International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development

International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development

Online ISSN: 2349-4182, Print ISSN: 2349-5979, Impact Factor: RJIF 5.72
www.allsubjectjournal.com
Volume 4; Issue 7; July 2017; Page No. 09-13

Buddhist tourism in Ladakh

Manzoor Ahmad Khan
Assistant Professor, (Travel and Tourism) Leh Campus, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract
Ladakh literally meaning “Land of High Passes’’ is a cold desert area situated in Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, lies between
Kunlun Mountain in the North and Greater Himalayas in South and having an immense potential for Buddhist tourism. Also
known as Moon Land and Last Shangrilla, Ladakh is one of the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir State, consisting of two
districts viz Leh and Kargil with Boti (Ladakhi) as main language. Buddhism being major religion has deep influence of Tibetan
Buddhism, which follows the Mahayana and vajrayana schools. In this form of Buddhism, Buddha is worshipped as deity having
attained Nirvana (means free from cycle of birth and death) and various incarnations of Buddha known as Bodhisattvas are also
worshiped in monasteries. The mythology of Tibetan Buddhism has many tales of various spirits and demons representing good
and evil qualities, depicted in the form of masks, and stories are enacted as masked dances during the annual festivals of various
Gompas. His Holiness Dalai Lama (14th Dalai Lama) is their supreme spiritual leader and is living incarnation of Buddha. This
paper is an attempt to discuss Buddhist tourism in Ladakh division and various constraints to it.

Keywords: Gompa, stupas, monasteries, chartens, thangka, mahayana, vajrayana

1. Introduction Enlightenment lay in the “middle way,” not in luxurious

Buddhism’s founder, Siddhartha Guatama, was born into indulgence or self-mortification. Moreover, he discovered
royalty in Nepal around 563 B.C. He was born in a family or what would become known as the ‘Four Noble Truths’—1) to
clan called Sakya, it was a Kshatrya clan (warrior Clan) at a live is to suffer (Dukha), 2) suffering is caused by desire
place called Lumbini (Kappilavastu) Nepal. His father’s name (Tanha, or “attachment”), 3) one can eliminate suffering by
was Sudhdhodhana and the mothers name was Mahamaya. eliminating all attachments, and 4) this is achieved by
But Buddha was brought up by Gautami. His wife’s name was following the noble eightfold path(Ashtangnik Margs). The
Yasodra and his son was Rahul. He lived luxuriously, with “eightfold path” consists of having a right 1) view or thought,
little exposure to the outside world. His parents intended for 2) intention, 3) speech, 4) action, 5) livelihood (being a
him to be spared from the influence of religion and protected monk), 6) effort (properly direct energies), 7) mindfulness
from pain and suffering. However, it was not long before his (meditation), and 8) concentration (focus). The Buddha's
shelter was penetrated, and he had visions of an aged man, a teachings were collected into the Tripitaka or “three baskets.”
sick man, and a corpse. His fourth vision was of a peaceful These pitaka include’ Suta Pitak’, ‘Vinay Pitak’, ‘Abhidhana
ascetic monk (one who denies luxury and comfort). Seeing the Pitak’. Suta Pitak contains original teachings of Buddha.
monk’s peacefulness, he decided to become an ascetic Vinay Pitak includes the rules of Buddhist monestry (Vihar).
himself. Then he left his home on a horse named Kantak at the While as Abhidhana Pitak is philosophical text of Buddhist.
age of 29 years. Leaving house of Buddha is known as According to the philosophy of Buddhism, they have no
Mahabenishkraman. At the age of 35, he sat under a pipal tree answer about God. According to their philosophy, soul is a
on the banks of river Niranjana (today called as Phalgu River) living thing and is not eternal and dies with the body. They
at Bodh Gaya (Bihar). He sat here for 49 days or 7weeks. believe in rebirth. According to their philosophy, Nirvana is
Then after meditation of 49 days under pipal tree, he went to freeing your soul from physical and worldly desires. Mahapari
Sarmath (Banaras) and gave his first sermon there. This first Nirvan is freeing yourself from cycle of rebirth according to
sermon of Buddha is called as Dharmachakra Pravartan. He Buddhist philosophy. Buddha died in 483 B.C at the age of 80
abandoned his life of wealth and affluence to pursue years at Kushinagar which is in present day Uttar Pradesh in
enlightenment through austerity. He was skilled at this sort of India. Last meal of Buddha was pork. When Buddha died, the
self-mortification and intense meditation. He was a leader king was Ajatshatru.
among his peers. Eventually, his efforts culminated in one Buddhism is one of the leading world religions in terms of
final gesture. He “indulged” himself with one bowl of rice and adherents, geographical distribution, and socio-cultural
then sat beneath a fig tree (also called the Bodhi tree) to influence. While largely an “Eastern” religion, it is becoming
meditate till he either reached “enlightenment” or died trying. increasingly popular and influential in the Western world. It is
Despite his travails and temptations, by the next morning, he a unique world religion in its own right, though it has much in
had achieved enlightenment. Thus, he became known as the common with Hinduism in that both teach Karma (cause-and-
'enlightened one' or the 'Buddha.' He took his new realization effect ethics), Maya (the illusory nature of the world), and
and began to teach his fellow monks, with whom he had Samsara (the cycle of reincarnation). Buddhists believe that
already gained great influence. Five of his peers became the the ultimate goal in life is to achieve “enlightenment” as they
first of his disciples. What had Gautama discovered? perceive it. Behind these distinguishing teachings are

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teachings common to Hinduism, namely reincarnation, karma, of a particular school of Buddhism when all they have studied
Maya, and a tendency to understand reality as being is classical, historic Buddhism.
pantheistic in its orientation. Buddhism also offers an
elaborate theology of deities and exalted beings. However, 2. Buddhism in Ladakh
like Hinduism, Buddhism can be hard to pin down as to its Buddhism is said to have come into western Ladakh via
view of God. Some streams of Buddhism could legitimately Kashmir in the 2nd century A.D during the reign of Kushan
be called atheistic, while others could be called pantheistic, dynasty and spread later in the 8th century A.D from Tibet.
and still others theistic, such as Pure Land Buddhism. Historians state that Dards made West Tibet their home in the
Classical Buddhism, however, tends to be silent on the reality 4th and 5th centuries. They say that these people migrated
of an ultimate being and is therefore considered atheistic. The along the course of the Indus River and that they introduced
main spiritual goal of Buddhism is to attain 'Nirvana', which irrigation and settled communities. But who were the Dards?
means the spiritual liberation from the cycle of birth and Colonial historians placed almost all peoples and languages of
rebirth. Buddhism religion does not believe in the existence of the Upper Indus River into one pot and defined Tibetans as
god and questions the Hindu practice of elaborate ceremonies, Baltis, later obscuring and simplifying distinct identities by
image worship, suppression of women and the elevation of introducing three other terms, “Dard, Dardistan, and Dardic,”
Brahmins. Its core lies in the philosophy that everyone is equal which in truth do not occur in classical sources and were never
and that nothing lasts forever and nothing happens by chance. mentioned before. John Mock noted that the word dard “may
The teachings of Buddha teachings were first compiled on the be a loan word from Persian via Urdu” and means “pain.” He
Pali script as the 'Tripitakas'. King Ashoka (250 B.C) was one investigated all sources (Herodotus, Strabo, Sanskrit, Puranic,
of its chief believers and propagators. Buddhism is divided and Kashmiri references) that led modern scholars to make
into 2 major sects - Hinayanas (travellers by a lesser vehicle) such a mistake and wrote: “This usage of the term is curiously
& Mahayanas (travellers by a greater vehicle). Buddhism was parallel to the Sanskrit usage, where it connoted non-specific
bifurcated into two schools of thought by the 1st millennium ferocious outsiders living in the mountains beyond the borders
B.c., when a new cult, known as Mahayana emerged as a of civilization. It is not clear when the first Buddhist
reaction against the orthodoxy of the existing sect called the communities were established in Ladakh. The site of His
Theravadins or Hinayanas. The older version of Buddhism Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa, Ugyen Trinley Dorje,
(the Hinayanas) believed that the only way to attain nirvana writes that “Starting about the 3rd century, Buddhism began to
was by leading a monastic life of austerity, abandoning all grow and spread outside India, adjusting to local cultures and
worldly pleasures. There was no scope for a lay person to the varying conditions of different countries. Buddhism began
attain liberation. Prince Siddhartha, who later became the to take root in different countries in Asia as they came in
Buddha, was accepted as the sole possessor of the Eternal contact with Buddhism from the early 2nd century B.C.
Truth. Cutting across China, Tibet, Japan and Korea, the Buddhism became nearly extinct in India, the country of its
Mahayana sect has a much larger following because of their origin. History books concede that after the eastward
more liberal interpretation of the teachings of the Buddha than propagation of Buddhism in the 7th century, Ladakh and its
the Hinayanas. The newer school allowed for the possibility of neighbours were overrun by those fleeing westwards from the
enlightenment to all those who followed the path of early Tibetan Tubo Kings. The chiefs of the Tubo Empire in
righteousness, irrespective of their status in society. Yarlung (which is situated in Central Tibet) had established an
Synonymous with the Mahayana sect are the values of love aristocracy and displaced the native inhabitants who had an
and compassion combined with that of knowledge. Equal independent state with its own language, literature, and
importance is given to both these key concepts of Mahayana, culture; these people continue living in remote areas of Zhang
and that might be one of the reasons this denomination attracts Zhung in West Tibet proper, Kashmir, Ladakh, Zanskar, and
devotees in great numbers. Mahayana (Mahayanas) introduced the Himalayan regions of Nepal. Under the patronage of King
the idea of a deity into the religion, both on a speculative level Trison Detsen, Khenpo Shantarakshita from India established
which belongs more to philosophy, and in a popular way that a monastic order in Tibet by ordaining the first seven monks at
was more like the polytheism of the masses. Hinayana Samye Monastery in the year 791. He called Guru Rinpoche to
(Huinayanas) professes to follow the basic principles of the vanquish all obstructions impeding the construction and to
Pali canon and, by this standard, may be identified with help establish Buddhism on the Tibetan Plateau. Guru
primitive Buddhism. Certainly its emphasis on the four Noble Padmasambhava, the “Second Buddha,” travelled from
Truths and the Eightfold Path places it nearer to the original Northwest India through Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh,
teachings of Gautama than Mahayana whose express purpose Ladakh, Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and Arunchal Pradesh
was to reinterpret the Buddha's esoteric doctrine in order to and firmly established Buddhism in these lands.
make it universally acceptable. Buddhism in Ladakh is ancient and widespread and a popular
Buddhism today is quite diverse. It is roughly divisible into theme for cultural tours in Ladakh. The population of Ladakh
the two broad categories of Theravada (small vessel) and is predominantly Buddhist and Ladakh has been deeply
Mahayana (large vessel). Theravada is the monastic form influenced by Tibetan Buddhism, which follows the
which reserves ultimate enlightenment and nirvana for monks, Mahayana and Vajrayana schools. In these forms of
while Mahayana Buddhism extends this goal of enlightenment Buddhism, Buddha is worshipped a deity who has attained
to the laity as well, that is, to non-monks. Within these Nirvana (freedom from the cycle of birth and death). Various
categories can be found numerous branches including Tendai, incarnations of Buddha, known as Bodhisattvas, are also
Vajrayana, Nichiren, Shingon, Pure Land, Zen, and Ryobu, worshipped in monasteries. Many tourists undertake trip to
among others. Therefore it is important for outsiders seeking Ladakh to explore, understand and learn from the ancient
to understand Buddhism not to presume to know all the details Buddhism which is practiced here. The mythology of Tibetan
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Buddhism has many tales of various spirits and demons. These statues. Chamkhang at the top near the courtyard contains the
representations of both good and evil qualities are depicted in three storey Maitriya Buddha's statue, constructed in recent
the form of masks and their stories are enacted as masked years. Dukhang at the top, consists of thousand armed
dances during the annual festivals of various Gompas in Avaloketesvara, Shakyamuni Buddha and Bodhisattavas,
Ladakh. Gonkhang contains the statues of Vajra Bhairava, Mahakala &
Dharmakaya, the goddess Paldan Lhamo and Cham-sring.
3. Main Buddhist Monasteries in Ladakh
Spituk Monastery Hemis Monastery
The Spituk Gompa "Exemplary"; 7km. to southwest of Leh, The Hemis Monastery is around 45 km. south of Leh, which is
was founded by Od-Ide, in the 11th century AD; when the one of the largest and most famous monasteries, belonging to
monastic community was introduced. Meanwhile, Lotsava the Drukpa order. The monastery founded by the first
Rinchen Zangpo (the great translator) visited this monastery. incarnation Stagsang Raspa Nawang Gyatso in 1630, who was
In those days the Gompa belonged to the Kadampa School but invited to Ladakh by a king Singey Namgail, and offered him
Gelukpa order was introduced during the reign of King a religious estate throughout the region. The youngest son,
Dragspa Bum-Lde, when Lama Lhawang Lotus restored the Nawang Namgail, became a monk and his name was changed
monastery. The "Spituk Gustor" takes place in the courtyard of to Zamling Drags. The Monastery was named Changchub
the monastery, on the 18th and 19th of the 11th month of Samling and the community was introduced. The Hemis
Tibetan Calendar. festival is held in the month of June.

Stok Monastery Takthok Monastery

Stok, 14 kms southeast of Leh, is a place, where the present The Takthok (the monastery with rock ceiling); 50km. east of
day royal family resides. The three days trek from Stok to Leh, this is the only monastery belonging to the Nimgmapa
Spituk and the 8 days trek of Markha Valley start from here. school of order. The monastery came into existence when
King Tsespal Tondup Namgyal built Stok palace & Museum Guru Padma Sambhava visited this place and blessed it in the
in the year 1825, after Zorawar Singh's annexation of Ladakh. 8th century. The Gompa was merely a meditation cave of
The royal family resides here since Ladakh lost to Zorawar Padma Sambhava, with footprints and many other signs, until
Singh. At present the palace has a collection of royal dresses, the reign of King Tsewang Namgail. When Mahasiddha
old Thankas, King's crown etc. that is open for visitors. Kunga Phunstog introduced monastic community, it was given
Gurphuk Gompa, a branch of Spituk Monastery is a little away the name of Takthok Padmalinggon. The Takthok Festival is
from the palace, which is famous for its festival "Guru held in the month of July or August.
Tsechu" held on the 9th and 10th of the 1st month of Tibetan
Calendar. Phyang Monastery
Phyang Monastery, 17km. west of Leh is remarkably built on
Shey Monastery the hilltop, similar to the Likir monastery. This monastery
Shey, around 15kms south of Leh was the seat of power of the belongs to the Degungpa Order. It was the first monastery,
first king of Ladakh, Lhachen Spalgigon, who constructed the which introduced the Degungpa teaching of 'Skyob Jigsten
hill top fortress. The ruins can be seen further above the Gonbo' in Ladakh that was founded by Chosje Danma Kunga,
present Shey Palace. There are hundreds of Chortens (stupas) during the reign of King Jamyang Namgyal in the 16th
and Dresthang Gompa built around the palace, which are Century A.D. It has about 50 monks in residence. Phyang also
under the Thiksey Monastery. King Deldan Namgyal built has a festival called 'Phyang Tseruk' on the 2nd & 3rd of the
Shey Palace in the beginning of the 17th century AD. The 6th month of Tibetan Calendar.
main image in the monastery is the three-storey statue of
Buddha Shakyamuni, made of copper guilt, which was made Lamayuru Monastery
by Deldan Namgyal in the memory of his father Singay The Lamayuru "Yungdrung" Gompa is remarkably built on a
Namgyal. The statue is the only of its kind in the region. rock, around 125kms west of Leh, on the Leh Srinagar
Dresthang Gompa near the palace was built during the reign of highway. Lamayuru belongs to the Drigunpa order of Tibetan
King Singay Namgyal, with a three-storey statue of Buddha. Buddhism. The history of the monastery begins with the visit
"Shey Srubla" festival is also held here at Dresthung Gompa. of Arahat Nimagung to this place, when there was merely a
The Rock-carved statue of five Buddha can be seen below the lake here. It is said that Arahat made a prophecy that "a
palace on the roadside, which was probably carved during the monastery will come up at this spot" and he made offerings
reign of Singay Namgyal. (prayer with grains of corn) to the Nagaserpent spirits. The
corns mixed with the earth and formed in the shape of
Thiksey Monastery Swastika (Yungdrung), later it came to be known as
Thiskey Gompa, 17kms. south of Leh the most beautiful of all Yungdrung Monastery. The Great Translator Rinchen Zangpo
the Monasteries in Ladakh, belongs to the Gelukspa order. The constructed a temple here in eleventh century. Naropa also
Gompa was first built at Stakmo by Sherab Zangpo. Later the visited Lamayuru and meditated here. Gelukspa or Kadampa
nephew of Sherab Zangpo, Paldan Sherab, founded the school of Tibetan Buddhism initially looked after Lamayuru,
Thiskey Gompa on a hilltop to the north of Indus River. The but later; it was taken over by Digungpa Order. Its monastic
Thiskey festival (Thiskey Gustor) is held in the month of festival is called "Yuru Kabgyat", takes place on 17th and 18th
October- November. Around 80 Monks resides here at of 5th month of the Tibetan Calendar.
present. Dukhang Karmo is a huge long assembly hall, which Besides these monasteries, there are so many monasteries to
consists of the image of Shakyamuni and Maitriya Buddha be visited in Ladakh.
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4. List of Monastic Festivals of Ladakh

Table 1
S. No Name of festival 2017 2018 2019 2020
1. Spituk Gustor January 25-26 January 14-15 January 3-4 January 22-23
2. Leh & Likir Dosmochey Feberuary 24-25 Feberuary 13-14 Feberuary2-3 Feberuary 21-22
3. Yargon Tungshak March 2-3 Feberuary 19-20 Feberuary 8-9 Feberuary 27-28
4. Stok Guru Tsechu March 6-7 Feberuary 24-25 Feberuary 14-15 March 3-4
5. Matho Nagrang March 11-12 March 1-2 Feberuary 18-19 March 8-9
6. Saka Dawa June 9 May 29 June 17 June 5
7. Yuru Kabgyat June 21-22 June 11-12 June 29-30 June 18-19
8. Hemis Tseschu July 3-4 June 23-24 July 11-12 June 30-july 1
9. Sachkul Gustor July 11-12 June 30-july-1 July 19-20 July 7-8
10. Stongday Gustor July 12-13 July 1-2 July 20-21 July8-9
11. Karsh Gustor July21-22 July 11-12 July 30-31 July 18-19
12. Phyang Tsesdup July 21-22 July11-12 July30-31 July 18-19
13. Korzok Gustor Tsomoriri July 26-27 July15-16 August 3-4 July 23-24
14 Dakthok Tsetsu August 2-3 July 22-23 August 10-11 July 29-30
15. Sani Nasjal Zangskar August 6-7 July 26-27 August 14-15 August 2-3
16. Deksit Gustor Nubra October 17-18 October 7-8 October 26-27 October 14-15
17. Thiskay Gustor November 6-7 October 27-28 November 15-16 November 3-4
18. Chamday Wangckok November 16-17 November 5-6 November 24-25 November 13-14
19. Galdan Namchot December 12 December 2 December 21 December 10
20. Ladakhi Losar December 19 December 8 December 27 December 15

4. Analysis and during this season the hotels and other available
Buddhist tourism in Ladakh has a tremendous potential. accomodation in Leh remain almost packed. For this reason
Having good number of Buddhist monasteries, each has its the authorities or stake holders don’t make any efforts to
own history and importance. These monasteries celebrate their attract or promote Buddhist tourist which are mainly budget
festivals on different dates of the year according to their class or low end tourists. However, in 2016 ‘Mahabodhi
Tibetan calendar. international meditation centre’ (based in Leh) attracted
Sufficient accommodation for tourists is available in Ladakh. Buddhist tourists mainly from Thailand, but these Buddhist
In Leh district, there are about 12915 beds available in tourist were sponsored by some organisations. Similarly in the
different categories of hotels, including 6225 double rooms Hemis monestary, there is one festival namely ‘Naro Gyantuk’
and 465 single rooms. There are also 73 restaurants and 527 festival which is celebrated after every 12 years. During this
travel agencies in Leh district. festival, head Lama of Hemis Invites Buddhists from different
As far as Buddhist tourism is considered, no data is available countries like Bhutan, Thailand and Vietnam to participate in
with the govt. departments or with other authorities. this festival, but agin this is also a sponsored tour by some
Concerned Government authorities in Leh expressed their organizations. An organisation called ‘Transhimaliya will of
inability to provide any information as no data was available life’ has been formed with the mandate to attract Buddhist
about Buddhist tourism in Ladakh. tourists to Ladakh, but this project is still in pipeline. Another
As no secondary data was available, an effort was made to institution called ‘central institute of Buddhist studies’, offers
generate some basic data about Buddhist tourism in Ladakh. various programmes in Buddhism, however it does not attract
Sample of foreign tourists who visited Ladakh by road and by much student from outside Ladakh. Various private travel
air was targeted. About 500 foreign tourists of different agencies and other organisations also offer various Dhamma
nationalities, religion and gender were questioned and only and meditation camps in Ladakh.
30% out of these disclosed their main motive to visit Ladakh
primarily being to know about Buddhism and Buddhist 5. Constraints to Buddhist Tourism in Ladakh
monasteries, the rest showed their interest in adventure 1. The government and other authorities have not shown any
tourism and sightseeing only. Besides interview, questionnaire interest in promoting Buddhist tourism in Ladakh.
was also used to generate feedback, from which almost similar 2. No campaign and serious efforts are being made to attract
results were obtained. Buddhist tourists from potential markets like Japan,
Similarly, interaction with the domestic tourists of different S.korea, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia
religion, region and gender was also undertaken to understand etc.
their motive of travel. In this case also a sample of 500 3. Very poor internet and mobile phone facility in Ladakh.
domestic tourists was randomly selected, questionnaire was 4. No credit cards (plastic money) are accepted in Ladakh
also used to get feedback. After analysis it was surprising to due to poor connectivity.
know that only 1% is interested in Buddhist tourism and 5. The air fare to Ladakh is too high (average 25000 INR)
remaining showed their interest in sightseeing and adventure during peak tourist season.
tourism only. 6. Insufficient dormitories to accommodate Buddhist tourists.
Analysis of data further revealed the reasons for tourists of not 7. Non availability of any insurance plan by govt. to the
being attracted to Buddhist tourism. It got revealed that in tourists.
Ladakh the peak tourist season starts from June to September
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8. Since Ladakh is in seismic zone IV, there is great

possibility of big earthquakes and also possibility of
cloudbursts. In such possible disasters, no disaster
management system is in place.
9. Only 24 registered guides are operating in Leh, out of
which only 2 to 3 guides know to speak French and
German besides English.
10. Most of the foreign Buddhist tourists get attracted towards
Tibet, which is nowadays hub of Buddhism. Besides, there
are very good facilities for these tourists.
11. Government has not developed Buddhist Circuit in Ladakh
yet.
12. There is no promotion of Buddhist festivals of different
monasteries in Ladakh.
13. Travel agents are also not able to promote Buddhist
tourism in Ladakh due to poor internet facility.
14. No Buddhist monestary in Ladakh is decleared as World
Heritage Site by UNESCO.
15. Ladakh is also a seasonal destination. Peak season is from
June to September and rest are lean seasons. During winter
the temperature goes down upto minus 35 degree celcius.
During winter season, Ladakh remains cut off from rest of
the country and world, only air route remains functional
during winter season.
16. No public convenience (toilets) available en route to the
monasteries.

6. Conclusion
Ladakh is having tremendous potential to develop as Buddhist
tourist destination provided a serious and sustained effort is
made by govt and other stake holders to make Ladakh a
referred Buddhist Tourist destination. Not only facilities need
to be enhanced but strong publicity plans need to be worked
out to attract and inform the potenial tourists.

7. References
1. Arora RC. In the Land of Kashmir, Ladakh and Gilgit,
Jay Kay Book. House, Jammu, 2002.
2. Bandhu, Desh. Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh: Tourist
Attractions and Tourism, Akashdeep Publishing House,
New Delhi, 1994.
3. Kaul SC. Beautiful Valleys of Kashmir and Ladakh, Utpal
Publications, Srinagar, 1979.
4. Deewan, Perwaz. Ladakh, Manas Publications, New
Delhi, 2004.
5. Cunningham A. Ladakh Physical Statistical and Historical
with notes on Surrounding. London: Sagar Publications.
1854-1977.
6. Dewan P. Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. New Delhi:
Manas Publications. 2005.
7. Francke AH. A History of Ladakh. New Delhi: Sterling
Publishers (pvt ltd). 1977.

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