CBSE CLASS11 Note making and summary

 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

Across the Kashmir Valley and over the famous Zoji La pass lies Ladakh - the

Land of High Passes. It is a magical land, completely different from the green

landscape of many other parts of the Himalayas. It is nature at an extreme. A

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land of freezing winds and burning hot sunlight, Ladakh is a cold desert lying

in the rain shadow of the Great Himalayas and other smaller ranges. Little rain

and snow reaches this dry area, where natural forces have created a fantastic

landscape.

This region once formed part of the erstwhile Kingdom of Ladakh, believed to

have been inhabited by the early colonizers of Ladakh - the Indo-Aryan Mons

from across the Himalayan range, the Darads from the extreme western

Himalayas, and the itinerant nomads from the Tibetan highlands. Also, its

valleys, by virtue of their contiguity with Kashmir, Kishtwar and Kulu, served

as the initial receptacles of successive ethnic and cultural waves emanating

from across the Great Himalayan range. Thus, while the Mons are believed to

have carried north-Indian Buddhism to these highland valleys, the Darads and

Baltis of the lower Indus Valley are credited with the introduction of farming

and the Tibetans with the tradition of herding.

The aridity of Ladakh is due to its location in the rain shadow area of the

Great Himalayas, as well as because of its elevation and the radiation of heat

from the bare soil. The most striking physical feature of Ladakh, however, is

the parallelism of its mountain ranges. In Ladakh, large rivers and their

tributaries have carved deep gorges far below their steep banks. However,

their water is not of much use, as the terraced fields lie high above the gorges.

The region is extremely dry, with rainfall as low as 10 cm each year.

These valleys sustain an exclusively agrarian population of about 80,000

people who cultivate the land available along the course of the drainage

system, wherever sources for artificial irrigation are available. The majority of

the population is Muslim. Descendants of missionaries of Kashmir who

introduced Islam, locally called Aghas, still hold sway over the population,

perpetuating the faith even as ancient folk traditions with Buddhist and

animistic undertones are palpably present. Many folk traditions, particularly

those connected with the agricultural cycle, are still followed with subdued

reverence.

During the last decade a gradual change in the tourist's perception of Ladakh

has come about, thanks to the growing mystique of the Himalayas and a

burgeoning interest in adventure tourism worldwide. As a result of this change

in perception there has been a steady increase in the number of tourists to the

Western flank of Ladakh, which comprises several river valleys. Chief among

these are the spectacular valleys of Suru and Zanskar, nestling along the

foothills of the main range of the Greater Himalayas; the smaller lateral

valleys of Dras and Wakha-Mulbek, as also of Chiktan (still in the restricted

zone) constitute important subsidaries. Drained and formed by the

southeastern tributaries of the high Indus, these valleys constitute the district

of Kargil.

The itinerary of the average tourist to Ladakh begins with a tour of Leh, the

ancient capital and principal township of Ladakh. It invariably includes visits

to a selection of monasteries located along a stretch of the Central Indus

Valley, between the spectacular monastery of Lamayuru in the west and the

prestigious establishment of Hemis in the east. Some take to trekking along

the lateral valleys, especially in Markha, but few venture out of the confines of 

the central Indus valley, which represents Ladakh's heartland.

(a) On the basis of your understanding of the above passage make notes on it

using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever

necessary-minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an

appropriate title to it.

(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words

Note making and summary

NOTES

Title: Ladakh - the Land of High Passes(or any other relevant title) 1 mark

Abbreviations 1 mark

Content 4 marks

1.Remarkable Geography

 1.1 lies across the Kashmir Valley and over the famous Zoji La pass

 1.2 completely different from the green landscape of many other parts of the

Himalayas – nature at extreme

 1.3 freezing winds and burning hot sunlight

 1.4 is a cold desert lying in the rain shadow of the Great Himalayas and other

smaller ranges

1.5 Little rain and snow reaches this dry area-rainfall as low as 10 cm each year.

1.6 large rivers and their tributaries have carved deep gorges far below their steep

banks

2. History

 2.1 once the Kingdom of Ladakh

 2.2 early colonizers

 a) the Indo-Aryan Mons from across the Himalayan range

 b) Darads from the extreme western Himalayas

 c) nomads from the Tibetan highlands

 2.3 contiguity with Kashmir, Kishtwar and Kulu

 2.4 Mons carried north-Indian Buddhism to these highland valleys

 2.5 Darads and Baltis of the lower Indus Valley introduced farming

 2.6 Tibetans introduced the tradition of herding.

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3. People/ Population

 3.1 agrarian population of about 80,000

 3.2 majority of the population is Muslim

 3.3 Descendants of missionaries of Kashmir who introduced Islam, locally called

Aghas, still hold sway over the population

 3.4 people follow ancient folk traditions

 a) with Buddhist and animistic undertones

 b) Many folk traditions connected with the agricultural cycle

4. Tourism in Ladakh

4.1 adventure tourism because of several river valleys

a) spectacular valleys of Suru and Zanskar

b) smaller lateral valleys of Dras and Wakha-Mulbek

4.2 itinerary of the average tourist

a) begins with a tour of Leh

b) visits to monasteries located along a stretch of the Central Indus Valley,

c) between the spectacular monastery of Lamayuru in the west and the prestigious

establishment of Hemis in the east

d) trekking along the lateral valleys, especially in Markha

4.3 Few venture out of the central Indus valley, which represents Ladakh's

heartland

Summary 4 Marks