LADAKH

(The Incredible Khapa-Chan)

 Acknowledgement
We would like to express our special thanks of gratitude to all our teachers who have guided
and instructed us and have contributed to the successful completion of this project.
Secondly, We would like to thank all our team members who have worked hard together with
team spirit and immense effort. Without their Hard work and co – operation this assignment
could not have been completed.
We all have learnt a lot while working on this project. We came across a lot of fascinating
and new things. We are really grateful an thankful to everyone who gave us this opportunity.
 INTRODUCTION

Words cannot describe the charm and serenity of Ladakh that the eyes can do. Pictures and
videos simply cant potray its immense beauty. What makes the place more special is that it
plays to every kind of audience. Right from quenching the thirst of adventure cravers to
offering spirituality to those seeking peace and tranquillity, Ladakh is ideal for all.
Located at an altitude of 8,370 ft from water level, the 'land of high passes' gives the
Himalayan range an attractive blend of green and white. You heard that right. With vast
expanses of white sand, the ruggedness of the Himalayas can be witnessed. But nothing
compares to the tranquil vibe that the lakes offer. Pristine beauty is what you'll find in Leh
Ladakh, that's guaranteed.
When talking of the relief features of ladakh, the first thing that comes to the mind is the
high, snow covered mountains which scale the sky. During sunrise, these mountains create a
breath-taking view for the viewer’s eyes. The struggle of waking up early is worth it.
 FLORA AND FAUNA
DIVERSITY OF LADAKH

I. Endemic species of plants and animals in Ladakh:

Ladakh has a very rich flora and fauna. Several species of them are endemic to the
region. Due to its unique climate and topography, distinct species of animals are found in
Ladakh. The snow leopard and the black-necked crane are the ‘jewels’ of the wildlife
kingdom of Ladakh along with several other unique birds and mammals. In the
pastures of eastern Ladakh, wild animals and birds are a common sighting and often
compete with domestic animals for food. While in the heavily populated Indus valley and
the valleys of its tributaries, they are found in the higher reaches but often descend to
lower reaches due to scarcity of food, thus resulting in human-wildlife conflict. Several
species of mammals which were extensively hunted for fur and wool in the past are now
at the brink of extinction. These include the Tibetan antelope, Eurasian lynx and the
musk deer which is now extinct in Ladakh .
The flora of Ladakh comprises about 880 species. Ladakh is rich respiratory of medicinal
and aromatic plants and other important plants which are closely associated with daily
life of local inhabitants of the region. As many as 23 species of flowering plants are
endemic to Ladakh. Ladakh comes under alpine and high alpine zones and is dominated
by annual and perennial herbs, followed by few stunted shrubs and bushes. The
vegetative growth starts at beginning of summer when the melting of snow provides
abundant moisture. The flora is in full bloom in the month of August but starts
disappearing by the end of September. The mountain slopes, meadows and alpine
pasturelands give a spectacular display of flowers of cold desert barren mountains.
 II. Habitat of native plants and animals of Ladakh:
Ladakh, undoubtedly, is a unique wildlife destination, which boasts of being home to a
number of exotic animals as well as bird species roaming freely in their natural habitat.
We can witness a huge variety of flora and fauna. The list of wild animal species of the
region is quite long.
We can spot Yaks, ibex, Tibetan hare, Blue sheep, wild ass, Bharal, Marmot, the
Tibetan antelope, also called the Chiru and the Snow Leopard etc. This region is home
to as many as 310 species of avifauna which are inclusive of types like Golden Eagle,
Lamagier, Wall creeper, Rock Bunting, Black necked crane, Himalayan Snowcock
and so on. The major attraction of the park that flocks wildlife enthusiasts from all across
the globe is a considerable population of snow leopards.

III. Morphological features of plants and animals of Ladakh:

Adaptation to the environment by the potential flora of a region leads to certain changes
in underground and aerial parts of plants for their survival. The vegetation of the cold
desert Trans-Himalayas consists of a highly specialized group of plants with
metabolic and reproductive strategies suited for maximizing their activity in harsh
climatic conditions. The plant of high altitude cold deserts exhibits a number of
ecological, morphological and physiological adaptations which help them to counteract
the impact of harsh climate prevailing in Ladakh.
Morphological features of Snow leopard:

The Snow leopard shows several adaptations for living in a cold, mountainous
environment. Its small rounded ears help to minimize heat loss.
It has broad paws that distribute the body weight for walking on snow, and have fur on
their undersides to increase the grip on steep and unstable surfaces; it also helps to
minimize heat loss.
Its long and flexible tail helps to maintain balance in the rocky terrain. The tail is very
thick due to fat storage, and is covered in a thick layer of fur, which allows the cat to use
it like a blanket to protect its face when asleep.

IV. Adaptive features of different specimens in Ladakh:

The high altitude adaptation is manifested in the form of inflated snout. Each nostril in
the inflated nose has a sac to assist in breathing rarefied air at higher altitudes. The
animal feeds on herbs and grasses. Ladakh Urial is smallest of all the wild sheep.

The following peculiarities in the plant parts have been observed in Ladakh:
 a) Root System: The root system in most of the plant species is very deep and extensive
in order to absorb water from depth, as this zone is known for aridity. Such root system
also helps to withstand strong wings, snow blizzards and in escaping damage from
subzero ambient winter temperature.

b) Growth Peculiarities: The vegetation is dominated by the herbs followed by a few

stunted and much branched shrubs or bushes. The dwarf condition results from
suppression of internodes due to slow growth and brief growing period, May-October,
which may be correlated with extreme cold, high solar radiation and retardation of plant
sap flow.

c) Physiological Specialization: The major physiological specialization in the high

altitude plants is frost resistance. The freezing injury is mainly caused by the ice crystal
formation within the cell. Adaptation is either in the forms of inhibition or reduction in
the ice crystal formation.

V. Economic and Ecological importance of plants and animal species:

A study reveals that Ladakh is rich in medicinal flora. Many traditional healing
herbs and their parts have been shown to have medicinal value and can be used
to prevent, alleviate or cure several human diseases. Consumption of herbal
medicines is widespread and increasing in recent years and approximately 80%
of the people in developing countries depend on traditional medicines for
primary health care needs.
Out of total livestock in Ladakh, 43.42% are cows and bulls only. It clearly
indicates the importance of dairy production in arid region of ladakh. services
provided by camel include meat, milk, wool and leather, draught power and soil
nutrients besides serving as financial asset and security. The rich heritage in the
form of Ladakhi Yak and Bacterian Camel(double humped camel) makes
Ladakh, particularly Leh district, a unique place in the country and world map.
There is no doubt that dairy and poultry farming are becoming an established
industry and is providing employment to less educated, unemployed and
unemployed educated youths. In order to invite the attention of public towards
this sector, the department of Animal Husbandry Leh is undertaking various
activities in the field, so as to make this sector a profitable and sustainable one.
Collage of some pictures of animals species of Ladakh:
 MATHEMATICS ACTIVITY -1

LADAKH- “AN ABODE OF RELIGIOUS REJUVENATION”

RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF LADAKH

 INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORY OF LADAKH -

The earliest population of Ladakh has been asserted to be that of Dards or Brokpas. Many ancient accounts
by the Greek historians, Herodotus and Megasthenes, and the admiral of Alexander the Great, Nearchus
have confirmed the existence of the Brokpas (Dards) in Ladakh. An interesting fact tells that Herodotus also
mentioned the gold-digging ants of central Asia, which is also mentioned in connection with the Dardi
people of Ladakh by Nearchus. The Kharosthi inscription discovered near Khalatse Bridge tells that Ladakh
in the 1st Century was under the rule of the Kushan Empire.

Ladakh was divided into two parts: Upper Ladakh and Lower Ladakh. Upper Ladakh was ruled by King
Takbumde from Leh and Shey, and Lower Ladakh was ruled by King Takpabum from Basgo and
Temisgam. Later, Bhagan, a king from Lower Ladakh of the Basgo Dynasty, defeated the king of Leh and
took on the surname Namgyal (victorious), and founded a new dynasty which still survives today

During the reign of Sengge Namgyal, who was known as the Lion King, constructions in Ladakh were in
full swing. He commissioned the construction of many monasteries in Ladakh including the popular Hemis
Monastery. Sengge Namgyal also ordered the construction of the Leh Palace and moved the headquarters of
his kingdom from Shey Palace to this newly constructed one. Under Sengge, the kingdom further expanded
to Zanskar and Spiti. He was later defeated by the Mughals who had already conquered Kashmir and
Baltista.
 DETAILS OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS IN LADAKH
The dominant religion of Ladakh, India is Buddhism, especially in the central and eastern areas. In
fact, it is one of the few places where Mahayana Buddhism, also known as Lamaism, is still
practiced
After Buddhism the second most dominant in the Ladakh religions is Islam. Especially in the western
Ladakh area, Shia Muslims are found in a majority. Sunni Muslims are also found in Ladakh,
however they have a very small population.
Ladakh also has a Christian population, mainly in the town of Leh. They constitute a minority in this
area, but belong to the top rungs of the Ladakhi society. There are also two churches in Ladakh, one
in Leh and the other in the Shey area.
Few Sikhs who migrated from princely states of Punjab to Ladakh are also found here.
RELIGIONS POPULATION PERCENTAGE
BUDDHISM 77
ISLAM 14
HINDUS 8
CHRISTIANS, SIKHS AND OTHERS 1

Religious Beliefs

8% 1%
14%

77%

Buddhuism Islam Hinduism Christians,Sikhs and others

 Non - Conventional Resources Of Ladakh

Solar Energy

Ladakh has been called the “roof of the world” with abundant sunlight and clear air
making it unusually suitable for solar energy technologies. LREDA was founded in 2000
by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council that “studied and advised the local
government to harness solar energy in the mountainous region.

The Ladakh administration will also make available 20,000 acres of land to set up a
renewable energy park. The provision of a further 20,000 acres will be explored based on
inputs from the Solar Energy Corporation of India

Geothermal energy in Puga Valley

Puga Valley in the Ladakh region of Jammu & Kashmir is one of the areas in India,
that showed significant potential for geothermal energy in early studies by the Indian
government. Puga lies in the south-eastern part of Ladakh and forms a part of the
Himalayan geothermal belt. This zone shows evidence of geothermal activity in the
form of hot springs, mud pools, sulphur and borax deposits. It is estimated that over
5,000 MWh of geothermal energy is available at Puga at current depths, which could
be used for heating, greenhouse cultivation and electricity generation.
 Micro Hydro Power

Indus River and its tributaries in Ladakh region are all laden with adequate potential for
generating hydropower and the Government having cleared as many as eight projects of
144 MW in Kargil and Leh districts was going to give a big boost to the power sector of
the UT. These projects considered to be the highest so far, can be attributed to the UT
getting special focus on massive infrastructural development after being made a Union
Territory in the year 2019.Ladakh , admittedly has so far, not been getting reasonably
enough attention for harnessing its vast hydropower potential and the new 8 proposed
projects were in fact largely aimed at making Ladakh attain self sufficiency in power
generation in the near future.
 MATHEMATICS ACTIVITY- 2

LADAKH – “AN ALL-TIME FAVOURITE OF DOMESTIC AND

INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS”

COMPARISON OF INDIAN AND FORGEIN TOURISTS

 Statistical data on number of tourists visiting Ladakh

YEARS INDIANS FOREGINERS

2004 3000 5000
2005 13,500 15,400
2006 13,600 22,000
2007 13,800 25,000
2008 17,000 26,114
2009 22,000 29,000
2010 34,000 35,000
2011 45,000 30,000
2012 55,000 22,000
2013 1,42,829 37,000
2014 1,50,000 38,000
2015 1,16,000 29,614
2016 2,00,000 39,000

COMPARISON ON INDIAN AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

250000

200000

150000

100000

50000

0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Indian tourists International tourists

A DOUBLE- LINE GRAPH REPRESENTING THE ABOVE DATA