Dolkhar rolls out an intricate Ladakhi experience through yak wool pieces, earthy colour tones, markalak, organic furniture, their hyper-local restaurant (Tsas), boutique interiors and outdoor setups, and a whole lot of sublime architectural creations by 40+ local craftspeople. Topped with rabsal Ladakhi balconies and emerald-green stone walls, Dolkhar also follows zero-waste, zero-plastic, and pro-community ethics.
Travellers are treated to Ladakhi-themed spa services through Dolkhar’s wellness offerings and Tibetan relaxation methodologies. From a mindfully built sauna to age-old healing practices via singing bowls and aromatic herbs – your muscles won’t feel the exhaustion of daily hikes. The alfresco area will lure you into a meditative state and summon your yoga flow. To add, Changthang and Khanakling’s residents are happy to enlighten you on strategies for knitting local materials.
Participate in hands-on experiences with local artisans and explore the nuances of hand-building in pottery or textile weaving from local wool. The last living clay throwers of the region come from Likir and convincingly guide you through each pottery stage of bisque-ing, glazing, and firing.
Dolkhar also organizes indulging visits to Chilling or Sumdha to observe and learn from a village of metal workers.
Revamped by Ladakhi DIY experts and gompa builders, Dolkhar is the ancestral home of Rigzin Wangmo Lachic. The bricks here are made from soil from Taru village—compressed and stabilized to brave Ladakhi weather. Moreover, the theme of repurposing rekindles more than just traces of ancient architecture. Traditional beams and columns, components like wood, cane, adobe, and stone, and Umbu-based lighting—Dolkhar is the embodiment of the word local.
Even better, the pebble stones in the washroom come from the waters of the Indus and the wash basin is constructed from stones in the Shyok river. In fact, the footpaths, walls, and a bunch of furniture at Dolkhar uses stones from different Himalayan terrains.
Expect a new genre of cosiness with the abundance of sheep and yak wool rugs and cushiony pieces designed by local female artisans.
And what do you expect from outdoor patios across two-level villas? Grand Himalayan views, and gardens soaked in a delightful blend of sea buckthorn, wild lavender, apricot trees, and more!
Dolkhar’s in-house vegetarian restaurant, Tsas, means garden in the Ladakhi language. Whispers of Spanish, French, and Japanese flavours touch your dishes without affecting the Ladakhi twist much. Be it Galouti kebabs or chutagi, or Tsampa or Skyu, the freshness and modern culinary experiments stem from Dolkhar’s blossoming kitchen garden. Their local, ethical, and sustainable ingredient sourcing processes maintain a bespoke standard of taste.
Beautifully tucked into an apricot-cum-apple orchard, each recipe blends the worlds of traditional cooking techniques with contemporary variations. What fascinates guests is how several ingredients are sourced from different villages – pigeon peas from Lehdo, tsamik herb from Turtuk, and so on.
Don’t forget to reserve a 7-course tasting menu experience with Dolkhar’s in-house Le Cordon Bleu alumni chef!
