Kumik in Zanskar becomes Ladakh’s first Heritage Village

LG Saxena declares remote Zanskar settlement heritage village during Zanskar Festival; highlights preservation of Buddhist manuscripts, traditions

LEH: In a significant step towards preserving Ladakh’s living cultural heritage, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday declared Kumik village in Zanskar as the first Heritage Village of Ladakh, coinciding with the ongoing Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2026.

Located in the remote Zanskar Valley, Kumik is distinguished by its traditional houses, sacred spaces, agricultural practices and age-old customs that have remained integral to the community’s way of life. The village is also recognised for preserving a rich Buddhist textual tradition, including precious Kanjur manuscripts and other Tibetan Buddhist materials, reflecting its historical role as a centre of faith, knowledge and scholarship.

In his announcement, the LG described the designation as a “profound privilege”, underlining that Kumik represents a distinct and important facet of Zanskar’s cultural history. Beyond its physical structures, the village preserves traditions and knowledge that have been passed down through generations.

Calling Kumik a “vibrant, living heritage” rather than a monument frozen in time, Saxena said its preservation was not merely about protecting old structures or religious texts, but about recognising the resilience of Himalayan communities and celebrating the cultural soul of Ladakh.

The declaration also reflects the broader vision of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi”—development along with heritage preservation—espoused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative seeks to place cultural conservation alongside development while ensuring that communities and their living traditions remain central to heritage preservation.

Kumik’s recognition as Ladakh’s first Heritage Village is expected to provide greater institutional focus to the conservation of its traditional built environment, cultural practices and textual heritage, while highlighting Zanskar’s contribution to the wider cultural and intellectual history of the Himalayan region.