Ladakh: The Land of Gold: A History of Prospecting in the Trans-Himalayas of India

Once renowned as an entrepot within the Trans-Himalayan trade networks, Ladakh, the northernmost region of India, occupied a pivotal position linking the subcontinent with Tibet and Central Asia. 

Both historical and ethnographic in approach, Ladakh: The Land of Gold traces the region’s past through the enduring pursuit of gold and examines how this precious metal shaped Ladakh’s encounters with empires, culture, and religion. Drawing on extensive archival and archaeological resources, as well as rare oral testimonies recorded during his travels, the author advances a new interpretive framework for understanding Ladakh’s history. 

Rigzin Samphel is a Ladakh based freelance writer and researcher. This is his first publication.