The Tibetans of Ladakh by Paula Bronstein

Tibetan prayer flags fly over t...altitude mountainous landscape.

Tibetan prayer flags fly over the city of Leh at 12,000 ft above sea level in Ladakh, India. Ladakh also known as "Little Tibet" has always had a very strong Tibetan Buddhist culture dating back hundreds of years with monasteries and mystic lamas covering its high altitude mountainous landscape.

In the Chang Tang region of Eas...e Tibet living near the border.

In the Chang Tang region of Eastern Ladakh a Tibetan nomadic mother holds her baby outside their tent living on the high altitude mountainous terrain of Ladakh, India near the Chinese Tibetan border. At least 2.25 million, a third of Tibetans live nomadic or semi-nomadic life, a way of life that is an intrinsic part of Tibetan society. Inside China efforts have intensified where forced relocation into ghetto style housing is becoming more common continues They have lost that way of life forever, resettled nomads are forced to sell their animals so many flee Tibet living near the border.

A Tibetan woman walks by a Tibe...altitude mountainous landscape.

A Tibetan woman walks by a Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel at one of the 13 Tibetan refugee communities housing around 8,000 Tibetan families in exile in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India. Ladakh also known as "Little Tibet" has always had a very strong Tibetan Buddhist culture dating back hundreds of years with monasteries and mystic lamas covering its high altitude mountainous landscape.

A Tibetan pilgrim prays in fron...e in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India.

A Tibetan pilgrim prays in front of Tibetan Buddhist stupa nearby one of the 13 Tibetan refugee communities housing around 8,000 Tibetan families in exile in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India.

In the Chang Tang region of Eas...ving in a home for the elderly.

In the Chang Tang region of Eastern Ladakh, an 85 year old woman spins her prayer wheel living in a home for the elderly.

A Tibetan woman carrying a pray...e in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India.

A Tibetan woman carrying a prayer wheel walks by a Tibetan Buddhist stupa during her daily visit for prayer at one of the 13 Tibetan refugee communities housing around 8,000 Tibetan families in exile in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India.

In the Chang Tang region of Eastern Ladakh a Tibetan nomadic family sits outside their tent as a hard wind blows sand in their faces, living on the high altitude mountainous terrain of Ladakh, India near the Chinese Tibetan border. At least 2.25 million, a third of Tibetans live nomadic or semi-nomadic life, a way of life that is an intrinsic part of Tibetan society. Inside China efforts have intensified where forced relocation into ghetto style housing is becoming more common continues They have lost that way of life forever, resettled nomads are forced to sell their animals so many flee Tibet living near the border.

In the Chang Tang region of Eastern Ladakh a Tibetan nomadic woman collects dung for cooking, living on the high altitude mountainous terrain of Ladakh, India near the Chinese Tibetan border. At least 2.25 million, a third of Tibetans live nomadic or semi-nomadic life, a way of life that is an intrinsic part of Tibetan society. Inside China efforts have intensified where forced relocation into ghetto style housing is becoming more common continues They have lost that way of life forever, resettled nomads are forced to sell their animals so many flee Tibet living near the border.

In the Chang Tang region of Eastern Ladakh a Tibetan woman takes care of her grand daughter as she naps, living on the high altitude mountainous terrain of Ladakh, India near the Chinese Tibetan border. At least 2.25 million, a third of Tibetans live nomadic or semi-nomadic life, a way of life that is an intrinsic part of Tibetan society. Inside China efforts have intensified where forced relocation into ghetto style housing is becoming more common continues They have lost that way of life forever, resettled nomads are forced to sell their animals so many flee Tibet living near the border.

A Tibetan refugee prays at the ...altitude mountainous landscape.

A Tibetan refugee prays at the Tibetan stupa in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India. There are 13 Tibetan refugee communities housing around 8,000 Tibetan families in exile. Ladakh also known as "Little Tibet" has always had a very strong Tibetan Buddhist culture dating back hundreds of years with monasteries and mystic lamas covering its high altitude mountainous landscape.

Tamding Dolma, 88 years old sit...altitude mountainous landscape.

Tamding Dolma, 88 years old sits in her small room at an old age home for elderly Tibetan refugees in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India. She came from Tibet over 40 years ago. There are 13 Tibetan refugee communities housing around 8,000 Tibetan families in exile. Ladakh also known as "Little Tibet" has always had a very strong Tibetan Buddhist culture dating back hundreds of years with monasteries and mystic lamas covering its high altitude mountainous landscape.

Khando, 69, smiles as she talks...,000 Tibetan families in exile.

Khando, 69, smiles as she talks about her life in exile at an old age home for elderly Tibetan refugees in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India. She came from Tibet over 40 years ago. There are 13 Tibetan refugee communities housing around 8,000 Tibetan families in exile.

Tamding Dolma, 88 years old sit...e from Tibet over 40 years ago.

Tamding Dolma, 88 years old sits in her small room at an old age home for elderly Tibetan refugees in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India. She came from Tibet over 40 years ago.

Dekyi, 81, walks to her room at...,000 Tibetan families in exile.

Dekyi, 81, walks to her room at the old age home for elderly Tibetan refugees in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India. She came from Tibet over 40 years ago. There are 13 Tibetan refugee communities housing around 8,000 Tibetan families in exile.

Tsetan Angmo spins her prayer w...e from Tibet over 40 years ago.

Tsetan Angmo spins her prayer wheel along with other senior citizens during afternoon puja ( Tibetan Buddhist prayer) at an old age home for elderly Tibetan refugees in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India. She came from Tibet over 40 years ago.

In the Chang Tang high altitude... students in the Ladakh, India.

In the Chang Tang high altitude mountainous region near the Tibetan border, Tibetan students dance after class at the Tibetan SOS Children's school for nomadic students in the Ladakh, India.

Tibetan students sing "We ...preserving the Tibetan culture.

Tibetan students sing "We Will Overcome" during class at the Tibetan SOS Children's Village in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India. There are more than 2,000 students attending the school outside of Leh coming from the 13 Tibetan refugee communities housing Tibetan families in exile. In India there are 6 TCV schools responsible for educating and preserving the Tibetan culture.

In the Chang Tang high altitude mountainous region near the Tibetan border, Tibetan students eat lunch at the Tibetan SOS Children's school for nomadic students in the Ladakh, India.

A young monk writes in his note...altitude mountainous landscape.

A young monk writes in his noteboook during Tibetan language class at the Rezong monastery school in Rezong, Ladakh, India. There are 13 Tibetan refugee communities housing around 8,000 Tibetan families in exile. Ladakh also known as "Little Tibet" has always had a very strong Tibetan Buddhist culture dating back hundreds of years with monasteries and mystic lamas covering its high altitude mountainous landscape.

In the Chang Tang high altitude mountainous region near the Tibetan border, Tibetan students pray before class at the Tibetan SOS Children's school for nomadic students in the Ladakh, India.

Tibetan students from the Tibet...s in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India.

Tibetan students from the Tibetan SOS Children's Village walk home after school past some political signs in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India.

Young Tibetan monks recite Tibe...ol in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India

Young Tibetan monks recite Tibetan prayers from the scripture during a Tibetan Buddhism class at the Karma Dupgyud Choeling Tibetan monastery where 42 young monks attend the monastery school in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India

A young Tibetan monk beats the ...ry in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India

A young Tibetan monk beats the drum during afternoon "puja" or prayer at the Karma Dupgyud Choeling Tibetan monastery in Choglamsar, Ladakh, India

Tibetan monks blow their trumpe...gyud Choeling Tibetan monastery

Tibetan monks blow their trumpets during afternoon "puja" or prayer at the Karma Dupgyud Choeling Tibetan monastery

In the Chang Tang region of Eastern Ladakh a Tibetan nomadic woman walks along the vast landscape, living on the high altitude mountainous terrain of Ladakh, India near the Chinese Tibetan border. At least 2.25 million, a third of Tibetans live nomadic or semi-nomadic life, a way of life that is an intrinsic part of Tibetan society. Inside China efforts have intensified where forced relocation into ghetto style housing is becoming more common continues They have lost that way of life forever, resettled nomads are forced to sell their animals so many flee Tibet living near the border.