Srinagar: Ladakh is commonly known as a ‘chilly desert’ however mendacity beneath its naked mountains and soil is an undiscovered treasure of treasured rocks and minerals. And a slice of this treasure may be discovered preserved within the ‘Ladakh Rocks and Minerals Museum’ situated close to Leh’s Shey Palace and the historic Amir Kabir mosque on the previous Lhasa street.

From fossils of the prehistoric period and meteorites to treasured and uncommon stones and gems, the museum’s assortment has began to draw vacationers from all around the world.

Furthermore, the vacationers get amazed additional once they uncover that every one the artifacts have been collected by the founding father of the museum – Phunchok Angchok Togo.

“I used to be excited by gathering rocks from a younger age. Initially, I might search for rocks for non secular functions and used to wander within the mountains. Regularly, my curiosity grew and so did my assortment. I might seek the advice of geologists, and gemmologists initially and now they seek the advice of me as I’ve extra information about rocks and minerals. I’ve been gathering rocks and fossils for over 30 years and have spent days and weeks at a stretch in mountains to gather the identical,” Phunchok informed The Kashmir Monitor.

He mentioned he shifted his assortment to a museum when he confronted house constraints at dwelling.

“My spouse would scold me when my assortment elevated as there was no house at dwelling. I then shifted to a museum and likewise acquired it registered. Now I’ve lots of of rocks and different collections. I even have over 100 fossils. Some are hundreds of thousands of years previous. Even geologists are amazed once they see my assortment of fossils. I’ve additionally collected meteorites,” he mentioned.

Phunchok mentioned although the Ladakh area was thought-about a land of ‘naked mountains’, it glittered beneath.

“Folks say Ladakh is land of naked mountains however I’ve collected fulgurites, rubies, emeralds, and so forth that glitter. When a thunderbolt hits a land, crystals are fashioned and these are known as fulgurites. I’ve collected fulgurites too,” he mentioned.

Now, Phunchok is hoping for some authorities help in order that he can show his assortment in a greater manner.

“No matter I’ve carried out to this point is out of my pocket. If the federal government gives me help, I wish to have a much bigger museum the place I’ll have extra space to show my assortment. My goal and goal are to protect the treasures of the Himalayas (Ladakh) and show them. I additionally wish to do additional examine and analysis about rocks, minerals, meteorites, and fossils. I additionally wish to educate the scholars, researchers, geologists, gemmologist, mineralogists, paleontologists, pedologists, pharmacologists, and vacationers,” he mentioned.

Wiqar Bashir, a latest customer to the museum, mentioned Phunchok had introduced treasures from the trans-Himalaya area ‘beneath one roof.

“Phunchok Wanchok’s assortment is a results of sheer ardour and a long time of journey on this area. Nothing deters him from exploring and gathering. A few years in the past he slipped right into a crevasse close to the Haksho cross within the treacherous Zanskar Himalaya and was fortunately rescued with out a main damage however needed to bivouac in excessive situations. The museum situated close to the Shey Palace and historic Amir Kabir mosque on the previous Lhasa street is a tremendous assortment of rock and mineral treasures from the trans-Himalaya area beneath one roof, a must-visit for specialists and common folks alike,  the small zoomorphic rocks assortment, particularly the robin is a delight to see,” Wiqar informed The Kashmir Monitor.