modern transportation have reduced its importance.  Today, Ladakh is known for its tourism, and has become a popular tourist destination for trekkers, sightseers and mountain climbers.  Because it neighbors the volatile territory of Kashmir, and India’s tenuous border situation, the Indian military maintains a strong presence in the region, and have even created a specialized high mountain division called the Ladakh Scouts.  Ladakh is home to some of the oldest Buddhist temples and monasteries in the world, also being the only ones of Tibetan style that tourists have access to at this time. 

Past
Historically, Ladakh was regarded as an important linking point of trade between the Indian subcontinent and Eurasia to the north.  However, the Ladakhi people and culture remained relatively untouched by outside influence well into the 20^th century.  This isolation was partly due to the difficult accessibility during much of the year because of long and harsh winter months, and partly because of the agriculture.  Traditional Ladakhi agriculture is greatly self-sufficient and requires few outside goods to thrive, even at such high elevations.  Glaciers provide water for the small mountain villages in great amounts.  The largely vegetarian diet of the Ladakhi people allowed for long and healthy lives, especially coupled with periods of hard farm work and the naturally rugged terrain.  Many Ladakhis live to over 100 years of age, and remain healthy and hard-working even up to this age.  Ladakhis were also a very community driven people, with many social gatherings and events.  Families would generally assist each other in many tasks to increase efficiency and speed of completion.  Families were often large, with as many as fifteen people occupying the same household.  Buddhist was also a large cultural icon, with many old temples and monasteries spread throughout the region.  Families would traditionally have at least one member who was a monk.

Present
Currently, Ladakh is a popular tourist destination, with a huge influx of foreigners and Indian citizens alike coming to visit this area.  Tourism makes up a large part of the local economy, with military service and government jobs and subsidies making up the rest of it.  Many tourists visit from all over the world to see the Buddhist temples and monasteries, as well as to see the Himalayan Mountains from the inside.  Ladakh now occupies an area of strategic importance to the Indian government, neighboring the Kashmir region and consequently the disputed territory between Pakistan and India.  The Kargil War of 1999 especially has led the Indian military to have a strong presence in the area.  These influences have caused rapid changes in Ladakhi culture and lifestyle, shifting them away from their traditions to a more Westernized way of thinking and living.  Young Ladakhis are increasingly moving into occupation with tourism, military service, or government occupation rather than staying in their communities to work on the farms, and government subsidies are also changing many farmers’ focus of production.  In addition, strong ties of community are being lost as families drift apart, and many are forced to hire migrant labor from Nepal to complete their agricultural tasks.  Ladakhi farmers have difficulty in making a profit selling their products due to competition from Kashmir, where the production of fruits and vegetable is much greater than Ladakh.  Many will often leave their communities or abandon their farms to live and work closer to Leh, the urban center of Ladakh.  Leh itself have become increasingly more populated by people from the plains and Kashmir, who come to work in the growing tourism industry.  Many NGO’s and NPO’s operate in the area to help improve the lives of common Ladakhi people, with varied results.