Shey (Jammu and Kashmir), July 9 - Barely 15 km southeast of Leh, the hilly headquarters of Ladakh district in Jammu and Kashmir, lies one of India's most innovative 'green' schools that operates on solar power and draws on natural elements to provide 'sustainable education' to poor children.

The earthquake-resistant Druk White Lotus School, made of local sandstone, poplar and willow wood, steel, glass and solar panels, straddles a sandy stretch of cold desert in Shey village, flanked by barren mountains.

The school, a seat of education that blends the traditional Ladakhi culture, Buddhist philosophy and modern learning modules, is the winner of three World Architecture Awards - for the best 'Asian Building', the best 'Green Building' and the best 'Education Building'.

Last week, the school won the prestigious British Council for School Environment award for the most 'Inspiring Design'.

The Druk White Lotus School caters to 506 students - 260 boys and 246 girls - from the villages of Ladakh where modern education is still a dream.

'We wanted to impart quality education to the poor but intelligent children of Ladakh, who are grounded in Buddhist philosophy and local culture. And we needed a school for it,' Gwalyang Drukpa, the 12th spiritual head of the Drukpa Buddhist sect, which owns and manages the school, told IANS.

The school comprises building blocks that trap sunlight through glass panels and solar discs.

The classrooms use natural light. The rays of the early sun filter in through a row of light vents facing the east, the noon sun pours in through a column of overhead light shafts and the evening sun bathes the rooms in a golden glow through glass panes facing the west. The light shafts are complemented by tall French windows that open out to the east.

The solar panels outside harness energy from the sun to keep the turbines running.