Plaything of history
By: Louk Vreeswijk
| Aperture: | f/3.8 |
|---|---|
| Focal Length: | 31.05mm |
| ISO: | 800 |
| Shutter: | 1/0 sec |
| Camera: | DMC-FZ1000 |
At the end of the Shyok River Valley, Turtuk is the last major village in the northwest corner of Ladakh, close to the – contested – border with Pakistan. It’s a little enclave of predominantly Balti people. Since the 1971 war it is cut off from the larger Baltistan region which is part of Pakistan.
Interestingly, the Baltis don’t have Tibetan features but their culture and language have clear Tibetan roots. The Baltis have been buddhists for a long time and became muslims only since a few hundred years.
A small museum in the village aims to preserve the cultural heritage and way of life of the Baltis. Wonderful people, playthings of history.
Photo of the week: At the Balti Heritage Museum, Turtuk, Ladakh, India 2019
καιρός remembered 
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