The union territory of Leh Ladakh is among favourite holiday destinations for tourists. Those who want something beyond the typical hill-station experience, flock towards Ladakh to escape the heat and noise of big cities. The Land of High Passes, as it is called, welcomes both domestic and international tourists and they receive warm hospitality of Ladakhi people.
A typical Leh Ladakh itinerary includes visits to Leh Palace, Thiksey Monastery, Pangong Tso, Nubra Valley and Shanti Stupa.
Leh Ladakh is seen as one of the prime destinations for adventure tourism. However, if you seek more of a cultural-based tourism experience, you should go on food tours or visit local markets. Enjoy a homestay and live with a local family or attend some Ladakhi festivals. Such experiences will help you get a deeper understanding of Ladakhi people, their customs, traditions and culture.
Another interesting aspect to learn about Ladakh and its people is the kind of dresses, footwear and jewellery they wear. People’s traditional clothing is a marker of their identity, history, and cultural norms. The fabrics, materials, designs, colours and patterns, all narrate a story of what it means to belong to that particular culture.
India’s UT Leh Ladakh, too, has its interesting set of traditional dresses and jewellery that represents religious beliefs, climatic conditions and social status. The rearing of animals like goats, yaks, and sheep have enabled people to create good quality jackets, shawls, caps etc. The pashmina wool shawls made by Ladakhi people are said to be as light as air, but are actually quite warm.
Types of Ladakhi Dresses and Traditional Jewellery
Traditional clothing in Ladakh is more than a piece of fabric to cover oneself and protect from weather, rather it’s a piece of style statement and a cultural hallmark. Different tribes and communities have a unique set of dresses and jewelleries that they adorn, let’s look at them one by one.
Table of contents:
- Ladakhi Male Robe: Gos or Goncha
- Ladakhi Female Robe: Sulma
- Ladakhi Headdress (Jewellery): Perak and Jugin
- Ladakhi Cloak: Yogar or Lokpa
- Ladakhi Changpa Clothing
- Ladakhi Hat/Cap: Tipi and Ser-po Tibi (Zanskari cap)
- Ladakhi Jewelley: Gau, Skecha, Halqaband
1. Ladakhi Male Robe: Gos or Goncha
Goncha, alternatively called Gos or Kos, is a large-sized robe that is worn in Ladakh by men. The pattern and style of this Ladakhi robe is said to have been influenced by Tibetan-style pot-zo, Chinese-styled gyazo and Mongolian-styled sokzo. Over time, the designs evolved and gave rise to what we know today as Ladakhi goncha. This dress is made from materials like cotton, polyester, wool and velvet. During wedding ceremonies, Goncha worn by the groom is made from plush material like wool, silk or velvet.
The Goncha is wrapped like a robe on one-side and has a Mandarin-style collar. The robe has knee-length height with slits on side and is secured with a belt around the waist called skeyraks which also acts like a pocket. This is where men store their cash and other utilities. In parts of Nubra and Kargil, the muslim men wear a choga which is like an open long woolen jacket. This jacket (Choga) also features bright floral motifs. Typically the main colours of Goncha are beige, grey, black, burgundy, or earth tones.
2. Ladakhi Female Robe: Sulma
Most Ladakhi women wear a robe called Sulma which is a full-length dress. Unlike their male-counterparts, the long robes or Sulma they wear are available in bright and attractive colours. Even though a Ladakhi dress, the influences of Tibetan and Central Asian clothing is visible on the sulma. Both regions share similar climatic conditions, hence it’s no surprise that the dresses share common similarities.
Sulmas are made from materials like wool, silk, brocade and velvet. It has a round neck and long sleeves with a knee-length slit. The robe has no button and is secured with a belt made of fabric. Under this robe, Ladakhi women wear a loose blouse called greslen. The skirt worn under sulma is voluminous and does not restrict movement. Women can wear them and move freely, going about their business everyday.
3. Ladakhi Headdress (Jewellery): Perak and Jugin
Ladakhi headgears are part of elaborative accessories that women carry (Ladakhi brides) with great pride. The first one is Perak/Perag and the word means ‘lotus cover’ in the local language. This headwear is easily recognisable from far as it is adorned with beautiful and captivating turquoise stones called yu. This accessory is dotted with gold and silver along with pearls, and coral.
Perak is also a symbol of family heirloom. It is given by mothers to their daughters. The headpiece starts off as a big turquoise stone on the forehead and takes the shape of a hood (much like a serpent). Then it fans out in several lines of turquoise from middle of the back of the head to all the way down. Ladakhi Muslim women (brides) wear a headdress called Jugin. This head piece alone differentiates them from the Buddhist women and gives a unique identity. It is made with a piece of gold which has tassels hanging on the forehead made of tiny pearls. A cream or an off-white soft fabric drape is wrapped around the head and face of the bride to cover her.
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4. Ladakhi Cloak: Yogar & Lokpa
Yogar and Lokpa are capes used by Ladakhi women to cover their backs and protect themselves from harsh winters. Lokpa is made from sheep or Himalayan goat’s wool and keeps the body warm. Yogar on the other hand is made of cotton, brocade or silk and has tassels hanging, giving a feather like appearance to the cape. Yogar also has embroidery and looks more embellished than Lokpa. The former is worn on special occasions and weddings considering its beauty and attractiveness. While the latter is much more easy-going and simpler in terms of design.
5. Ladakhi Changpa Clothing
In east Ladakh, near the Chinese border, lives the Changpa community in Changthang plateau. They are a semi-nomadic tribe whose dresses, dialects, and lifestyle varies from the rest of the Ladakhi tribes. They wear a thick white robe made from sheep wool and are called Kos Kar or Lawa Goncha. These robes are dense in layers and extremely warm, and help the Changpa people to brave the spine-chilling glacial winters of Leh ladakh. The shoes they wear are also made from sheep wool and skin that helps them walk and navigate the rugged terrain of Changthang plateau.
6. Ladakhi Hat/Cap: Tipi and Ser-po Tibi (Zanskari cap)
First let’s talk about the Tipi. A cap or hat is called Tipi or Tibi in Ladakhi language. This cap is shaped like a small bucket with edges turned upward to the sky. Both Ladakhi men and women of the Buddhist community wear Tipi on special occasions like festivals or weddings. The tipi of men is made with silk and comes in monochrome shades, whereas women wear bright and attractive coloured tipis on their head. Women’s tipi too are made from brocade and silk. People living in Zanskar Valley wear a tipi made of Nambu, a soft wool. It has more of a Kashmiri influence.
7. Ladakhi Jewelley: Gau, Skecha, Halqaband
- Gau or Kau is a silver and gold heavy necklace worn by Ladakhi women on the day of their wedding.
- Skecha is a set of layered two or three necklaces made from silver, gold or gold plated and turquoise stones. It is worn as an amulet and reflects the influence of North Indian motifs.
- Halqaband is a necklace with Kashmiri influence on it. It is made from gold or silver, but in earlier times it was made of brass.
We hope that on your next visit to Ladakh tour, you will have an immersive experience of the culture. Having knowledge and understanding of communities you are visiting and staying respectful makes traveling an enriching experience.
