Ladakh Crossroads of High Asia

This scholarly yet lively introduction to Ladakh and its people, in print since 1983, is widely recognized as an authoritative and comprehensive reference for general information on the region. Once perceived as a remote, romantic, and mysterious Shangri-La, Ladakh has over the years undergone profound changes-political, demographic, economic, socio-cultural as well as environmental. Extensively researched and lucidly written, this book explores the region's history and its importance as a confluence of various cultures and traditions to present a deeply informed account of Ladakh and its people. Retaining the basic information from the original, this revised and updated third edition documents the changes and transformations that Ladakh has witnessed since 1996, including a detailed analysis of political and economic shifts in the wake of the Kargil war.

1 - Approaches
2 - Profile of a Landscape
3 - Creatures of the Wild: Species at Risk
4 - The Old Kingdom
5 - A Change of Direction
6 - Hazardous Trails
7 - The Daily Round
8 - Polyandry and Polo
9 - The Native Genius
10 - Change
11 - Buddhists, Muslim and Christians
12 - The Gompas, a Living Heritage

Janet Rizvi is the author of Trans-Himalayan Caravans: Merchant Princes and Peasant Traders in Ladakh (2001) and Secretary, International Association for Ladakh Studies (IALS).