OverView of Shachukul

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.