Old Leh is finally rising from the ruins

HOME OLD HOME: The historical buildings, on the verge of collapse, are being given a new lease of life.

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Leh (Ladakh): Eighty five-year-old Kadir is finally returning to his ancestral property - a 17-century Sofi House in Old Leh Town.

Kadir had left the crumbling structure 25 years back and moved to Nubra in Ladakh. But thanks to the efforts of a group of conservationists and architects, the85-year-old can now see his old home restored to its full glory.

“Twenty five back years we used to rent out the place. But then we left it. Now we have finally decided to restore this house and return to our heritage,” says Kadir.

Kadir building is just one among hundreds of ancient structures in Old Leh. The picturesque town has more than 180 documented historical structures. But many are in a visible state of decline. Taking note of the dilapidation, the Leh Old Town Initiative was launched by a group of experts from across the world.

“The main target is to restore private houses so that people that come back and live in the old town we give them basic facilities like toilets,” says Architect, Tibetan Heritage Fund, Andreas Catanese.

The Buddhist monasteries or the Gompas in the old Town are also being carefully retouched. The renovation efforts have the full backing of the town's older residents.

“This old town used to stink. We couldn’t walk. We complained to ministers but they didn't do a thing. These foreigners helped us out,” says a resident of the Old Leh Town, Fatima Begum.