Located at an altitude of 3050 meters above sea level, Lehs
old town consists of about 200 historic and traditional houses built on
the slope beneath the royal palace. The oldest area was once contained within
city walls built from rammed earth. Gateway stupas still serve as important
entry points. The architecture is entirely comparable to that of Lhasa,
making Leh the best-preserved historic Tibetan city in the world.
Nevertheless, an incoming road has already begun to transform the lowest
section of the old town. Lack of water supply, sanitation and transportation
facilities in the upper sections have caused people to abandon |
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their homes. Several buildings are severely dilapidated.
In 2003, John Harrison suggested that
THF take a look at the old town of Leh. THF co-director Andre Alexander
conducted a two-month feasibility study, identifying and documenting 100
historic buildings, and compiling a social profile of the occupants. In
2004 he assembled a team of local Ladakhi craftsmen, and provided a training
program based on the work experience from Lhasa. He and this team completed
a pilot restoration of the 17th century Guru Lhakhang, and work has started
on the nearby Norchung residential house.
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