Dah and Hanu are two villages located in the Dahanu valley of Leh district of Ladakh, which is the home of the Brokpa community. It is the only village of the Brokpa community in India that is open to tourists. The community here is believed to be Indo-Aryan, who came to the Indus Valley centuries ago. It follows Buddhism and worships animism.
Dah Hanu is popularly called the last Aryan village in India and is the only place in the country to meet the Aryan tribe. The community here still follows its tradition and marries within its own community, as the people here believe that Aryans can marry only Aryans.
Due to the low number of women in the tribe, some of them still practice polyandry. Although the education system has changed the marriage scenario to some extent in Dah Hanu, there are many of these youths who marry outside their community. They are not easily accepted by the tribe, and as a result, they need to settle their homes away from the village.
The temperature here in Dah Hanu is warmer than other parts of Leh as it is situated at a comparatively lower altitude. This climate helps the cultivation of apricot, walnuts, wine-grapes, and cherries here.
The harvesting time usually begins in September which is celebrated here as a festival, known as Bonona festival. The tribes also celebrate their local language festival, which is called the Brokpa language festival. If you are looking for an offbeat cultural experience, consider including Dah Hanu in your Ladakh tour package to witness the unique traditions of the Brokpa community.
