Accommodation has always been an integral part of travel. When chosen right, the places you stay in can offer more than just providing a safe space to retire after a day full of exploring a destination. These experiential properties nurture your need for slow travel, engage you with their sustainable hospitality offerings, and give you a glimpse of the socio-cultural aspects of the region. In their own way, they add value to your overall travel experience, especially when traveling across a unique destination.
In this article, we have two such stays in Ladakh that offer insight into the local culture and traditions while also ensuring that the time you spend here is nothing short of a luxurious one –
Lchang Nang Retreat in Nubra Valley
Lchang Nang, which translates to ‘house of trees,’ is a peaceful retreat located amidst an orchard of elm, apricot, and apple trees. Situated in Sumur, a village near Diskit town, the property is an ideal stop to explore the monasteries, wildlife, and culture of Nubra Valley.
Staying at the retreat offers a hands-on experience of sustainable hospitality and slow travel. The retreat is on a mission to reduce the carbon footprint of its region – prioritizing eco-friendly practices like harnessing solar energy, reducing plastic usage, providing filtered glacial snowmelt for drinking and bathing, and preserving the 25 acres (about the area of Chicago’s Millennium Park) of grazing land that has been transformed into a thriving scrub habitat. They have 17 cottages, all built in the local architectural style, using locally available materials like mud, stone, and wood from locally grown poplar trees. Each of them features private gardens and sit-outs, and the interiors have a soothing ambiance with white distressed walls, black oxide floors, and contemporary furniture.
The produce used in their kitchen is cultivated on their farms. A delightful little gift shop and art gallery showcase the art and crafts created by the local community. They also employ local women for housekeeping and gardening, thus empowering them and fostering a strong sense of community. They offer guided village walks, stargazing, unique dining options, and explorations on mountain bikes. A number of local excursions provide a close look at the valley’s resilient communities, allowing you to understand and appreciate their challenging way of life truly.
The Apricot Tree, located on a gentle slope with a lovely view of the Indus River, is a 90-minute drive from Leh Airport. It is styled like a modern resort, with comfortable furnishings complemented by appealing color palettes and well-selected images of the area used as decor. The middle courtyard is a gathering spot to share memorable moments, tell a few stories, and relax around a campfire.
The rooms have balconies with fantastic views of the Indus River and the woods below. On the other side of the river, you might catch sight of ridaks (deer) coming to quench their thirst. And every now and then, golden orioles fly by to their nests in the nearby woods as well.
The property pays homage to Ladakh’s enduring traditions by displaying Ladakhi architectural practices and using native building materials. The restaurant creates a menu that highlights the best of Ladakhi cuisine, using products from the organic garden and local farmers. It is also among the handful of hotels in Ladakh that encourage local art and display the creations of established and new talent within the hotel. The Apricot Tree works closely with the Ladakh Arts and Media Organisation (LAMO), a local arts organization, to promote local painters, sculptors, and ceramicists.
The Apricot Tree is an excellent starting point for visiting Ladakh’s oldest monasteries, Avalokiteshvara statues, petroglyphs, festivals, walks, hikes, birdwatching, white water rafting, cultural and local music programs, vegetable garden, storytelling sessions, picnic lunches, and learning about local cuisine.
Your in-hotel experience counts for much more than a comfortable bed or an array of modern amenities. Staying in these two hotels in Ladakh gives you an opportunity to learn about the local ways of life, the vernacular architecture, and the traditional methods of responsible living while also bringing the concept of sustainable hospitality to the forefront.
Would you like to learn more about Ladakh and experience the Ladakhi way of life? Connect with us at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to curate the journey of a lifetime for you.
