Speaking Stones: Rock Art of Ladakh

This is a heads up for everyone who loves Ladakh (and don’t we all?) and especially for Delhi folk…there is a fascinating photographic exhibition at the India International Centre on the rock art of Ladakh.

The exhibition “Speaking Stones: Rock Art of Ladakh” by photographer and writer, Ahtushi Deshpande, showcases her decade long documentation of the rock art of Ladakh.

Having visited the Domkhar Rock Art Sanctuary in 2014, shortly after it was created, some of Ms Deshpande’s images were familiar, but what I hadn’t realised, until seeing the exhibition, is that rock art is found all over the state, and she has meticulously mapped and documented every site.

We were fortunate enough to meet Ms Deshpande, who was charming and eloquent, and we swapped stories about a part of the country that is clearly a shared favourite. Sadly, she explained that some of the amazing art she has photographed and written about has disappeared – either through the ravages of time, or, more prosaically, to make way for building.

The photos are glorious and, as an aside, beautifully printed (my husband was very interested in that aspect!)

Stunning panoramas of Leh and Pangong Tso.

There was a specific request not to take photos in the exhibition, so the images in this post are all downloaded from the internet.

The exhibition is on until May 28th and is free.

I had never met Ms Deshpande until this afternoon and she doesn’t even know my name, let alone that I blog. Matlab, this is a genuine review, from the heart.

Do go see it, and start instantly pining for Ladakh – guaranteed.