The Initiative

Given its dramatic location and history, Dhangkar has the potential of becoming a prime tourist destination. However, due to lack of adequate visitor facilities, endangered condition of several parts of the historic monastery and citadel as well as a lack of visitor interpretation facilities and activities, few visitors stay on at Dhangkar for any length of time. Thus the opportunities for economic benefits accruing to the local community remain virtually untapped. Further, the lack of any conservation programme for the site is also leading to its rapid deterioration, and unless swift action is taken to stabilize it, we will lose this precious symbol of Vajrayana Buddhist heritage.

Recognizing the seriousness of this situation Dhangkar has been listed as one of the World's Hundred Most Endangered Sites by the World Monuments Watch programme of the World Monuments Fund (see www.wmf.org )

To develop a sustainable conservation strategy for the site, it is imperative that it includes an overall tourism plan for Dhangkar. This will not only ensure regular maintenance and periodic repair of the building but would also serve to generate much needed income for both the monastic as well as the village communities.

It is with this aim in mind that the Dhangkar Initiative has been launched.

There are 2 aspects to the project – firstly Restoration, and secondly Eco-tourism and Livelihood Generation for the local community. Both aspects must go hand in hand so that the benefits of restoration can be enjoyed by both the gompa as well as the local communities belonging to the 8 villages that fall under the gompa.

A brief history

The idea of the Dhangkar Initiative germinated in 2002, during Kishore Thukral's first visit to Spiti to research local legends and folktales for his book, Spiti through Legend and Lore . He had been there earlier too on three occasions, safaring, camping and trekking. However it was only in 2002, when he visited Dhangkar to research its legend and lore that he was struck by the condition of the gompa. The entire complex is steeped in history, yet it has been pushed it into a state of abject disrepair, more due to a paucity of funds rather than intent.

Back in Kaza, Thukral discussed the idea with the Nono, Sonam Angdui, who was equally keen to see the fort and the temples restored to their original glory. However, tucked as they are in this remote valley of the Himalayas, the greatest challenge was one of drawing attention to Dhangkar. For over 2 years thereafter the idea lay in cold storage, until one day in 2004 when Kishore Thukral chanced upon a film on television on the restoration of the Mustang monastery in Nepal. An internet search on the restorers and conservationists working there led to the discovery of the World Monuments Fund. The WMF was at the time inviting applications for listing of endangered sites on its watch list. Thukral returned to Spiti to discuss the possibility with the Nono and the lamas of Dhangkar. Finally, with the blessings of Khentrul Rinpoche and the invaluable input by Tara Sharma, the application was filed. The results came out in June 2005. Dhangkar was recognized by the World Monuments Fund as one of the hundred most endangered sites in the world (see www.wmf.org ).

The next step was to set up a Co-ordination Committee that would oversee and guide the entire project. Keeping in mind the size and importance of the project, we formed a large committee consisting of the Nono, senior lamas, leaders of the village communities, senior government functionaries, representatives of our partner NGOs and others who are keenly interested in the project.