A Shelter So High! Class 5 Notes: Environmental Studies Chapter 13 (Looking Around)

Summary of a Shelter So High!

• With a “Loner” bike, Gaurav Jani travelled from Mumbai to Delhi and from there to Kashmir and Ladakh.

• While travelling he packed necessary items such as a small tent, plastic sheet, sleeping bag, warm clothes, some food, and a camera.

• Leh, a joint capital and city in Ladakh is a cold desert with scarce vegetation and mountains capped with snow.

• Houses in Ladakh are made in such a way that they are comfortable with snow.

• People in Ladakh will store food for winter during the summer season since nothing will be available during the season.

• In the mountains, the Changpas roam around. The sheep and goats are their treasures.

• Changpas, a big cone-shaped tent, is known as Rebo. Lekha is the place where sheep and goats are kept.

• In Srinagar, houses are made of mountains and water. 

Image: Map of Ladakh

A Traveller’s Tale

• Gaurav Jani is a native of Mumbai who travels a lot to different places on his loner (bike).

• Now he is travelling from Delhi to Ladakh and Kashmir.

Getting Ready

• Since the journey was for two months Gaurav packed a lot of things.

• He brought a tiny tent, a sleeping bag, a plastic sheet, warm clothing, and food that would last many days. He also brought a camera and extra gas cans.

• Gaurav travelled 1400 kilometres from Mumbai to Delhi in three days.

• In Delhi, he repacked his belongings and continued. He arrived in Manali in two days. It felt so good to be in the highlands and breathe fresh air! The true adventure was about to begin.

• To get to Leh, Ladakh, Jani had to travel across tough roads in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

New Home

• All he required was food and a tent to keep him warm during the night. He could barely sleep in his nylon tent because it was so little.

• Outside the tent, Loner stood to watch. Gaurav was awakened by the sound of birds and the breeze to view the sunrise.

Cold Desert

• For the first time, he witnessed a freezing desert, which is high, dry, and flat. Ladakh receives extremely little rain.

• Gaurav came to a peaceful area lined with lovely white buildings. He noticed that he was being pursued by a bunch of children as he rode slowly. 'Jule, Jule,' they said, which means 'welcome, welcome.'

Image: Cold desert, Ladakh

A Home with Tashi

• Gaurav was dragged to Tashi's house by Tashi. It was a two-story structure. The home was constructed of stones that were stacked one on top of the other.

• From the inside, the house resembled a shed, with a large amount of hay stacked inside. They climbed the wooden steps to the first floor. Tashi stated, "This is where we dwell." "Our animals and important items are kept on the ground floor."

• Tashi then led Gaurav to her house's roof. On some of the red chilies, orange pumpkins and golden yellow corn were drying out, and on others, there were orange pumpkins and golden yellow corn.

People Living on the Top of the World

• Loner struggled to zigzag along the small, rocky mountain paths. There have been no roads at all in several places.

• He was making his way towards Changthang's rugged plains. This location is over 5000 meters above sea level.

• Gaurav noticed some tents in the distance. He was curious as to who resided there and what they were doing with this remote location.

The Changpa

• Gaurav met Namgyal there and learned about the Changpa people, who live in the mountains. Only roughly 5000 people make up the Changpa tribe.

• With their goats and sheep, the Changpas are constantly on the go.

• They obtain all they need from these - milk, meat, tent skins, and wool for coats and sweaters. Their only valuable possession is a herd of goats.

• On my motorcycle, he was hauling very little of his belongings. The Changpas, on the other hand, transport all they have on their horses and yaks.

• "Welcome to our home," Namgyal remarked as he took me to the large cone-shaped tent. Rebo is the name of their tent.

• Yak hair is weaved into strips that are then sewn together. These are robust and warm, and they keep them safe from the icy winds.

• The temperature goes much below zero in the winter! The wind is blowing at a speed of 70 km/h.

• There was a spot to keep sheep and goats near the Rebo. This is referred to as Lekha by Changpas. Lekha's walls are built of stones.

The World-Famous Pashmina

"The World Famous Pashmina" refers to the renowned pashmina wool, which is highly valued for its softness and warmth. Pashmina comes from the undercoat of the Himalayan goat, known as the Chyangra, and is primarily found in regions like Kashmir. The wool is carefully collected and processed to create luxurious and high-quality shawls and blankets. This section highlights the importance of pashmina in local economies, its traditional crafting methods, and its significance in preserving cultural heritage. Understanding pashmina helps students appreciate the role of traditional industries and the value of natural resources in different regions.

Towards Srinagar

• Gaurav’s return route would pick him up from this unique corner of the world to places that appeared to be from another planet. He took an alternative route from Leh this time.

• He spent a couple of days in Srinagar. The houses there astounded Gaurav. They snatched his heart.

• In Leh, he had a fantastic time living in the mountains, and in Srinagar, Gaurav had a fantastic time living on the river.

Image: House in Srinagar

Facts of Houses in Srinagar

• Homes in Kashmiri communities are constructed from cut stones that are stacked one on top of the other and covered in mud. Also employed is wood.

• The homes feature roofs that slope. In Srinagar, a "donga" is home to many families.

• These boats can be observed in the Jhelum River and Dal Lake. The "donga" looks exactly like a house from the inside, complete with several rooms.

• A unique form of window that protrudes from the wall is found in some older homes. This is known as "dab." It features a gorgeous wood pattern. To sit here and take in the scenery is fantastic!

• Stone, bricks, and wood make up the local historic houses. The windows and doors have lovely arches (mehraab).

Image: Dal lake of Srinagar

• The most popular destination in Srinagar for both tourists and locals is Dal Lake, an urban lake that is the second-largest lake in Jammu & Kashmir.

• One distinctive feature of this lake is the floating gardens, or "Rad" in Kashmiri. Other unique aspects of Dal include houseboats and shikaris.

• To see the breathtaking views of the lake, many people choose to stay on a houseboat, while both tourists and locals enjoy taking shikaras for transportation.

Image: Pashmina Shawls of Jammu & Kashmir

• The finest Cashmere wool, from Ladakh, is used to make Pashmina shawls.

• A unique species of goats that produce Cashmere as down fibre lives in the Changthang region of Ladakh.

• Today, the term "pashmina" can be used to describe both the fabric and the Kashmir shawl variation manufactured from it.

• Ladakh is always extremely chilly and dry for the majority of the year due to its high altitude.

• The atmosphere is so thin that you can feel the heat of the sun.

• In this area, there is only 10 cm of annual rainfall. This is because it is located in the Himalayas' rain shadow.

• Burning sunlight and icy winds are common in the area.

Return Journey

• Loner and Gaurav were ready to arrive in Mumbai after a long journey.

• He was pleased that he had learned and experienced so much fresh information. In his camera, Gaurav had also dragged back some memories.

The Theme of the Chapter

• This chapter emphasises how travelling allows people to form personal connections through learning about diverse cultures, foods, new places, music, and the way people live their lives in different areas of the world.

• Travelling tells the significance of exposure to other exposures.

• The chapter talks about the valuable aspects of travelling are the connections and relationships formed during one's stay.

5 Important Topics of Class 5 EVS Chapter 13 Notes

Importance of EVS Chapter 13 A Shelter So High! Class 5 Notes

• Understanding High-Altitude Shelters: Explains how different types of shelters are built for high-altitude environments.

• Construction Methods: Covers the specific techniques and materials used for constructing homes in high places.

• Adaptations for Comfort: Details the adaptations needed to ensure comfort and safety in high-altitude living conditions.

• Importance of Shelter: Highlights the role of appropriate shelter in different environments and climates.

• Challenges and Solutions: Provides insights into the unique challenges of building and living in high-altitude areas and the solutions developed to address them.

Tips for Learning EVS Chapter 13 A Shelter So High! Class 5 Notes

• Understand the types of high-altitude shelters, construction methods, and adaptations needed for these environments.

• Refer to diagrams or pictures of high-altitude shelters to visualise construction techniques and adaptations.

• Write summaries of each section in your own words to reinforce understanding.

• Think about how shelters in different environments compare to those in high altitudes to make the concepts more relatable.

• Answer any practice questions included in the notes to test your knowledge and identify areas that need more review.

• Go over the notes frequently to keep the information fresh and reinforce key points.

Conclusion

CBSE Revision Notes for Class 5 EVS Chapter 13, "A Shelter So High!" provides a clear explanation of the various types of high-altitude shelters, their construction methods, and the adaptations needed for living in such environments. Class 5 EVS Chapter 13 Notes highlight the importance of appropriate shelter in different climates and the ingenuity involved in adapting to high-altitude living. Understanding these concepts helps students appreciate how people overcome environmental challenges through innovative solutions.

Related Study Materials for Class 5 EVS Chapter 13 A Shelter So High!

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