Community projects are undertaken as social responsibilities by those who can afford little money and time to willingly spend on the various sections of society where the life moves with a poor pace and the people are still far off from the basic human rights like education, information and health care. All religions of the world consider such deeds as the most honored aim of human being where the resourceful persons come forward for the development of those who could not enjoy the charms and happiness of this beautiful human life.
Tourism has registered its vital role in the development of such societies and communities and the world has seen the biggest contribution of tourism for the ill fated recently during the Tsunami episode. The great quest among travelers for doing something good during the vacations, gap years or career breaks has created the concept of "volunteer tourism". This is a kind of travel where one spends time with the local communities of world's most important conservation areas and renders his services to the multi disciplinary development of host destination. It is not the end but it begins the awareness in the community for tourism and slowly they start feeling importance of their culture, tradition, environment and architecture as a strong tool of economic development. This would be the happy end of any project.
Western Himalayan Community:
The population of this community is mainly scattered in Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh where especially the entire Ladakh, Lahoul, Spiti and Kinnaur areas of Himachal are the frontier places with strong beliefs in Buddhism. We recommend Spiti region for the community projects which is still less developed in comparison of Ladakh and Lahoul. Ladakh can be considered as the most aware Himalayan region where people have seriously accepted tourism as the major industry and since it is a part of Jammu and Kashmir, the most privileged state of India with several extra ordinary budget heads, so the development is not a miracle here like Spiti. Similarly in Lahoul, the education level is highest, per capita income is highest and the participation in Indian Administrative Services too is highest in comparison of the population.
Our destination for Community projects- Spiti
Spiti- the forbidden land:
Spiti
(locally pronounced 'Piti') or the 'middle country' has its sub divisional
headquarters at Kaza. The river Spiti originates at the base of the
Kunzam range and flows eastward to join the Sutlej at Khab in Kinnaur.
In practical isolation for centuries, Spiti has an intensely introvert
culture centered around its several monasteries- Dhankar, Ki, Tabo,
Mud, Gungri, Lidang, Hikim, Sagnam, Mane Gogma and Giu to name a few.
Spiti was loosely ruled for many centuries by a hereditary wazir, styled
Nono. The majority of the people are Buddhists, followers of the Geluk-pa
sect. The repetition of the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" (literally,
'Behold, the jewel is in the lotus'), is constant; it is believed to
bring good fortune and wash away all sins. For all the seeming bleakness,
Spiti possesses a haunting beauty. The wildlife in the region includes
the elusive snow leopard and ibex, found in the Pin valley.
Spiti has come to be known as the "fossil park of the world".
The three villages Kibber, Kaza & Ki fall on the route favorite
among those looking for fossils. These villages are situated at heights
between 13,500 ft. and 14,400 ft. Langza is famous for fossils of maritime
life. These fossils are found on either side of Kang-yur and Paapen-yu
nullahs near the village.
Spiti- the place of above 1000 years old caves and monasteries:
Spiti has ancient monasteries which need proper care and funding
to survive for long future. The local population is quite poor to contribute
anything financially to protect these monuments. Out of following monasteries
few are undertaken by archeological survey of India but several are
still in search of individuals and organizations to help. Few prominent
monasteries are as below:
KYE
MONASTERY
Overlooking Kaza from a height of about 13,500 ft, the Kye monastery
is the largest in the valley and holds a powerful sway over the most
populous part of the valley around Kaza. The Gompa is an irregular heap
of low rooms and narrow corridors on a monolithic conical hill. From
a distance is resembles the Thikse monastery near Leh in Ladakh. The
irregular prayer chambers are interconnected by dark passages, tortuous
staircases and small doors. Write if you need more details
TNAGYUD GOMPA
Near Comic village is the renowned Tangyud Gompa. Built around the early
decades of the 14th c, the Gompa belongs to the Sa-kya-pa sect and is
of historical importance. It is recorded that a team of Buddhist scholars
of the Gompa accomplished the task of revision of Tang-r Gyud - the
Tantra treatises which in 87 volumes form one class of Tibetan scriptures.
The lamas of this Gompa are supposed to be proficient in tantra. This
Gompa was earlier near Hilkkim village which was brought down in the
earthquake of 1975. The villagers then shifted this Gompa to its present
site. Some remains of the monastery can still be seen near Hilkkim.
Kaza to Langza by road is about 9 Kms. From Langza one has to walk to
Hikkim - Tangyut Comic, which is another 8 Kms. From Comic to Kaza is
a trek of about 6 Kms. It is a circular trek which can be adjusted according
to one's own convenience. Write if you need more details
KUNGRI GOMPA
Spiti's second oldest monastery is located in the Pin valley. The Kungri
Gompa built around 1330 AD recently acquired public attention after
it received large foreign donations for its renovation. Kungri provides
unmistakable evidence of tantric cult as practiced in Buddhism. Kungri
Gompa is the main centre of the Nyingma-pa sect in Spiti. The Gompa
consists of three detached rectangular blocks facing east.
The curious looking buzhens perform a sword dance and are perhaps the
only branch of Buddhism in which use of weapons is practiced. Some of
the buzhens live in Mud village on the right bank of the Pin River.
It is a chance encounter with buzhens as these lamas are wandering friars.
Most of the Pin valley has been demarcated as the Pin Valley National
Park which is the natural habitat of the snow leopard and Himalayan
ibex.
There is a PWD rest house at Sagnam. Some more accommodation is also
being added. Must carry own tents and camping gear. Tracks from this
valley lead to Kullu over Pin Parbati pass and Kinnaur over Bhaba pass.
Write if you need more details
DHANKAR
On the left bank of the Spiti river at a distance of 32 Kms downstream
from Kaza, near Shichling at an altitude of 3870 m, nestles the citadel
of Dhankar, the official capital of Spiti. The citadel is built on a
spur which projects into the main valley and ends in a precipice. The
location of this fort is strategic as Spiti always had to suffer innumerable
aggressions by its neighbors. The location allowed the Spitian to keep
vigil on the approaches and to submit messages to surrounding inhabitations
in case of danger. Whenever the Spitians were attacked, they built huge
fires to signal meeting in the safe sanctuary of rocks, i.e., Dhankar.
In the meeting all men and women decided the course of action to be
taken against the aggressors.
According to the State Gazetteer, "(The fort) became notorious
for housing a cavernous dungeon which the Nono used as prison. It contained
a cell without doors having only a small opening at the top through
which the condemned person was lowered and received his meals."
The fort of Dhankar now lies in ruins, but still is a place worthy of
visit. From the remnants of the fort one can see vast expanses of the
Spiti valley. Write if you need more details
KIBBER
Kibber
is located at a height of about 14,200 ft in a narrow valley on the
summit of a limestone rock. It is only 16 Kms from Kaza and a bus service
plies between these two places in summer. Kibber is a rather pleasant
village with plenty of cultivation. The moment you get down from the
bus you are greeted by lush green fields which look strikingly refreshing
against the arid backdrop of lofty hills.
There are only 80 houses in the village. The remarkable feature about
the architecture is the use of stone instead of mud or adobe brick used
extensively in the valley. There are a civil dispensary, a high school,
a post office, a telegraph office and a community TV set in the village.
There is a monastery in Kibber which is named after Serkang Rimpochhe
of Tabo. The lama breathed his last in Kibber in 1983 and when he was
being cremated a water source erupted from that spot. Even today the
source is being used by the villagers. There is a traditional trade
route from Kibber to Ladakh over Parang La. The Spitians go to Ladakh
to barter their horses for yaks or to sell for cash. The trek to Ladakh
takes minimum 3 night halts. Permits are required for this trek. Write
if you need more details
TABO
Tabo
an ancient village is about 46 Kms from Kaza, on the left bank of the
Piti River at an altitude of 10004 feet. The biggest attraction of this
village, for that matter of the whole valley, is the Tabo monastery,
called CHOS KHOR ('doctrinal circle' or 'doctrinal enclave') is a complex
that holds nine temples, 23 chortens, a monks' chamber and an extension
that houses the nun's chamber. On the sheer cliff-face above the enclave
are a series of caves which were used as dwellings by the monks and
includes an 'assembly hall'. Faint traces of the paintings that once
embellished the rock face can be discerned. Even today, Tabo holds the
distinction of being the largest monastic complex in Spiti. Constructed
in 996 AD, Tabo was the brainchild of the great translator and teacher,
Rinchensang Po. Tabo is famous for its exquisite murals and stucco sculptures
which bear a striking resemblance with the paintings and sculpture in
the Ajanta caves. This is why Tabo has acquired the tide of 'Himalayan
Ajanta'. According to His Holiness Dalai Lama, "The most important
is Tabo, noted for its exquisite quality of paintings and stucco images
that adorn its walls. These works of art delightfully express the vigor
of the transmission of Buddhism from India to Tibet and the dynamic
mingling of cultures". Write if you need more details
Fact file of Spiti:
Population: 10500 people
Petrol Pump: 01 at Kaza
Helipads: Nil
Major crops: Peas and potato
Community health centre: 01 at Kaza
Primary health centre: 01 at Tabo and 01 at Sagnam
Civil dispensaries: Hansa, Losar and Kibber
Religion: Buddhism
Art form: Tibetan
Sex ratio: 804 women per 1000 men
Write if you need more details
Problems of Spiti- the focus area for community services
1. Un equal sex ratio
2. Low literacy rate
3. Rare higher education among population
4. Improper medical facilities
5. Low agricultural land area and poor skills
6. Barren land with almost no vegetation
7. Low level of hygiene
8. Poor maintenance of monasteries
9. Low level of general awareness
10. Less funds and awareness for plantation and conservation
11. Poor and improper infrastructure
12. Rare benefits of tourism to local community
13. No plans for skill development
14. No plans for preservation of culture and heritage
The planning for a volunteer:
First phase: In this phase Mr. Chander Mohan, coordinator for
community projects will meet the volunteers and find how nicely he can
match their interests and skills with need of project area.
Second phase: We will create nice opportunities of interaction and understanding for the both members of project- the volunteer as well as the local community. This would be an in depth orientation and various other knowledge too will be circulated including the language, culture and social systems so the host community quickly can find a visitor close to their system. The team will be taken to various places related to the project.
Third phase: This is the time to work for the project- win the expedition. One is always free to inculcate his creative ideas during this phase. Apart from the selective focused areas mentioned above, one can be involved in learning Buddhism, teaching children in monasteries and village schools, providing medicines and its knowledge, suggesting ways for harvesting, introducing agricultural formulas, useful machineries, architectural plans, floriculture, plantation, wild life conservation etc. Generally it would be the transformation of individual skills for the benefits of local community.
Forth phase: For the exploration and leisure of a volunteer,
we keep this phase totally free for his tourist based activities. Ground
arrangements for such community projects will be done by Adventure India,
if you are interested to contribute, kindly fill up the following form
and submit.
The information you need to supply us:
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