Ladakh, the land of high passes, is also the meeting point of geology, cultures, trade and faith. Life revolves around the cycle of creation, decay and recreation, cultural practices, beliefs and a world view centred around cosmology. Decaying gradually, lime is faithfully reapplied to preserve the cultural markers within the vast, cold, often hostile desert of Ladakh. Lime crafts itself as the Gompa and the Mosque's tangible ornaments, where the whitewash and the mortar materialize the intangible harmony between faith, humans, and the landscape. The chorten highlight the obscure paths, and the whitewashed village indicates a fertile oasis. The Buddhist Gompa's lime-washed walls enclose the lama's silent prayers, chants, and clanging of gongs. The incense accentuates the space's spirituality high above the predominantly agricultural Muslim village. Contemporary Ladakh mesmerizes the travellers while carefully negotiating between cultures, geopolitical claims and a rapidly changing climate. 

The rubble mortar and whitewashed chortens mark the obscure pathways within the landscape. © Ashim Kumar Manna

Maitreya Buddha overlooks the valleys along the ancient trans-Himalayan silk route and the contemporary tripartite geopolitical claims. © Ashim Kumar Manna

The Buddhist Gompa and chortens sit high along the mountain's face, overlooking the valley's Muslim village. © Ashim Kumar Manna

The whitewashed town produces a unique cultural landscape of blending Buddhists, exiled Tibetans and Balti Muslims, emphasizing Ladakh's unique identity and value to humanity. © Ashim Kumar Manna

The Buddhist and Islamic prayer flags animate the space between the Jama Masjid and the Leh Palace. © Ashim Kumar Manna

Ashim Kumar Manna is a Research Scholar in Urbanism and Architecture (OSA) at KU Leuven.