During interviews with the local people, we (along with my fellow researcher) noticed that several buildings in Turtuk village are more than 200 years old, with wall thickness ranging from 10 to 60 cm. Localites built their houses with local stones because "peysaa" (Fine Sand) is abundant in Turtuk village, making it suitable for plastering the wall.

They kept room ceilings deliberately low for warmth and had small windows for ventilation & reduce heat loss. Locally Available Wood, such as "Khishing" Talu, Dungma (Popular Tree), Brutse (Tanacetum Gracine) and Chipkang (Stipa- Orientalis) were used for roofs, while the foundation was made with Local Mud covered with "Shing-shen" (wood flooring) to retain warmth. Mixing apricot water with soil made the clay stronger. Intricate designs carved from "Khishing" wood adorned walls and roofs, known as "Shak," with apricot water and Peysaa mixed plaster.

Buildings were used to be round previously, with the central room serving as a kitchen, and cattle kept around to share warmth. Earthquake protection was considered, with woods used for flexibility. "Thap” (Traditional Stove/Fireplace) were used for additional heating and cooking, using cow dung and wood. The cost-friendly buildings used materials readily available in the village. Due to its remote geography and limited road connectivity, people often construct their houses by themselves and domesticated donkeys have generally been used for material transportation purposes.

Hunder and Diskit Village: Contrasts in Tradition
The next day (i.e. September 20^th, 2023), we packed our bags and headed towards Hunder and Diskit villages. These two villages differed significantly from Turtuk and Bogdang in terms of climate, architecture, religion and culture. Most of the buildings in Hunder were aged above 100 years, some even more than 400 years. The upper floors were made of mud bricks, while the ground floors used stone. The thickness of walls and ceilings ensured warmth and protection from snow and rain. Zimskhang (Palace) 400 years old in Diskit Village

We noted that rich families in Hunder used "Argha" (small pebbles mixed with coral and turquoise) for flooring, enhancing it with mustard or apricot oil for shine. Some even added glass ventilations above the Thap (Bhukari) for warmth and ventilation. Remarkably, the 400-year-old "Zimskhang'' palace still stood strong even after a huge flash flood struck, thanks to seismic-proof construction with woods placed between stones for stability.

Thap ( Traditional Bukhari)

During the survey, it became evident that Nubra villagers are transitioning from traditional to modern building practices mainly driven by socio-economic forces. Those who retained traditional houses found them cost-effective and thermally efficient. The concept of Passive Solar Heated Buildings (PSHBs) was virtually unknown in Nubra villages.