An independent kingdom of the 10th century, Ladakh
was continuously pestered by the periodical attacks of the Kashmiri
Muslims in the 16th century until it was finally annexed to their state
in the mid 19th century. One can see distinct influences of the
different visitors to the place in the Ladakhi culture. Indo-Aryan Mons
coming from across the Himalayas brought with them the North-Indian
Buddhism to the Ladakhi highlands, Darads hailing from the remote
western parts of the Himalayas and Baltis of the lower Indus Valley
introduced the concept of farming in the region while the wandering
nomads from Tibet brought the skills of herding to Ladakh. The proximity
to the valleys of Kashmir, Kishtwar and Kulu resulted in the mutual
influence of culture and ethno types in between Ladakh and those
regions.
The golden era of Ladakh came in the early 17th century, when its trade
flourished under the wise rule of the famous king Sengge Namgyal. His
empire stretched across Spiti and western Tibet all the way to the
Mayumla situated beyond Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. It was during
this period that Ladakh gained fame as the most popular and best trade
route between Punjab and Central Asia. The merchants traveling through
these routes frequently dealt in textiles, spices, raw silks, carpets,
dyed stuffs and narcotics and Leh, served as halfway rest house for
them. The popular means of transport was on foot or on horsebacks. The
modern vehicles are only in use since the 1960s when the Srinagar- Leh
motor-road was finally constructed.
However, the most lucrative trade of the region remained the making of
the world-famous pashmina (better known as cashmere) shawls known for
their exceptional softness, delicacy and warmth that were produced in
the high altitudes of eastern Ladakh and western Tibet and were
transported to Srinagar via Leh. The irony is that it is this very trade
that attracted the greedy eyes of Gulab Singh, Jammu's ruler to this
independent kingdom resulting in a decade long war and turmoil. With the
ascent of the British, Ladakh along with neighboring Baltistan became a
part of Jammu & Kashmir. After the partition in 1947, Baltistan
moved over to the territories of Pakistan while Ladakh is still in India
as an integral part of the J&K state.
