Leh: Sitting comfortably at a height of 13154 ft, Zanskar Valley is a semi-arid region that is nestled in the lap of the northern flank of Great Himalayas. Zanskar’s pristine water bodies, snow-capped mountains surrounding the region, and scenic landscape work as a major draw for tourists. Located around 105 km away from Leh, this region is a hotspot for adventure activities, including water rafting, trekking, paragliding, among others. Also, centuries-old monasteries dot this place, making it one of the favoured places for monastery lovers. During winters, temperature can go down to -30 degree celsius; thus, travellers need to plan their visit to Zanskar during June to September, as the valley will remain heavily covered in snow.
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Places to visit in Zanskar
Rivers, monasteries, and snow-clad mountains form the beautiful landscape of Zanskar. Since it’s home to numerous monasteries, you should not miss visiting the Sani Monastery, Lingshed Monastery, Stongdey Monastery, Phuktal Monastery and more. Then, you can visit the Pensi La Pass that separates Zanskar Valley from Suru Valley. Pensi La Pass, being flanked by glaciers on both the sides, creates a lovely sight, which one can visit during the months from May to September.
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Things to do in Zanskar
Zanskar, primarily known for its unique Chadar Trek or the Frozen River Trek, is accessible during winters. Apart from this, Zanskar is known for its treacherous terrain for adventure lovers, such as the Padum-Darcha Trek, Lugnak Trail Trek, and Zanskar-Sham Valley Trek are some of the treks that one can try. The Zanskar River offers the best rafting experience in Ladakh, whereas motorbiking is another adrenaline rushing activity that you can enjoy during your visit to Zanskar Region.
How to reach Zanskar Valley?
You can reach this destination by air, train, and road. If you opt for flight, you need to reach the Kushok Bakula Airport, which is the closest airport to Leh. Then, hire a taxi to get to Zanskar Valley afterwards. If you opt for the train, you will after reaching the Jammu Tawi railway station, take a taxi that will take you to Leh and then to Zanskar Valley.
The distance between Leh and Zanskar Valley is around 462 km, which will take around 11 hours if one takes the NH 1 and NH 301. After reaching Leh, one can opt for a hired vehicle to take you to Zanskar Valley via Kargil.
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Tips for visiting Zanskar
Given the difficulty level of reaching Zanskar Valley, one needs to make proper arrangements in advance, and take note of the following tips for a hassle-free trip.
You can easily find fuel pumps on the Srinagar – Kargil road, but beyond that you will find none till Padum, so be fully-prepared. Make sure you top up your vehicle with required fuel in Kargil and refill whenever you get the chance.
There is just a single ATM in Padum market when visiting the Zanskar Valley. Thus, you need to carry enough cash with you to ensure you are not stuck somewhere if your car breaks down, or you want to experience something new.
There is a government hospital in Kargil and Padum, in case it is required.
After you cross Sankoo, your mobile might not have any connectivity at all. So be prepared!
