Dha and Hanu are two villages situated in the Dhahanu valley, about 163 km southwest of Leh in Ladakh. The valley in the main settlement of the Dards in Ladakh called Drokpa or sometimes pronounced Brokpa. The Dards of Dah Hanu are nominally Buddhist but also worship their own Pantheon of gods. They have an Indo-European appearance in contrast to the predominant Tibeto-Mongol inhabitants of Ladakh. They are believed to the descendent of pure Aryan race, migrated to this area via Gilgit around 1000 year ago from Central Asia. They live in very primitive conditions even when judged by the standards of Ladakh.

Being on lower altitude Dhahanu is warmer than Leh and many fruits and vegetable grown here. The Drokpa or sometime Brokpa is a Dardic community residing in the Dha-Hanu valley in Ladakh. They speak an archiac Shina language

The same heat makes it possible to take two crops every year from the fields, Fruit is also grown- apricots and apples. The special interest of this region is less the landscape than its Drokhpa inhabitants, their features are pure Indo Aryan, and they appear to have preserved their racial purity down the centuries

Tomato fields, a thousand varieties of flowers, apricot trees, walnut trees, grape vines climbing over poplar trees, green fields. Contrary to the Tibetomongoloid Ladakhis, the Dards are Aryan.
The Dard dress is simple but enriched with a strange peculiarity. All the men and women wear a flowery headgear.

Even though officially they are Buddhists, their faith is still directed towards their own gods. Their pantheon which is far less abundant than that of the Hindus, is nevertheless large. Hanu is much poorer than the Indus villages, the houses seem to form part of the mountain, only the terraced fields indicate some human presence. To reach the villages of Yogma and Gongma, you have to walk a few hours by following the course of a slim river with wooded banks. Still further, around a dozen scattered habitations shelter the shepherds and some permanent residents.
Dah-Hanu area has only been open for tourists recently and therefore we have a responsibility to respect their culture and not in any event impose on them our world view.