Day 6 Ladakh ~ Meeting the artisans and Leh exploration
I wanted to meet the local artisans but the number of artisans have been dwindling. I headed to the village of Likir to meet a family who is still making pottery and other clay figurines but was saddened to learn that this is the last generation and they are not going to make items anymore since there is no money in it as the markets are flooded with cheap items from China and Kashmir. Also, their kids want better life so they have gone to work in Leh, mostly in tourism. The father and son duo does workshops here and there but that’s it. They are focusing more on agriculture to feed their family.
I ended up buying a chalice and a baby elephant from the potter. They were raw and not finished because they didn’t had any plans to paint them. In fact, I like the raw and natural look. I was also hoping to meet metal workers but none happened to be in town. So sad to see ancient local art form at the brink of being extinct in the next few years.
My next stop was the beautiful Likir Monastery. The view from the monastery was breathtaking and I could also see the young lamas having fun playing soccer in the nearby school.
I did forget to mention a minor accident that occurred on my way to Likir. As we were turning left to get on the bridge another car from the opposite side hit us. The driver was old and lost control of the car. Luckily, nothing happened to either of us physically but we were a bit shaken up. The car sadly was fully damaged from the front. The driver immediately called the union to arrange another car to pick me up. Suddenly, a mob of people appeared who were trying to access who was at fault. Once it was determined that the old driver from the other car made the mistake, he would have to cover the cost of repairs or they could go to the cops to sort it out. The old drivers family also came there in an instant and were ready to pick the tab because they knew their father was old and at fault. They didn’t want the police to get involved. I suppose that’s how it works in India. I waited for an hour until my next car came to pick me up and take me to Likir.
After Likir, it was back to Leh to explore the Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and the local market before I headed back to the hotel.
I enjoyed exploring the Leh Palace and the views of the city as I climbed higher and higher into the Palace. Leh Palace is a former royal palace overlooking the town of Leh. A precursor to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, the palace was built by King Sengge Namgya in the 16th century. It is nine storeys high; the upper floors accommodated the royal family, while the lower floors held stables and store rooms.
The Shanti Stupa, a Buddhist white-domed temple, perched on the hilltop can be seen from far away. In fact, I could see it from the hotel I was staying in. It was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu, Gyomyo Nakamura, as part of the Peace Pagoda mission. It currently holds the relics of the Buddha at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama. The panoramic views of the surrounding landscape from this stupa is magnificent. I enjoyed the peace and tranquility of this temple.
As the sun set and the weather became super chilly, I headed back to the hotel for dinner and sleep time. I needed all the rest because tomorrow we had planned something special.
