Echoes from a Moonland: A Visual Odyssey in Ladakh
Belgian photographer Yuri Andries captures the surreal essence of Ladakh, a mystical region in northern India.
A serene Buddha gazes over Ladakh, India.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
Nestled in the remote northern reaches of India lies Ladakh, a mystical “Moonland” characterized by its stark alpine desert. Hidden within this barren landscape are Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, overshadowed by some of the world’s most majestic mountains. Isolated for centuries due to its geopolitical location, Ladakh only welcomed tourists in the 1970s. Today, photographers like Yuri Andries journey to this once inaccessible realm to unveil its enigmatic contrasts through his series, Moonland.
After hours of solitary driving, Yuri Andries encountered a nomadic shepherd. “He likely hadn’t seen another soul in ages,” Andries mused. With a sense of calm, the shepherd tended to his sheep. The two sat together, accompanied by the shepherd’s dog. It was a moment Andries felt compelled to capture, transforming the encounter into an evocative image.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
The ice stupa stands as a testament to innovation, making glacial waters accessible for summer crops.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
Meme Lay, a monk, stands in silent reflection by a window in Ladakh, India.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
An apricot tree, defying the barren alpine desert, blooms with life.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
Near the village of Chumathang, the secluded region is famed for its natural hot springs.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
Solar energy powers the Druk White Lotus School in Shey, Ladakh.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
Under the towering peaks, a herd of long-haired yaks huddles together.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
After a day at the Tibetan Buddhist school in Shey, a pair of students make their way home.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
Ladakh’s Enigmatic Tapestry: A Journey Through Contradictions
“Ladakh hums with tension,” muses Yuri Andries. “Yet, it’s undeniably a realm of enchantment.”
Nestled in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh occupies a strategic nexus of ancient trade routes, caught in the crosshairs of a territorial tug-of-war among China, India, and Pakistan. Its rugged terrain, interspersed with Indian military outposts, remains largely desolate, allowing travelers to traverse its otherworldly landscape for hours, often in solitude.
Determined to unveil the hidden tapestry of Ladakh’s diverse communities, Andries mounted a motorbike to explore the high-altitude enclaves of Tibetan Buddhists, Shia Muslims, and the scattered Sunni and Christian populations. These remote villages, linked by rugged trails devoid of modern conveniences like phone signals, internet, or gas stations, seem almost untouched by time.
A red-billed chough soars over the arid dunes near Hunder, epitomizing the stark beauty of Ladakh’s alpine desert.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
Students engage with their surroundings outside the Lamdon School, dedicated to preserving Ladakhi heritage.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
At the Lamdon School in Leh, Ladakh’s largest town, prayer flags flutter in a welcome gesture to the students.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
“Entering a Buddhist village, you’re greeted with open arms,” Andries recounts. “They offer you chai, perhaps even momos. Though language barriers persist, it’s the shared moments and mutual trust that define the experience.”
These intimate connections against the backdrop of isolation form the heart of Andries’ work. “For me, it’s a portrait of this place,” he says. “I don’t seek to glorify Ladakh; I simply wish for its people to see the world I’m revealing to them.”
Echoes of Resilience: Ladakh’s Balancing Act
A young student finds solace in meditation at the Druk White Lotus School, a place where the practice begins early in life.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YURI ANDRIES
Yet beneath the serene surface, Ladakh faces an emerging challenge: the encroachment of tourism is stretching its natural resources thin. The glaciers, once reliable sources of water for agriculture, now contend with the creeping specter of climate change.
In this crucible of adversity, the mountaineers of Ladakh offer the world a lesson in sustainability forged through centuries of hardship. Their traditional earthen construction techniques echo the wisdom of ages, high altitudes lend themselves to harnessing solar power, and farm-stays invite visitors to engage directly with the land in exchange for a bed.
Amid this landscape, Andries discovered SECMOL, an ecological school and village founded by the visionary Sonam Wangchuk. Wangchuk’s groundbreaking ice stupa technology channels mountain streams into towering ice structures that mimic Buddhist stupas. These artificial glaciers, sculpted by winter’s chill, melt in summer to bolster water supplies for crops.
In Ladakh’s expanses, where white stupas—both man-made and natural—punctuate the barren terrain and prayer flags flutter across remote plateaus, a new harmony between tradition and innovation emerges. Andries, inspired by this juxtaposition, reflects, “I aimed to reveal a realm where the viewer can truly believe in the splendor of a hidden paradise.”
The Reference Article ラダックの奇跡：持続可能な未来への道
