Lighting The Himalayas - Season 2

Exploring The Phugtal Monastery

Exploring the Phugtal Monastery, home to 150 Monks.

Exploring The Phugtal Monastery

Located at a height of 14000 Ft. above sea level, this beautiful cave monastery is home to 150 Monks. The Phugtal Monastery houses a temple, library, prayer rooms, apartments, kitchens and a sacred spring.

Exploring The Phugtal Monastery

The ancient architecture of this serene abode is nothing short of spectacular. Built over hundreds of years the Phugtal Monastery has a breathtaking view.

Exploring The Phugtal Monastery

Monks have been educated in the premises of the Phugtal Monastery for thousands of years. The traditions and teachings have been passed on from the early ages of Buddhism.

Exploring The Phugtal Monastery

At an altitude of 14000 feet, a team of 20 highly motivated change-makers, from several corners of the world, take on the task of installing sustainable and scalable solar power in Phugtal Monastery to produce electricity.

Exploring The Phugtal Monastery

This beautiful bridge hangs gently above the Trasrap river connecting to pristine valleys of the Himalayas.

Exploring The Phugtal Monastery

This bridge is often used by back-packers, monks, and various expedition teams throughout the year.

Exploring The Phugtal Monastery

Monks at the Phugtal Monastery lead a life of simplicity and dedication. The food served contains barley and very little spices. They dine together at the opening of the cave at a platform that looks over the Lungnak river.

Exploring The Phugtal Monastery

Team members of the expedition camp in the valleys of the Zanskar. And in their experience, chilly winds push through the valley and create sounds that are louder than thousands of trumpets blown together.

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About the Initiative

About the Initiative

The remote settlements of the Himalayas continue to struggle for basic amenities in the 21st century. The future of these communities is at stake. They live in extreme climatic conditions, without electricity, health care and education.

 

Lighting the Himalayas is a journalistic feature series, committed to procurement and documentation of the on ground installation of renewable powered electric grid systems with cost effective, sustainable and scalable designs.

 

The great Himalayan ranges continue to bear the effects of climate change in the most extreme weather and living conditions. Longer summers, heavy rainfall, floods, droughts and soaring temperatures are one of the more evident symptoms of this disease.

 

To add to the severity of climate change almost 3000 Himalayan villages are based above an altitude of 13,000 Ft, which ensures that they remain cut-off from the world for over half a year.

 

The Lyungnak valley of ladakh, which is also home to the 2500 Phugtal Monastery and the remotest village of Zanskar Shade, has witnessed several calamities due to climate change in the last few years.

 

This is the story of bringing light to one of the remotest and oldest villages in the world. At an altitude of 14,300 feet, a team of highly motivated change makers, from several corners of the world take on the task of installing sustainable and scalable solar power grids in this pristine hamlet.

 

This endearing challenge begins in Leh, only to be redeemed 750 kilo meters away in the heart of the steepest, most unhabitable mountain peaks.

 

Season 1 of Lighting the Himalayas witnessed the 2500 year old Phugtal Monastery’s transition from darkness to light. And Season 2 will see the illumination of the remotest village of Zanskar, called Shade.

About GHE

About GHE

The Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE) is a social impact enterprise focused on creating tangible change in the remote Himalayan communities. Their approach includes, seeking of beauty and wisdom of the Himalayas and to share it with others through such expeditions. GHE aims to install sustainable & scalable solar power for the rural population of the Himalayan ranges. Their lives are pledged to the provision of green energy and education for the humble residents of this acute landscape.

In the past, GHE has held many other expeditions that involved successful installation of solar power in 10 off-grid Himalayan villages located above an altitude of 12000 Feet. In the near future, GHE will power up 30 more villages and bring light to them.

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