Art isn’t just to be found in the hushed hallways of museums with “Do Not Touch” signs; photographer and writer Ahtushi Deshpande spotted art where one would last expect it—out in the open in Ladakh’s craggy terrain, at the mercy of wind, rain and human interference. There, in the most inhospitable environment, she came upon petroglyphs, an ancient art form etched into rocks by our nomadic ancestors close to 3,000 years ago.

The fact that these rock carvings have survived all these millennia, open to the elements, is a marvel in itself, but even the permanence of rock is no match for time, and the petroglyphs are quickly vanishing from Ladakh. Deshpande has spent over a decade tracking down these hidden treasures and documenting them through photography. Her photographs will now be on display at an upcoming exhibition at Pratap, Kala Ghoda, from September 29 to October 15.