Wood Identification of Ancient Temple Structures in Ladakh, Located in the Western Himalayas

Abstract Microscopic wood identifications were performed on five Buddhist temple structures, three vernacular houses, two stupas, and holy trees located in Ladakh, a region the Indian state of Jammu Kashmir Western Himalayas. Leh is Ladakh’s capital along Indus River, backbone Ladakh. The buildings, stupa, are Leh. Ladakh high-altitude desert with extremely scarce vegetation. Natural vegetation occurs mostly watercourses. temples villages upper river valley, or confluent rivers. From 110 samples, 4 species identified: poplar, willow, juniper, pine. Building type, local availability, specific physical mechanical properties species, religious considerations apparently leading criteria for timber selection.