Chanlung: Amchi History and Ice Climbing

Chanlung combines a specific village founding story with a distinctive historical memory and a different focus in the Changlung Valley: two ice-climbing routes were climbed there in 2023. In the village, the story leads to an Amchi from Aranu; nearby, there was a cemetery with graves of traders from Central Asia and Balti workers from western Ladakh. These topics offer different perspectives on Chanlung: its founding story, the memory of the people buried in the cemetery, and ice climbing in the valley.

The founding story of an Amchi

An Amchi, meaning a local healer from Aranu, founded Changlung sometime in the early 19th century. He owned farmland in Changlung, moved there, and built his house near the fields. The combination of a healer, farming, and housebuilding makes the founding tangible as a story of settlement, rather than just an approximate date. Aranu identifies the Amchi’s place of origin, while Changlung was where he later settled. His role as a local healer and his move near his fields thus connect two aspects of the account: the founder’s personal background and the establishment of a life in Changlung.

A cemetery near Changlung

The surrounding area also bears its own historical traces. A cemetery near Changlung contained numerous graves of traders from Central Asia and Balti workers from western Ladakh. One particular grave was called Hormay Romkhang; the name means “grave of a Central Asian woman.” It singles out one grave, while the accounts of the traders and workers tell of several groups of people and their regions of origin. This distinguishes the cemetery’s history from the founding story about the individual Amchi. The cemetery was destroyed in 1984 during the construction of a road. The year marks a turning point in its history, from the graves that were identified to the destruction of the cemetery.

Ice-climbing routes in the Changlung Valley

Two ice-climbing routes were climbed in the Changlung Valley in 2023. Almarza, Guillermo Velasco, and Juampi Sabbione climbed Changlung Left (125 m, WI3+). Changlung Right (180 m, WI4+) was climbed by Graells, Vigatà, and the reporter. The differences can be compared directly: Right is 55 meters longer; the grades are WI4+ and WI3+. The two route names, lengths, and grades provide a specific point of reference for each ascent. This adds a clearly defined topic from the Changlung Valley to the area’s history.

Choose the focus of your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Chanlung, it is useful to understand where these topics are located: the founding story belongs to the village’s history, the cemetery was near Changlung, and the routes are in the Changlung Valley. Consider whether the village’s history or ice climbing is the main reason for your interest. For a family trip, this distinction can help everyone discuss their different interests and decide what to focus on during the trip.

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