Turtuk is nestled in a valley by the Shyok river between the Karakoram and Himalayas. While this is a spectacularly beautiful tourist location, it is also an extremely isolated and harsh environment for day-to-day living.  It is a cold desert with little vegetation or trees.

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Winters are extremely harsh with temperatures falling below -15 degrees Centigrade. Going to the nearest large towns of Hunder or Diskit is a challenge, and the city of Leh is completely out of reach.

Even in Spring and Summer, due to the the lack of local resources, everything needs to be brought in from Leh, which can be extremely expensive.

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Further, infrastructure is still very weak, with just a few hours of electricity each day and very limited internet availability. There is an immediate need for solar  panels and inverters for electricity, non-electric heaters for keeping the classrooms warm and construction of the new school building.