The Buddhist chants of Ladakh added on the list of Intangible Heritage of UNESCO is not the only unique treasure of the region. A rich variety of tangible and intangible heritage can be found in Ladakh and the valley of Shara.
Phuktsey old village: an open art and handicraft galary
Ladakh is a recognised traditional producer of pashmina wool in the world..
Ladakhi women help in the production of pashmina wool souvenirs to be sold to tourists. Unfortunately, 90% of this production is sold without any added value and without any substantial profits coming back to the women who help in its production.
Our project therefore works towards highlighting this local intangible heritage of the weaving skill required in the production of textile in the Shara valley.
During their stay with the local hosts, tourists will be informed about this traditional and age-old yet a day-to-day practice. Tourists will discover, maybe even try their hand at wool weaving along with the women of the valley.
Restoration of the old village of Phuktsey is one of the major factor in contributing to the promotion of local heritage. Once restored, certain houses along with the wooden covered streets joining the houses will be transformed into a cultural and artistic center.
Conferences, educational workshops, debates, etc. will be held in these houses. Few local artisans will also set up their work studios in some of the houses. This center, open to all public public – tourists and locals alike – will be a place of exchange and learning of traditional practices and handicrafts.
Conservation of local heritage and passing-on traditional practices
All these actions together will ensure not only the conservation of local heritage but will also allow in passing-on these traditional practices which will lead to their preservation. Be it old or young, locals or foreigners, people of different backgrounds will be involved in this step towards distinguishing the rich heritage and its promotion. Hence, a communication strategies will also be designed to highlight the heritage of the Shara valley..
Our Project adheres to Sustainable Development Goals.(SDGs) defined by UNESCO. Our project objectives corresponds to the following criteria :
- SDG 1 & 10 (reducing poverty and inequality in the valley)
- SDG 4 (encouraging quality education in the valley)
- SDG 5 (creating employment opportunities for women and promoting gender equality)
- SDG 8 (creating decent sustainable employments via fair tourism)
- SDG 12 (promoting local artisan and equitable tourism)
- SDG 15 (creating a responsible tourist infrastructure, reducing ecological impacting by developing ecotourism)
