Tradition and Sustainability in the Heart of the Himalayas

Because of its even and visually striking finish, the biggest advantage with this method is that there is no need for further plastering or painting the walls in a rammed earth structure. The trickiest challenge with this technique, however, is the design foresight it requires before the casting takes place, “because all the pipes, wiring and holes have to be laid inside the formwork, and then rammed upon. So, a keener eye for details is necessary,” he warns.

Norboo explains how he had to be “dead sure” of where he’d want each electric point in the room to be, because “once the conduit pipes have been pounded along with the wall at a certain location, the switch box has to be placed there—and there is no way we can change it. This can make incorporating modern amenities and creature comforts a little difficult within this form of architecture.”

Sustainably Wrapped Within the Himalayas

Nestled in the heart of the serene and majestic landscape of Ladakh, the ruddy hues of the multi-storeyed concrete resort visually melt into the surrounding mountains that wrap around it. Far removed from the hustle and bustle of the main town, each room looks out to the region’s flora and fauna, and herds of grazing cattle that move across the property through the day.

And the core of the resort’s design is sustainability, which one can find even in the smallest of details here. While the entire resort is plastic-free, with refillable glass water bottles and toiletries, the entire property functions in sync with the local ecosystem, serving only a locally seasonal menu and retaining a zero-waste cycle across all its offerings. “And Sonam’s vision for heating the entire place by using good old sunlight is the cleanest and the most genius idea that one could ever come across. Sustainability is a belief; a process. It’s not just something we do because it’s trending or cool. It’s our attempt to give back to the land that nurtured us,” he relates.

Things To Do When Visiting

Ladakh Eco Resort is a 20-minute drive from the main Leh market in Gangles village. The resort arranges a day hike to Phyang village from the property, which takes about four hours to complete. They also organise custom activities on and off the property, such as picnics at monasteries or by the stream that flows nearby; as well as visits to Nubra Valley, walks around Gangles village, spring water tastings, tea-trailing, cycling tours, farm-to-table experiences, open-air barbeques or star gazing.

Ladakh Eco Resort is open from May to September. 

Contact details: 9971820745