Zanskar is one of the most remotest and a least visited place without which Ladakh is incomplete. Zanskar, covers an area of some 7,000 square kilometres ,lies at an altitude of about 3,500 to 7,000 metres (11,500–23,000 feet) amsl. The zanskar valley is a paradise for adventure travel enthusiast and not for the comfort seeker. Do enjoy the adrenalin rush, in the hidden kingdom of Zanskar. You will remember the rush for your entire lifetime. Such is the magic of Zanskar valley, one of the remotest and virgin region to explore in India.
Karsha is the largest and most important monastery in Zanskar. It is attributed to Padmasambhava, and there are ancient rock-carvings at the site. The oldest remaining structure, an Avalokiteshvara temple, Chuk-shik-jal, contains wall paintings which seem to associate it with the era of Rinchen Zangpo (958-1055).[6]
The monastery is under the control of the younger brother of the Dalai Lama. Behind his seat in the chapel is a statue of Lhaso Cho Rinpoche, which was brought from Lhasa in the 1960s and has a golden crown with carnelian and turquoise decorations. The most important festival, known as the Karsha Gustor, is held with masked cham dances on the 26th to the 29th day of the 11th Tibetan month, which is usually in January.
Mons of the Khesa race were dominant in the past in the region of western Himalayas. The Mons have been Buddhist in the region from the time of the Kushan dynasty, established by Emperor Kanishka. Mons are the dominant population in the village in the Zanskar valley and said to belong to an Aryan race linked to Kaniskha’s period as their features do not match with that of the local tribes or with the Mongolians. Mons are credited with building 30 monasteries, chortens and temples, including the Kursha Monastery in the main Zanskar valley; some of the other monasteries built by them are the: Teta, Muni, Phugtal, Pune, Burdal, Togrimo, Padum, Pipting, Tondhe, Zangla, Linshot and Sumda. Gelugpa monastery is another important monastery that is located in Khursha village, which has an excellent display of mural arts.
The Drang-Drung Glacier (also called Durung Drung Glacier) is a mountain glacier near the Pensi La mountain pass at the Kargil - Zanaskar Road in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir in India. The Drang-Drung Glacier is likely to be the largest glacier in Ladakh other than the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram Range,with a maximum length of 23 kilometres (14 mi) at an average elevation of 4,780 m (15,680 feet). The glacier lies in the northeastern Himalayan Range known as the Zanskar Range, 142 kilometres (88 mi) south of Kargil and 331 kilometres (206 mi) east of Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The Drang-Drung Glacier is a long river of ice and snow, a source of the Stod River which is a tributary of the Zanskar River and the Zanskar River is a tributary of Indus River. Doda Peak with an elevation of 6,550 m (21,490 feet) rises from the glacier and this is one of the spectacular side during tour de Zanskar.
Phugtal Monastery or Phugtal Gompa (often transliterated as Phuktal) is a Buddhist monastery located in the remote Lungnak Valley in south-eastern Zanskar, in the autonomous Himalayan region of Ladakh, in Northern India. It is one of the only Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh that can still be reached only by foot. Supplies to the monastery are brought on horses, donkeys, and mules in the warmer months, and in the frozen winters, they are transported through the frozen Zanskar River. A road is expected to be built up to the monastery, however, for now, it is a day's walk from Dorzang, the end of the road leading from Padum.
Phugtal Monastery or Phugtal Gompa (often transliterated as Phuktal) is a Buddhist monastery located in the remote Lungnak Valley in south-eastern Zanskar, in the autonomous Himalayan region of Ladakh, in Northern India. It is one of the only Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh that can still be reached only by foot. Supplies to the monastery are brought on horses, donkeys, and mules in the warmer months, and in the frozen winters, they are transported through the frozen Zanskar River. A road is expected to be built up to the monastery, however, for now, it is a day's walk from Dorzang, the end of the road leading from Padum.
This day trip rafting starts from Chilling and ends at NIMU. Nimu is the confluence point of Indus & Zanskar river. The rafting period is of around 3hrs. and the Grade is three. The rafting takes you through some breath taking Himalayan landscape.fgh
This day trip rafting starts from Chilling and ends at NIMU. Nimu is the confluence point of Indus & Zanskar river. The rafting period is of around 3hrs. and the Grade is three. The rafting takes you through some breath taking Himalayan landscape.
This is a two day rafting starting from Chilling and ending at Saspol. This is of Grade three. On day one you drive to Chilling and raft up to Nimu which is of around 3 hrs. Stay over night at Nimu in Camp. On day two rafting period is of around 4hrs. Drive back to leh, enroute visit to Alchi & Basgo monasteries.
This is a two day rafting starting from Chilling and ending at Saspol. This is of Grade three. On day one you drive to Chilling and raft up to Nimu which is of around 3 hrs. Stay over night at Nimu in Camp. On day two rafting period is of around 4hrs. Drive back to leh, enroute visit to Alchi & Basgo monasteries.
Outdoor activities in Zanskar are restricted to trekking and river rafting which you can enjoy to your heart’s content here. River rafting in the Zanskar River is definitely an opportunity that should not be missed out. The rafting experience will take you through one of the breathtaking gorges in the world. As the water in the river is freezing cold, it is advisable that you wear a wet suit before you take the ride.
Outdoor activities in Zanskar are restricted to trekking and river rafting which you can enjoy to your heart’s content here. River rafting in the Zanskar River is definitely an opportunity that should not be missed out. The rafting experience will take you through one of the breathtaking gorges in the world. As the water in the river is freezing cold, it is advisable that you wear a wet suit before you take the ride.
