Ladakh existed as an independent western Tibetan Kingdom until 1834 when it was finally taken over by the rulers of Jammu and Kashmir, thus becoming an integral part of India. It has, however, remained one of the few regions where Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan way of life continue to flourish. During the last 26 years entry has been generally denied to outsiders for security reasons and only recently has it been possible for western scholars to visit Ladakh. Professor Snellgrove and Tadeusz Skorupski were the first to do so in 1974 when this ban was lifted, staying there through the hard winter months when the passes are blocked and the religious life is especially active. This highly illustrated study presents new material for the history of Ladakh culture and religion, focussing on their rich traditions of art and architecture. Despite the passage of so many warring and marauding armies in the past, Ladakh still preserves important traces of that early Tibetan Buddhist period when pure Indian influences were predominant. The 11th century monastery of Alchi which has remained practically intact is studied in great detail in this book, as are other later monasteries and forts of religious and historical interest.

Essai réalisé suite à l'ouverture des frontières du Ladakh pour les chercheurs en 1974, cet ouvrage présente l'histoire et la culture du Ladakh, en s'appuyant sur la riche tradition architecturale et picturale du pays. Le Ladakh possède en effet d'importants témoignages de peinture tibétaine de l'ancienne période bouddhiste, à une époque où l'influence de la peinture indienne était dominante. L'ouvrage étudie également de manière détaillée le monastère d'Alchi, resté quasiment intact depuis le 11e siècle.