India's first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Leh's Sindhu Ghat shaping up

Srinagar: Lieutenant governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, on Tuesday said work on India's first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh, is progressing rapidly, with 31 ancient rock arts already relocated and preserved at the site.

In an official communication, Saxena informed that these petroglyphs, measuring 4 feet to 17 feet in circumference and weighing 500 kg to 10 MT, have been relocated from Saboo Thang.

"A total of 155 Petroglyphs would be preserved at the Conservation Park in the first phase," he said. These "petroglyphs are invaluable records of our civilisational journey and cultural identity", he said. The park will house petroglyphs collected from vulnerable and isolated locations across Ladakh, and is targeted to be completed by this September.


"The Petroglyph Conservation Park is a historic initiative to preserve Ladakh's priceless archaeological heritage for future generations. By relocating vulnerable petroglyphs to a scientifically managed conservation park, we are protecting an invaluable chapter of India's civilisational legacy from the threats of natural degradation and human activities. This initiative reflects our commitment to preserving Ladakh's unique cultural heritage while creating a world-class centre for heritage education, research and responsible cultural tourism," said Saxena.

Rock carvings depict Distinctive wildlife

The rock carvings predominantly depict distinctive Ladakhi wildlife such as ibex, yak, argali, blue sheep, dogs and other wildlife, along with scenes of hunting, hunters, warriors, footprints and other symbolic representations.

The distribution of the carvings also reflects the ecological diversity of Ladakh, with ibex figures commonly found in the lower valleys of Sham and Purig while yak and argali dominate the higher reaches of Changthang.