Ladakh Administration has declared 23 heritage sites across the Union Territory as Protected Monuments under the Jammu and Kashmir Ancient Monuments Preservation Act

Ladakh Administration has declared 23 heritage sites across the Union Territory as Protected Monuments under the Jammu and Kashmir Ancient Monuments Preservation Act

¨     Ladakh Administration has declared 23 heritage sites across the Union Territory as Protected Monuments under the Jammu and Kashmir Ancient Monuments Preservation Act.

¨     The notified sites include petroglyph clusters, rock carvings, ancient caves, Buddhist monasteries (gompas), forts, palaces, and inscriptions.

¨     These sites have been granted legal protection due to their archaeological, historical, and cultural significance.

¨     A Protected Monument is a site, structure, or object that receives legal protection under heritage law for its preservation and conservation.

¨     Legal protection helps prevent unauthorised construction, encroachment, and alteration within the notified area.

¨     Major notified sites include the Petroglyph Site at Sharnos, the Maitreya Buddha Rock Carving at Shey near Sindhu Ghat, Tingmosgang Fort, Ancient Caves at Saspol, Stongday Gonpa, Sumoor Fort, and the rock inscriptions at Yourbaltak in Kargil.

¨     Petroglyphs are rock engravings created by prehistoric or early historic communities.

¨     Gompas are Buddhist monasteries commonly found in the Trans-Himalayan region.

¨     These heritage sites represent Ladakh's archaeological, cultural, and historical legacy spanning different periods.