Eco Friendly Way to Travel in Ladakh

Ladakh is a place with scarce resources and every year thousand of tourists like us throng the place, straining the scanty resources. The effort is to identify ways to reduce this negative impact and ways in which we can actually support and encourage the amazing traditions in the sacred place.

The more tourists use the guide and communicate that they are supporting local establishments because of their environmental/traditional credentials (or demand them when they’re not available) the more sustainable services and products will increase to meet the growing demand.

One of the Growing Problems that I witnessed there is the usage of plastic mineral water bottles, which is creating a huge waste 

PLASTIC WASTE IN LADAKH 

 This can be avoided. The way out is not only eco friendly but also quite helpful in restricting your expenditure. Usually in Ladakh in most of the places Mineral waters cost Rs 20 per bottle, and we consume at least two to three bottles everyday and throw it away, causing what you see above.

The worst part is that there are no recycling facilities in Ladakh, hence the bottles are either taken and dumped outside of town, or burned in the open, producing toxic byproducts such as chlorine gas and ash containing heavy metals.

The use of water refilling services which are available in a lot of Leh Places with Rs 10 per litre, is pocket friendly and saves the environment from bearing with another two plastic bottles from your end.

Moreover i was not aware that  plastic used to make water bottles is derived from crude oil. Worldwide, some 2.7 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water each year. Additionally, transporting all those plastic bottles full of water over the Himalayas consumes enormous amounts of fuel and pollutes the atmosphere along the way. Just think of it..

Moreover, Corporate appropriation of the world’s fresh-water supply represents one of the most serious contemporary threats to the local self-reliance of peoples across the planet. Commodifying and privatizing what was once the common right of local communities, companies like Coca Cola and Pepsi are depriving rural communities across India

Plastic waste – such as water bottles, soft drink bottles, tetra packs, and food packaging – is piling up on the streets and paths, in the streams, and almost everywhere else all over India, including Ladakh. The effects of this waste are many: clogging drainage; damaging our health when burned; filling the stomachs of animals that eat it; and tarnishing the beauty of this unique region.

Few of the many Establishments offering water refilling and/or some local food :

• Lala's Cafe
• Inner Space Cafe
• Leh View Restaurant
• Women's Alliance of Ladakh
• Desert Rain Cafe

And moreover if you have some social interest and want to contribute something back to this lovely place, here is a list of Organizations who are trying their best to keep the place , the heaven it is.

WAL (Women’s Alliance of Ladakh)

Since 1994 the Women's Alliance of Ladakh (WAL) is working in Ladakh with the twin goals of raising the status of rural women and strengthening local culture and agriculture. Since then, WAL's membership has swelled to over 6,000 women from almost 100 different villages. Address: Sankar Road, Chubi, Leh 194101, Ladakh Phone: +91 1982 250293

E-mail: womenallianceleh@yahoo.co.in

WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)

Since 1999 World Wide Fund for Nature is working in Ladakh on the Conservation of High Altitude Wetlands Project. The project is expected to develop a special focus on biodiversity conservation in some high altitude lakes. Recently the organization released a documentary on climate change called ‚living with change, voices of Ladakh‛. Address: Hemis Complex, Zangsti Road, Leh 194101, Ladakh Phone: +91 1982 251896

E-mail: pankajchandan@wwfindia.net , pchandan@gmail.com

Website: www.wwfindia.org

SLC (Snow Leopard Conservancy)

Since its foundation in 2000 the Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust (SLC-IT) has been dedicated to promoting community based stewardship of the endangered snow leopard, its prey and habitat to the benefit of local people and the environment in the trans-Himalayan regions of Ladakh and Zanskar. Address: P.O. Box 67, Shangara House, Tukcha Main Road, Leh 194101, Ladakh Phone: +91 1982 250953

E-mail: slcindia@sancharnet.in Website: www.snowleopardindia.org

SECMOL (Student’s Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh)

SECMOL was founded in 1988 with the aim to promote educational reform in Ladakh. The students in the campus in Phey manage the hostel democratically under the guidance of hostel managers, teachers, and students. SECMOL campus is a clear example of sustainable architecture. Address: c/o SECMOL, P.O. Box 4, Leh 194101, Ladakh Phone: +91 1982 226120 / 226116

E-mail: saicampus@gmail.com Website: www.secmol.org

PAGIR (People’s Action Group for Inclusions and Rights)

Founded in 2008, a group of disabled Ladakhis doing grassroots recycling by collecting discards and transforming them into new products. Address: PAGIR, Skara Spon, Leh 194101, Ladakh Phone: +91 9419340800 and +91 9419219312

E-mail: inclusionandrights@gmail.com

NIRLAC ( Namgyal Institute for Research on Ladakhi Art and Culture)

One of the primary aims of NIRLAC is the conservation of Ladakh’s rich cultural heritage through various programmes to be undertaken by the Institute. Address: Shangara House, Tukcha Main Road, Leh 194101, Ladakh Phone: +91 1982 254976

E-mail: nirlac@gmail.com

LEHO (Ladakh Environment and Health Organization)

LEHO has been working since 1991 on ecological agriculture, passive solar houses construction, handicraft (pashmina), health and environment. Address: Passive Solar, Building, Skara Juk, Leh 194101, Ladakh Phone: +91 1982 252944

E-mail: sultanaleho@yahoo.co.in , tashileho@yahoo.com

LEDEG (Ladakh Ecological Development Group)

Created in 1983 LEDeG is one of the elder Ladakhi NGO, recognized for its work on renewable energy, environment, organic agriculture, education, food processing and handicrafts. Based in Leh, and two sub offices, that work as proximity NGOs are situated in Kargil and Padum. Address: Ladakh Ecological Dev. Group, Karzoo, Leh 194101, Ladakh Phone: +91 1982 252284

E-mail: ledegleh@gmail.com Website: www.ledeg.org

LACS (Ladakhi Animal Care Society)

Since 2006, LACS and Vets Beyond Borders are running the Leh Street Dog Sterilization (animal birth control) Program with the collaboration of the local authorities. Phone: +91 9419344439 and +91 9906985271