In 2015 Achi Association India aimed to carry forward with the preservation of the heritage of Wanla’s cultural landscape. Therefore the first phase of the preservation of the old fort started with the survey (by total station) and the condition assessment of all its structures.
The passageway chörten in Nyoma (Changthang) is linked with the temple and the fort of Wanla: the paintings inside the chörten are probably made by one of the painters who worked in the Avalokisteshvara temple (see forthcoming publication of Nils Martin). The chörten is in a bad condition as the vase partly collapsed, causing severe cracks in the paintings' chamber and static problems.
As climbing on the chörten was no issue due to the dangerous condition, the whole structure was measured with a total station. The wall paintings and the wooden elements were checked for their condition and extensively documented in pictures and plans.
The stability of the structure still is quite endangered and it was decided as a preliminary measure to put in another column to support the wooden ceiling that is carrying the load of the upper vase and steps since the deformation.
Team:
Nils Martin, art historian PhD candidate, France
Quentin Devers, archaeologist PhD, France
Désirée De Antoni, engineer PhD, Italy
Hilde Vets, architect, Belgium
Elektra Catsoulis, architect, Belgium
Anne Voll, conservator, Germany
Katharina Kohler, (wood) conservator, Austria
Angela Mitschke, conservator, Germany
Jigmet Namgyel, team AAI, Ladakh