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Young World
Juley! Welcome to my home
SEEMA BHATT
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Want to visit Tso Moriri in Ladakh? It is now possible because of the homestays.
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Photo: Seema Bhatt
Scenic: By the lakeside.
Twelve-year-old Angmo was very excited. Her mother had told her that in June they would have some tourists coming to stay with them as guests. Angmo lives in a village called Korzok on the shores of the lake Tso Moriri in Ladakh. Tso Mori is a high-altitude lake, famous because of the large number of migratory birds that come here every year. Every summer a lot of tourists — foreign an
d Indian — visit this extremely scenic lake. But they could never stay the night, as there was no provision for it. However, some of them camped by the lakeside and would sometimes leave the place extremely dirty.
But for the last few months there has been a lot of excitement in the village, particularly among the women. It all started with Angmo’s aunt visiting from her village in Rumbak valley. She described how many villagers had got together and decided to allocate one room in their respective houses for tourists. Such an arrangement was called ‘homestays’, where the guests, besides having comfortable accommodation at reasonable rates, could also experience what it is to live with a Ladakhi family. After hearing this, Angmo’s mother and many other women in the village of Korzok decided that they could also do the same. They discussed this with their families, the head of the monastery and also with the staff of World Wide Fund for Nature India (WWF India) who had been visiting this area for many years.
Getting ready
WWF India decided to support and even train the women in these efforts. It also contributed some money to help buy things like mattresses and blankets. Ten households were chosen for the first season on the basis of availability of room, location and the willingness of the lady of the house to be able to cater to guests. Each homestay was named after birds that were regular visitors to the lake. The guests would be like any other visitors to the house, would eat traditional Ladakhi meals with the members of the family in the kitchen. The guests would also use the traditional Ladakhi toilet, which is unique in being located on the first floor of the house. The toilet is designed in such a way that all the waste is collected on the ground floor and then used as manure in the fields.
Angmo is getting ready to receive guests. She and her friends are busy learning about the birds that come to the lake. When the tourists come, perhaps they can show off their knowledge and take them bird watching. And these children have realised that tourists will come and stay with them only if the lakeside is kept clean and the birds are not disturbed. So, in their spare time, they have started to clean up the lakeshore, which they will continue to do throughout the season.
It’s time to say Juley (Hello in Ladakhi) to Tsokar’s homestays!
In collaboration with Kalpavriksh Environment Action Group ( kvdelhi@vsnl.net)
What you can do
The next time you go on a trip to the wilds with your parents, look out for local homestays. Persuade your parents to stay there at least for a night.
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