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I due studiosi hanno soggiornato fra le valli himalayane dal '74 al '76 rilevando e studiando affreschi ed elementi in loro possesso con i dati precedentemente raccolti da Francke e da Tucci.
Nel 1977, Snellgrove rimane bloccato dalla neve in Ladakh e solo l'intervento di Indira Ghandi gli permetterà di salire su un aereo militare (I voli passeggeri iniziarono solo nel 1984).
Ladakh existed as an independent western Tibetan Kingdom until 1834 when it was finally taken over by the rulers of Jammu and Kashmir, thus becoming an integral part of India. It has, however, remained one of the few regions where Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan way of life continue to flourish. Till 1974 the entry was generally denied to outsiders for security reasons but now it is possible for western scholars to visit Ladakh. Professor Snellgrove and Tadeusz Skorupski were the first to do so in 1974 when this ban was lifted, staying there through the hard winter months when the passes are blocked and the religious life is especially active.
This highly illustrated study presents new material for the history of Ladakh culture and religion, focussing on their rich traditions of art and architecture. Despite the passage of so many warring and marauding armies in the past, Ladakh still preserves important traces of that early Tibetan Buddhist period when pure Indian influences were predominant. The 11th century monastery of Alchi which has remained practically intact is studied in great detail in this book, as are other later monasteries and forts of religious and historical interest.
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The Cultural Heritage of Ladakh
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