Disko Valley, Ladakh: A Biker’s Paradise & Artist’s Canvas

Leh, Ladakh: Marvelously creative and physically challenging at the same time, Disko Valley in Leh came to life as a bike park where mountain bikers and artists are hard at work: one on an adrenaline-fuelled stage and the other splattering paint to embellish the land.

Tenzin Jamphel Urgyan Skaldan and Gyatso Tundup created Disko Valley, a skill and gravity based bike park, in an open area of 20 acres. The park offers over 50 opportunities for bikers of all skill levels to master, and is unique in its five year, extendable lease from Sankar Gonpa monastery. The park is India’s first dedicated bike park and is unrivaled in its sheer size, length, and altitude.

While discussing what motivated him to build the park, Tenzin Jamphel stated, “The first thought we had while building Disko Valley was to enhance the idea of tourism diversification." Starting as just a pastime, he got into mountain biking, but eventually figured out how he could use Ladakh’s extreme geography in a more constructive way to help enhance the local economy. "It is a niche sport, so there isn't infrastructure to support it, which is where Disko Valley helps,” he remarked.

When asked about the investment, Tenzin explained, “This was more of a passion project so we have not kept track. Our friends pitched in for some of the infrastructural developments - whether it was the JCB or other structures in the arena. One of our co founders Gyatso is an architect so he designed the entire work. It was mostly done by the community, so my rough estimate is around Rs 4-5 lakh investment.” 

In recounting his experience, Urgyan Skaldan shares that his biking story predates his childhood. Srays, “I think like most kids, riding my bicycle was a source of entertainment. I distinctly remember biking in the late 90s early 2000s.” By 2014, he was a freelancer mountain bike guide in Ladakh and took part in some cross country mountain bike competitions. “I have not been trained formally, but I prefer to consider myself an adventurer in lieu of a racer or competitor,” he said promptly.

Aside from biking, Disko Valley has also hosted the Ladakh Mountain Biking Festival and Sa Ladakh, which is known as the highest contemporary land art biennale in all of Asia. Co-founder of Sa Ladakh, Sagardeep Singh says, “The combination of biking and art could happen because…our festival is about climate, culture and community, which are also the mission of Disko Valley.” Ladakhi artists are able to present their land art and when this is coupled with international artists, it becomes an integral part of the initiative. 

He elaborated that land art is created with the intent of being placed on the earth, where the land is directly sculpted, or where structures are created to be made from natural materials. 

Singh further said “We also help them in getting the exposure that they require and curate their work not only in Ladakh but all over India.”

Tenzin shares, “Sa Ladakh could be possible here too as our themes matched. As mountain bikers, we promote sustainable tourism and they too pointed out that everything we need is provided by the Earth.” So it was during coivd, “It s a blessing in disguise considering we had nothing to do at that time. The 20 plus jumps in the park are all created by us, completely selfmade and it was all through trial and error,” Tenzin explained.

Tundup Gyatso, an architect by profession with zeal for the mountains and adventure, said it was a dream come true for him to combine designing and mountain biking. Ladakh posseses the landscape but lacked serious infrastructure for mountain biking. We wanted to change that objective. Our goal expanded into developing the first fully operational bike park in India. One not only meant to serve as a rider's training ground but also as a centerpiece for biking culture. We aimed to put Ladakh on the international sphere of mountian biking and motivate the younger people of India to pursue the sport.

These cycles have revolutionized mountain biking, and for artists from Ladakh, this place means much more. One of such is Urgain Zawa, who is a visual art practitioner from the Igoo village and presented his artpiece in the 2024 festival. Urgain expressed, “As a young artist from Ladakh, it was a new experience for me to do land art in my own place Ladakh, along with other Indian and foreign artists. I learned so many new things—new approaches and new perspectives towards art and land art.” Ladakhi’s had a chance to learn the new art world which changed their outlook altogether. “I was also able to show many people through my art, Ladakh climate problems and ecological issues that we are facing now,” he remarked.

This aided in creating a frame for Ladakhi’s to get familiar and learn about new contemporary art and sculptures.

Urgain’s quote supports the claimant, saying, “The foundation is set, now it is time to develop the mountain biking culture as well as altitude cycling. Our goal is to establish Ladakh as the mountain biking center of India.”