Alchi is a village in the Sham district of Ladakh, India. It is located in the Saspol tehsil, on the banks of the Indus River 70 km (43.49miles) downstream from the capital Leh. Unlike the other gompas in Ladakh, Alchi is situated on lowland, not on a hilltop.Schettler, Margaret & Rolf. (1981) Kashmir, Ladakh & Zanskar. Lonely Planet, South Yarra, Vic., Australia, p. 104.
The Alchi Monastery or Alchi Gompa lies about 65 km (40.3miles) from Leh on the banks of the Indus River.
History Alchi has long been distinguished by its isolation and rich heritage. In ancient times, access to the village was possible only via a hanging bridge made of ropes and sticks. To preserve their exclusivity, the villagers would often remove the bridge, deterring unwanted visitors. Those wishing to enter had to call out to the locals to lower the bridge, often waiting in patience while the residents delayed their response. This practice gave rise to the name Halchi from "Ha", the sound made in response, and "lchid", meaning heavy or late, marking the villagers as slow responders. Over time, the name evolved into Alchi, the form known today.
The village has one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh (a national heritage) Alchi Monastery, mainly known for its magnificent and well-preserved 11th- or 12th-century wall paintings, all in an Indo-Himalayan style.Rizvi (1996), p. 60. The monastery houses thousands of rare and unique sculptures and paintings back to 11th-century Western Tibet.
Demographics According to the 2011 census of India, Alchi has 145 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 72.51%.
+ Demographics (2011 Census) Total Male Female Population 932 575 357 Children aged below 6 years 88 46 42 Scheduled caste 0 0 0 Scheduled tribe 712 355 357 Literates 612 422 190 Workers (all) 577 420 157 Main workers (total) 471 400 71 Main workers: Cultivators 118 99 19 Main workers: Agricultural labourers 18 4 14 Main workers: Household industry workers 1 0 1 Main workers: Other 334 297 37 Marginal workers (total) 106 20 86 Marginal workers: Cultivators 64 2 62 Marginal workers: Agricultural labourers 36 12 24 Marginal workers: Household industry workers 0 0 0 Marginal workers: Others 6 6 0 Non-workers 355 155 200
References
External links
Alchi monastery April 2010 Smithsonian Magazine Article