Environment

As the world celebrated International Day for Biodiversity on 22 May 2025, it is important to draw attention to the fact that there are many overlooked species that quietly sustain our ecosystems. Ladakh is known for its unique and fragile ecosystems and is also home to a little-known, harmless snake species, the Ladakh cliff racer […]

As we celebrate Earth Day on 22 April, it becomes ever more important to protect not just rivers and forests but also the silent stories written by rock deposits over millions of years. An example of this is the immature conglomerate deposits at Faruna in Kargil (See photograph). These rock layers are made up of […]

The Rangdum wetlands are facing an existential danger. It was once a remote high altitude ecosystem teeming with migratory birds and has now become a construction site buzzing with the sound of heavy earthmoving machinery. This abrupt transformation is a stark reminder that we can no longer take such ecological havens for granted. Nestled in […]

Ladakh experienced an unusually hot summer this year with temperatures soaring to 36 degree Celsius (96.8 degree Fahrenheit) in some parts of Leh district. The sun rays were so strong that it was difficult to step outside. The markets were empty during the afternoons as people chose to remain indoors. The merciless and fiery sun […]

The Trans Himalayan region of Ladakh is located at the junction of collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The formation of the Himalayas started with the closure of the Tethys ocean around 65 million years ago. The region has a mesmerising landscape with a diversity of geomorphic and geological features. It has a […]

Tourism is an important economic sector in Ladakh. The region was opened for tourism in 1974 and a record five lakh tourists have visited the region in 2022 so far. Many of these tourists are keen to visit the tourist sites such as Pangong-tso, which became famous as a location in the Hindi film, 3 […]

Ladakh is influenced by various geological activities that date back more than 65 million years when the Indian tectonic plate collided with the Asian plate and continues to slide under it. This has led to the creation of the Himalayan ranges and the high altitude Tibetan plateau. The platetectonic collision drained the Tethys sea and […]

The people of Leh are arguably very religious. There are prayer flags fluttering over mountains, passes, monasteries and Buddhist households. Mosques call the faithful to prayers five times a day from the bank of the Indus to the centre of Leh market. All religions share many basic values be it Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and […]

Birds are a fascinating part of our natural heritage. There are various hot-spots for birds in Ladakh that never fail to reward an observant birdwatcher. Unlike known bird-watching hotspots, two interesting avian records from Ladakh, sighted from a remote, rugged, and windy hamlet in eastern Ladakh called Pang. Located at an altitude of around 4,500m […]

Growing up in Leh, I have always been fascinated by glaciers and snow. As a child, I did not think of issues such as water resources and availability for drinking and irrigation. In the cropping season, we used to source water from the main stream in Leh town. There was sufficient water for everyone due […]

An annular solar eclipse occurred on 21 June and people were able to witness it from different parts of the country. With some advance preparation, I was able to capture the whole sequence of the annular solar eclipse in the sky above the Himalayan Chandra Telescope at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, eastern Ladakh. […]

We are currently grappling with electromagnetic and light pollution in addition to other forms of pollution. Each of these forms of pollution have a similar negative impact on our health and environment. While the world at large is taking significant action to reduce the exploitation of nature and reduce pollution, we need to expand these […]

“Quinoa.” The first time I encountered this word was in 2015 during a conversation with my cousin. As a student of agriculture, I felt ashamed about my lack of knowledge about this crop. However, I didn’t expect quinoa or Chenopodium quinoa to become one of the finest and most satisfying experiences of my life. As […]