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Shachukul (Small Village in Himalaya)
This village is situated in the east of Leh town towards Pangong Lake at
the height of 13930 ft from the sea level. Distance from Leh town to Shachukul
approx. 125KM. By bus it takes 5 hours by taxi 3-4 hours to get here from Leh
town. The road to Shachukul is through Tangtse Block head quater and Tharuk
village. Famous place near by the village is Pangong Lake of which more than
half is in China.
Shachukul: The word Shachukul is said to have
derived from Shar-khul (shar for east and khul for corner) which means a corner
facing to the East. Due to having slope terrain of the mountain the glacial
melt water flows from the west towards the east which makes people from other
places feel so different to be in Shachukul. The temperature has never gone up
more than +25 degree throughout the year. In summer it is beautiful though it
is icy cold in winter, temperature dips down to minus 35.
There is a big monastery which belongs to Digung Kargut Sect in
Buddhism which has only three big monasteries in Ladakh such as Lama Yuru
and Phyang and Dalai Lama visited two times by date this dat. All the people
are follower of Buddha.
The glacial melt water manoeuvres through long streams gets distributed
to fields for vegetable and barley production and for drinking purposes. For
subsistence only one crop a year is possible under the harsh climate condition
though. Main crops we have a very short summer season are Barley, Peas, root
vegetable and some leafy vegetables. Rice, Flour, and Sugar we buy from the government
with huge subsidy like rest of Ladakh. Some people depend on herd of yaks and
folks of goats and sheep so that support the economy of families in addition to
the farm.
Horses, Donkeys and Yaks and Bulls are used for ploughing the fields and
carry loads. Some people have started using machine for agricultural work but
still as compare to the west there no machine in the farm.
A part from farming work some people also have government job and those
who have no government job, work in General Road Engineering Force in road
construction.
Right after the agricultural season for winter preparation people rush
to the mountain pasture to collect yak dung to use throughout the whole long winter
seven months. Presently people use Liquefied Petroleum Gas for cooking which
help reduce burning dung as fuel. So far people did not need to have
electricity in the day time since there is not much electronic gadgets used
except some mobiles for which 5 hour electricity supplied in the evening from a
community solar power plant is enough. In the near future electricity demand is
likely to shoot up because people might like to have computer facility for the children
and also some power tools are likely to be used too.
Festivity: In June-July there is a monastic
festival, Horse Racing during local New Year celebration which happens
around December, Traditional Archery competition as part of a ritual or
informal amusement event are on the list of important events to remember.
When farming season is on there is a spirit and god blessing inviting
ritual also where people take out prayer books from the monastery and take them
to fields of every house hold's fields for blessing their fields for good crop.
For Tourists: Interested visitors
could stay back in village for a day or two because like to host visitors. You
don’t worry about paying them except you think you should pay them for your
food or staying. Normally home stays in lower part of Ladakh charges around Rs.300-350
INR per night but may not be the same case here in this village. It would be
good if you could help in the family if they let you to. Many time a guest is
not suppose to work but sit, drink tea, eat whatever the host offer. Best time
for the foreign guests could be to walk the village and in the mountain with a
guide.
Best time to visit Shachukul is in June, July and August.
Learn a bit more about Culture of Ladakh before you visit this place.
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