Hidden behind the dramatic Great Himalayan, Zanskar and Ladakh mountain ranges, Ladakh’s (and its capital Leh’s) fame arose mainly due to its pivotal role as a relatively stable (since 16C AD) exchange point where agents for Kashmir’s famous silk/wool weaving industry sourced prized “pashm”. This was the fine raw wool from domesticated goats grazed in the high pastures of Tibet, mainly by the Changpa nomadic people; “pashmina” is the cloth woven from it.