Ladakh is facing the harsh effects of climate change. Glaciers are melting faster, water sources are drying up, and traditional farming is becoming increasingly difficult. With less rainfall, rising temperatures, and shrinking snowlines, villages are struggling to sustain agriculture and livelihoods.
To tackle this, local communities—supported by HDFC Bank Parivartan, the Bank’s CSR initiative—are using a simple but innovative solution: Ice Stupas. These artificial glaciers store water in the form of ice during the winter and release it gradually during spring, providing much-needed water for irrigation when natural sources run dry.
Parivartan’s involvement has helped scale up this solution. Seven new stupas, with a combined capacity of over 35 million litres of water, were constructed between 2023 and 2025. Automation technology now helps regulate water flow and monitor weather patterns, making these stupas more efficient and reliable.
But water conservation is just one part of the story. Parivartan is also supporting sustainable agriculture through passive solar-heated polyhouses specially designed for Ladakh, that enable farmers to grow vegetables even in harsh winters. These are combined with drip irrigation systems, ensuring efficient water use.
In addition, Parivartan is helping build skills and generate incomes through training in organic farming, eco-tourism, and market access for local products like pashmina wool and traditional crafts. Villages are also being equipped with solar-powered energy solutions, creating cleaner, more reliable electricity for homes and schools.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy under HDFC Bank Parivartan’s Natural Resource Management (NRM) pillar. The goal-- to improve water security, promote chemical-free farming, bring uncultivated land into use, and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change.
In Ladakh, these interventions are making a visible difference—helping communities become more self-reliant, protecting livelihoods, and building resilience for the future.
In partnership with HDFC Parivartan
Music Credits -
Music 01:
Auto Clear Code: “Chase The Sun” licensed via Music Vine: GNMXMBYD4HRLZ01U
Title of Musical Work: Chase The Sun
Artist: Mark July
License ID S694618-12865
Music 02:
Auto Clear Code: “Leap Of Faith” licensed via Music Vine: ABGUIFNSZKXEPWMD
Title of Musical Work: Leap Of Faith
Artist: Iros Young
License ID S694619-12865
Music 03:
Auto Clear Code: “The Immortals” licensed via Music Vine: SM0ESLJKQVDIQDJU
Title of Musical Work: The Immortals
Artist: Simon Folwar
License ID: S694621-12865
Music 04:
Auto Clear Code: “Reflective Morning” licensed via Music Vine: LGRP1VKR6NNKOU7I
Title of Musical Work: Reflective Morning
Artist: RA
License ID S694623-12865