At Gyab Thago Heritage Home in Ladakh

 

 

The Gyab Thago Heritage Home [1] is quite near to Leh, about 16 km; it's in the village of Stok, so a visit to the üalace might be accompanied by a visit of this farmers museum. I visited the museum, which is the old house of the family, about 200 years old. The walls inside are black from smoke and on gets a feeling, what life must have been in Ladakh during past times. The family lives in a new house, where they also manage their homestay. Outside there's still agriculture. They also serve traditional butter tea.

 

At the entrance of Ladakh homes you often find 

three stupas in the colors yellow, white and blue.  

Yellow stands for wisdom (Manjushri), 

white for compassion (Avalokiteshvara) 

and blue symbolizes power and energy (Vajrapani). 

 

 

The kitchen with the stove in the middle, where the family would gather during the harsh winters.

 

 

The family also had old blockprints to read

sutras for good fortune.

 

 

The liong upright containers are for churning butter 

and for preparing butter tea. 

 

 

Details of bowls and plates

 

 

The landlord, who showed us around in the museum 

and explained the exhibits.

 

 

Old fabrics, dresses, carpets

 

 

A traditional loom

 

 

In the new home

 

 

A bowl of butter tea [2]

The landlady, who entertained us with butter tea 

and chang, the traditional beer.

 

 

The family's backyard

Links and References:

[1] https://www.facebook.com/Gyapthagoheritagehome/photos/-gyab-thago-heritage-home-basic-information-a-200-years-old-building-belongs-to-/492827454259089/ and https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/stok/attractions/gyab-thago-heritage-house/a/poi-sig/1545518/1335894
[2] https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2018/09/yak-butter-tea.html

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