Dhahanu (The Land of Aryans)... 
The villages of Dha and Hanu are situated at a distance of approximately 163 km to the northwest of the town of Leh. In this area, you will find a number of villages. However, tourists are allowed to visit the villages of Dah and Hanu only. Being situated on a lower altitude, these villages experience a climate that is a little warmer than that of Leh. One of the major attractions of Dha & Hanu is a chance to have a glimpse into the life of the Drokpa community.
About Dha Hanu... At the confluence of the rivers Shayok and Indus in the Kargil region west of Leh live a people known as Drok-pa. They are racially and culturally distinct from the rest of Ladakhis.  Their religious practices more so resemble the animist practices of the pre-Buddhist religion Bon than that of Buddhism as practiced in the rest of Ladakh. One curious cultural feature is their abhorrence of the cow or any of its products. Their ancient traditions and way of life are partly preserved through their songs and hymns. One of these is a description of an ibex hunt and the ibex is specially sacred to them. Another recalls their migration from the Gilgit region further west in Pakistan, an event which must have occurred well before Gilgit came under the influence of Islam. Their language is said to be akin to that spoken in Gilgit and by immigrants from Gilgit settled in Dras south of Kargil. Their facial features, however, as well as their head and dress ornaments are the most striking and first noticeable as one encounters them. Whereas Ladakh's population seems to be mostly of Tibetan origin, they are of pure Indo-Aryan stock, believed perhaps to have descended from the army of Alexander of Macedonia. Today they number around two thousand inhabitants settled in five villages.
Land of Aryans... Dhahanu is situated to the south west of Leh, around 163 Kms. passing through the beautiful villages of Kaltsey, Domkhar, Skurbuchan and Achinathang. There are many small villages but only two villages of Dha and Hanu are open for tourist. Being on lower altitude Dhahanu is warmer than Leh. This community is believed to be the last race of Aryans, confined to the valley. With their pure Aryan features, these people seemed to have preserved their racial purity down the centuries. However, as far as their culture as well as religious practices is concerned, they come up as quite alike the ancient pre- Buddhist religion, known as Bon-Chos. Tourism in Dhahanu, Ladakh, is still not so popular and a tour takes only two days, with the nights being spent in tents. More About Ladakh...  |