preserving basgo: a conservation approach for castle and gompa

Abstract

Basgo, once a significant political and spiritual center in Ladakh, now lies partially in ruins, weathered by time, climate, and neglect. The site, known for its fortress and Maitreya temples, played a key role in the military and religious history of the Namgyal dynasty. Today, despite its historical, architectural, and cultural importance, it is not protected under any formal heritage legislation. Constructed primarily using local materials such as thetsa, dzasa, and thabsa, Basgo represents a highly evolved tradition of earth-based construction. These materials were not chosen randomly but based on generations of experience with Ladakh’s climate, seismic activity, and available resources. The techniques used here, from rammed earth walls to layered earthen plasters, are deeply rooted in local knowledge systems, passed down orally and shaped by lived experience. Yet these traditions, like the structures themselves, are at risk of being forgotten or replaced by modern interventions that do not respond to the site’s context. This thesis explores Basgo as both a historic monument and a living system of material and cultural knowledge. Through documentation, material study, and value assessment, the project makes a case not only for the physical conservation of the site, but also for the recognition of the intangible practices that sustain it. The goal is to contribute towards a more informed, sensitive, and locally grounded approach to heritage management in the region — one that sees value in what is often overlooked, and urgency in what is slowly fading.