Healthcare
Saving more permanent teeth
The condition of students' teeth in Ladakh tends to be poor, due to a combination of diet (too many sweet things) and lack of dental hygiene. We are paying a lot of attention to preventive care in order to protect the students’ permanent teeth. Dentist Michel Guinet and his partner Corinne Barbier from Tahiti visited the school in April (their third visit) to offer fissure sealant treatment to the children. They treated around 140 permanent teeth on this occasion. They were joined this time by Jean-Philippe Bréard, a dentist from Grenoble, France.
Through the generosity of donors in France, Tahiti and UK, we were able to purchase a portable dental unit and related equipment, which they were able to use. You can see from the photos that we are still saving up to buy a dental chair! Michel, Corinne and JP demonstrated that toothbrushing and nose blowing can be fun! In addition, dentists from the dzi Foundation, USA, returned to Leh and kindly treated some of the children who they had checked last year.
Time for a workout
Students from Alton College, UK, raised funds for the school and then came to Ladakh in summer 2009 to build an exercise trail and experience a challenging trek in the Markha Valley. The school recently employed a Physical Education teacher.
Gya knitwear
We are cooperating with the ladies of Gya village to transform their pashmina, sheep and Yak wool into stylish knitted goods that visitors will wish to buy and wear. This 'win-win' situation will bring pleasure to the owners, and generate income for the ladies of Gya and for Druk White Lotus School.
Growing our own food
We built our first greenhouse in 2009 and students from BaSiC Initiative worked with local staff to prepare the ground, import top-soil and start composting. In 2010, we aim to start growing some of our own food for students and staff.
In this gallery you can find out about our children and a typical day at the school.
In this gallery you can find out more about the modern education programme that we have developed.
Here's some background information on our award winning engineering solutions.
Ventilation Improved Pit Latrines
Traditional dry latrines have been enhanced to ‘VIP latrines’. These eliminate fly and odour problems and – most importantly in a desert environment - do not require water. A double chamber system with an integrated solar flue allows their operation as composting toilets and produces humus that can be used as fertiliser.
Passive Solar Heating
Ladakh is hot in summer and very cold in winter. But even in winter, there is often intense sunlight and the teaching spaces heat quickly thanks to their optimal 30° south-east orientation, combined with fully-glazed solar façades that gather the sun’s energy and store heat in high thermal mass walls.
The Residences are oriented due south, and use Trombe Walls, which are coated externally with dark, heat-absorbing material and are faced with a double layer of glass. Heat is stored in the wall and conducted inwards to the dormitories at night-time.
Gravity Feed Water System
Water is a scarce resource in Ladakh. The system pumps snow-melt water from a depth of about 30m to reservoirs near the top of the site. One reservoir provides drinking water under gravity feed to the school, while the other reservoir provides irrigation water. Water availability is a key aspect of the hygiene promotion programme that forms an important part of the education.
Seismic Design and Safety
The major October 2005 earthquake in adjacent Pakistan was a ‘wake-up call’ concerning such risks in Ladakh. Druk Padma Karpo building structures use timber frames to resist seismic load in the event of an earthquake. The post-2010 mudslide repair work on the school buildings includes seismic strengthening work for enhanced safety.
100% of 10th-grade students pass Board exams in 6 out of 7 years between 2018 & 2024
Granted CBSE affiliation (Central Board of Secondary Education), October 2023
Mind Mingle: Unique and Creative Schools of India 2017
Druk Padma Karpo School was named in the top ten most unique and creative schools in India.
BBC London: World’s most beautiful schools 2016
Druk Padma Karpo School was named as one of the most beautiful schools in the world.
WB Honours: Innovation in Public Washroom design in India 2015
Druk Padma Karpo School was awarded an award for most innovative washrooms.
The International Architecture in Stone Award, 2013
Druk Padma Karpo School and Arup Associates received the XIII edition of the prestigious International Architecture in Stone Award, the biennial prize celebrating the best architectural projects involving the use of stone materials.The award was received by Francesca Galeazzi on behalf of Arup Associates in Verona, Italy.
The Emirates Glass LEAF Awards, 2012
Druk Padma Karpo School and Arup Associates received the 'Best Sustainable Development' award at The Emirates Glass LEAF Awards. The award was received by Sean Macintosh on behalf of Arup Associates and by Rachel Glynn on behalf of the School.
‘Test of Time: Environmental’ Award from the British Council for School Environments, 2012
Arup Associates and Druk Padma Karpo School won the award for 'Test of Time' in the Environmental category. BCSE is an industry organization that promotes best practice in the planning, design and construction of schools.
Design for Asia Grand Award, 2009
The excellence of Arup Associates’ design work on Druk Padma Karpo School was recognised on 4th December 2009 in Hong Kong through the presentation of a ‘Design for Asia Grand Award’. The award was accepted by His Eminence Khamtrul Rinpoche on behalf of the School and by Francesca Galeazzi on behalf of Arup Associates.
Award for ‘Inspiring Design - International’ from the British Council for School Environments, 2009
Arup Associates and Druk Padma Karpo School were joint-winners of an award for 'Inspiring Design' in the international category. BCSE is an industry organization that promotes best practice in the planning, design and construction of schools.
Sinclair Knight Merz Award, 2005
"a successful application to the European Union"
Davina Rooney was awarded the Sinclair Knight Merz Award for Achievement in Development for her work in Ladakh in 2004. Davina helped prepare a successful application to the European Union for a grant to research job opportunities for young Ladakhis and to design a more appropriate school curriculum.
BCCB - Large Consultancy Firm of the Year, 2003
"an exceptional project"
Arup was named ‘Large Consultancy Firm of the Year 2003’ for their work at the Druk Padma Karpo School. This award for international expertise, sponsored by The Times, is intended ‘to provide the maximum recognition for exceptional projects’. The award was presented by His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester at a ceremony in London.
World Architecture Awards, 2002
Best Green Building
"The environmental strategy maximizes the site's solar potential"
"The environmental strategy maximizes the site's solar potential to achieve passive solar heating, natural ventilation and day lighting. The sun also powers a water pump that delivers drinkable ground water. The heavy mass of the buildings act as a thermal buffer to mitigate the variations in external temperatures. All materials are local and, where possible, from renewable sources."
Best Asian Building
"a model of appropriate and sustainable design"
"The whole project is conceived as a model of appropriate and sustainable design. Building materials are mostly indigenous to Ladakh, with careful auditing of sustainable resource supplies. There is also no imported energy. None of this is achieved by compromising the quality of the architecture or of the interior spaces, which are spacious and light filled."
Best Education Building
"Who would not want to have been educated in a school like this?"
"Who would not want to have been educated in a school like this? The teaching and play spaces area arranged around a central tree-planted courtyard that is divided up with low benches that provide outdoor seating as well as demarcating outside teaching areas. The classrooms have generous windows and are filled with light."
In addition, the simple building techniques used mean that children will easily understand how the school was constructed. It is a really legible building. Again, the jury felt this added a level of richness to the scheme"
Reaching out to nomads
The Changthang area lies high on the Tibetan plateau. The people tend yaks and goats – the goats that produce the wool that is ‘pashmina’. Life is harsh. It is hard for youngsters to obtain a good education. The nomadic way of life is under threat.
Mme Sarla and Wendy Cornwell visited the area in September and several more Changthang children will be coming to Druk Padma Karpo School in Shey, with the support of international sponsors.
Our award winning buildings embody the school’s ethos.
Designed by international architects Arup, the buildings combine the best of traditional Ladakhi architecture with 21st century engineering excellence and so act as a model for appropriate, cost effective and sustainable development.
Ladakh is an area of few resources and extreme temperatures. Here are the highlights of Arup's design solutions to an extremely challenging design brief.
Arup hosted an event in London on the 23rd January 2026 to celebrate 25 years of Druk Padma Karpo School in Ladakh, India, with His Eminence Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche as the guest of honour. The celebration was an opportunity to reflect on why school design matters and what it can enable over time. This was brought to life in a film featuring the school’s students and Principal, Mingur Angmo, and a panel discussion of experts.
Jerome Frost, Arup CEO, wrote about the event:
Key features
- Using locally available materials, which have the least impact on the environment
- Exploiting natural ventilation and passive solar heating
- Minimising energy use and emissions
- Minimising water use
- Refining and adapting traditional techniques to provide modern solutions
Progress to date
The school is being built in phases:
2001 – The Nursery and Infant courtyard opened.
2003 – First residence opened, allowing the school to accommodate children from remote areas.
2005 – The Junior School opened.
2007 – Construction of Science Laboratories and Art room started.
2008/9 – Construction of Residence 3.
2010 – A devastating mudslide swept through the school, the granite buildings stood firm, unlike local mud-brick buildings that were swept away.
2011 – Construction started on a three-metre-high, 1 kilometer-long mudslide defence wall & embankment.
2012/13 – Construction of Residence 4.
2014 – Final two secondary school classrooms were completed.
2015 – Dining Hall & Kitchen extension started.
2016 - Dining Hall & kitchen extension and dining hall latrines.
2017 - Start of the Mudslide Repair & Seismic Upgrade Programme and the first Eco Shower Building.
2018 - Seismic Upgrade & Mudslide Repair Programme.
2019 - Seismic Upgrade & Mudslide Repair Programme, second and third Eco Shower Buildings.
2020 - Seismic Upgrade & Mudslide Repair Programme and fourth Eco Shower Building.
2021-23 – Continuation of the Seismic Upgrade programme. Planning of the future expansion including: classroom and science facilities for students aged 16-18, health centre; extra school offices, central library, four secondary school classrooms.
2024 - Health Centre started, four secondary school classrooms started.
2025 - Four secondary school classrooms, with new sloping metal roof design completed. Seismic upgrade of classroom buildings started. Health Centre structurally completed.
How to Help
Donations and investments can be made online or sending a cheque to the UK project office. You can find out more on our Donate page.