Responsible/Sustainable Tourism
The way Lchang Nang’s operations are designed, they ensure that the local communities are involved and hence benefit financially.
Local Produce : Most of the produce is sourced from the organic garden and from the local village as far as possible; the sea buckthorn juice is from a local women’s collective who sustainably harvest it locally. Cows are fed appropriate leftovers supplemented by alfalfa and willow trimmings. The milk from these cows is used in the kitchen and processed in to milk, butter and curd. A gift shop and art gallery promotes art and crafts from the community as well as local produce from Ammalley – an initiative dedicated to Rigzin’s mother.
Local Activties : Many of the activities like village walks encourage visits to local Ladakhi Kitchens with a paid entry and also visits to the monasteries raise awareness about the architecture and cultural significance of these places of worship. Local dance troupes perform traditional dances in traditional attire at the hotel allowing for preservation of traditions.
Local villagers come and trim verdant foliage such as alfalfa for the winters as fodder for the barren months. Local women are employed for housekeeping and gardening purposes. While building, locals were hired and built with sundried mud bricks, stones, wood (no cement was used), all sourced locally. A local temple artist was hired to paint Buddhist motifs on the walls and ceilings inspired by age old temple art.
Lchang Nang is the first traditionally built hotel in the region. It helped revive the old sustainable techniques of housing and gave immense confidence and pride to the locals that a commercial project can be undertaken using completely local techniques and skills. Villagers are routinely given a tour of the property, to showcase the environment friendly initiatives undertaken. The village youth and children are taught about the initiatives and encouraged to replicate the sustainable practices.
Renewable Energy : Every aspect from running the property to its architecture and activities presents the perfect example of sensitive land use, using renewable energy and engaging the community. Lchang Nang is the only property in the entire region of Ladakh and beyond which is totally powered by an in-house captive solar power plant, meeting all the energy needs of the resort for kitchen appliances and water heaters. Each cottage has its own solar water heater, offering hot water at any hour of the day. All cottages have been built using solar passive technique, where the windows are oriented towards south to trap maximum sun in the winters/early spring/autumn and less sunlight in the summers. Biodegradable toiletries and amenities are used.
Water and its conservation : Guests enjoy the luxury of drinking pure energy free glacial water, a healthy connection to Mother Earth that is impossible elsewhere in India, and further a reduction of reliance on single-use plastics. The glacial water that is high in Calcium and minerals is safe for all. Water is channelled through the property in a gravity-fed traditional Ladakhi Flood Irrigation Technique, fostering dynamic lakes and streams and supporting all kinds of life throughout the grounds.
Waste is segregated and wet waste is composted and manure used in the organic garden. Other waste is segregated for recycling. Guests and staff are encouraged to pick up plastic litter in handmade locally sourced baskets while on village walks.
As Lchang Nang is operational for only 6 months in a year (the summer months), initially staff retention was a problem. Have recently tied up with properties in other parts of India, where the working seasons complement each other for sharing resources. This also gives increased exposure to the staff and teaches them how to work in different conditions and handle new situations, thus enriching their existing skillset and boosting their self-confidence.
