From the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean
A creative journey through Ladakh, the sacred gateway of the Silk Road
This summer my path took me through the remote lands of Ladakh, a region in northern India deeply shaped by Tibetan culture and history. Once a vital hub along the Silk Road, traders from across Asia would pass through its valleys carrying perfumes, textiles, gemstones, pigments, and treasures that filled the air with exotic colour and scent, before continuing westward to Europe. The Silk Road was never merely a trade route, it was a living, breathing network of cultural, spiritual, and material exchange.
“Like one of those mythical caravans that once travelled the Silk Road, I gathered ideas, colours, sacred stones, and ancient talismans, not as mere adornments, but as vessels of memory, carrying the spirit of ancestral cultures that would become the soul of our future collections.”
María Moro
Founder of OONA
It is awe-inspiring to imagine this once-bustling past now cloaked in profound stillness. In the quiet heights of Ladakh, Buddhist monasteries, the Gompas, rise like stone sentinels, guardians of centuries of meditation and devotion. Thiksey, Hemis, and the legendary Alchi Monastery, often referred to as the Sistine Chapel of Tibetan art, stand in spiritual silence. Within these sacred spaces, I found myself deeply moved, spending time listening to the rhythmic chanting of monks during prayer.
A sacred encounter
In the ancient town of Leh, the former capital of Ladakh, stands the summer residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I was fortunate enough to be there during his stay, and even more blessed to meet him. A moment of immense peace, light, and emotion. His presence radiated a warmth and clarity that reminded me: true wisdom speaks softly, without need for grandeur.
Ancient talismans and spiritual stones
As with all my journeys, I wandered through markets and antique shops, drawn to the energy of handmade treasures. Here, closer to the sky than anywhere else, I discovered ancient relics, tangible memories of a mineral-rich past as a privilege of weaving my own tapestry of inspiration. Among them, the “Mani Stones”, small talismans carved with floral or sacred motifs, once carried by travellers along the Silk Road as amulets of protection and meaning.
One of the most powerful discoveries was the Dzi Beads, divine stones believed to be a gift from the heavens. These ancient agates, revered across the Himalayas, are said to offer protection and spiritual guidance. Rare and treasured, they now appear only in the most exceptional antique collections and auctions, bearing the timeless energy of ancient paths.
Crossing through the high mountain passes, we reached Pangong lake, so vividly blue that it seemed a liquid jewel resting in the stillness of the peaks. At over 4,000 metres above sea level, it offered a breath between the mountains, a pause on the long, winding journey.
Further on, we entered the Nubra Valley, travelling along the world’s highest road. At its heart, in a 4,000-year-old royal house, we were welcomed with warmth and tradition. Local women prepared the evening delicious meal, and stories were shared around the Thabs, a large clay hearth that cools the room in summer and glows with life in the winter months.
“After weeks of wandering through the Himalayas, I found myself once again on the shores of the Indian Ocean, inspired and carrying with me the ancestral treasures of the journey.”
María Moro
Founder of OONA
A return to the Ocean
Back in our home in Sri Lanka, the journey continues: from inspiration to creation. In the expert hands of our artisans, a Mani Stone inlaid with turquoise is transformed into a unique ring, infused with meaning, energy, and exquisite craftsmanship. In Himalayan culture, turquoise is a sacred stone, offering protection, health, and safe passage. Some of the Dzi beads adquired are now part of exclusive necklaces elegantly mixed with sapphires and other precious stones from Sri Lanka.
From the peaks of Ladakh to the tropics of Sri Lanka, we have woven an invisible thread, a spiritual and creative journey along the ancient Silk Road. At its end lies OONA’s origin, where our roots give form to a language with no words, a bridge between two worlds.
