Turuk, a Balti village - on the ancient Leh-Sinkiang Caravan Trade Route (closed during Indo-Pak Partition)-is now part of Nubra - a high-altitude cold desert in Ladakh. Women of Turtuk, as elsewhere in Ladakh, are adept in agriculture and are a common sight in the fields. This is a custom from old days when men went away trading or worked as guides, porters or pony-drivers. Seen in the picture are twins Amina and Sakina. Amina is wearing ‘chhuskyok’ – the traditional Balti head-dress for women.
