Nestled high in the breathtaking Himalayan landscape of Ladakh, India, Hemis Monastery is a testament to centuries of Buddhist tradition and Ladakhi culture. Each summer, this ancient fortress of faith transforms into a vibrant tapestry of colour, sound, and spirituality during the famous Hemis Festival. As the largest monastic festival in the region, it draws pilgrims, tourists, and culture enthusiasts from around the world to witness a spectacular celebration that has remained largely unch...
All Posts By Sarbjit Singh Bahga
A Himalayan Jewel: The Architectural Wonders of Stok Palace, Ladakh
The Stok Palace is located in the village of Stok, about 15 kilometer southwest of Leh, the capital of Ladakh, in the northernmost region of India. The Palace holds a rich historical legacy dating back to the 19th century. It was constructed by King Tsepal Namgyal in 1820 after the royal family of Ladakh was exiled from Leh. The construction of the Palace served as the royal residence for the Namgyal dynasty, which ruled Ladakh for centuries.
The Palace played a significant role in Ladakh...
A Tribute to Madhav Achwal: An Architect, Academician & Marathi Author
Madhav Achwal (03.11.1925 – 21.01.1980) was an eminent architect, educationist, critic, renowned litterateur, and Marathi author. His name has been immortalized by the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) by instituting the ‘Madhav Achwal Gold Medal’ for a lifetime contribution to architectural education. Constituted in 1988, the “Madhav Achwal Gold Medal” is perhaps the highest honour bestowed on outstanding architectural educationists in India.
Despite the efforts made by the IIA, m...
Remembering Urmila Eulie Chowdhury – India’s First Woman Architect, on Her 100th Birth Anniversary
Urmila Eulie Chowdhury (4 October 1923 – 20 September 1995) was India’s first qualified woman architect, teacher, and writer. Some historians believe that she was Asia’s first qualified female architect. She graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1947. Earlier, she earned a Cambridge School Certificate from the Windsor House School in Kobe, Japan. In addition, she learned singing and piano at the Conservatory of Music of the Julian Ashborn School of Art, S...
THIKSEY MONASTERY, LADAKH: A Must-Visit Destination
Thiksey Monastery is one of Ladakh’s most beautiful and largest Buddhist monasteries. It is affiliated with the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. Due to its unique setting on a hilltop with surrounding snow-clad mountains, it affords breathtakingly gorgeous views of vast landscapes. The colourful built forms in red, yellow ochre, and white, with a fusion of traditional and contemporary architecture and craftsmanship, are the vital aspects of its beauty.
The Thiksey Monastery is in Thiksey...
SECMOL School, Leh, Represents Himalayan Region in ‘New Indian Architecture’
SECMOL School building in Leh, Ladakh, represents the entire Himalayan Region in a recently published book, “NEW INDIAN ARCHITECTURE: 1947-2020.” This elaborate treatise is a prestigious Indian architecture publication in the post-Independence era which features more than one hundred architectural marvels. These are spread over a vast area of the subcontinent from Leh in the north to Madurai in the south (3600km), and Kolkata in the east to Gandhinagar in the west (2000km). Conceived and bui...
200-Year-Old Gyab-Thago Mud Heritage Home, Ladakh Revisited
“So much of our future lies in preserving the past.” – Peter Westbrook.
It is assumed that concrete buildings have a life of 100 years, but strangely mud and timber houses can last for more than 200 years. It has been proved right by the Gyab-Thago Heritage Home, Ladakh, which has lived for more than 200 years. This mud-and-timber house is in Stok village, about 17 km southeast of Leh town in Ladakh, India. The Stok village is situated in the Indus Valley and has an altitude of 3497 m (11...