The farthest and the most
isolated part of the Suru Valley, Rangdum is an elliptical expanded plateau
surrounded by colourful hills on the one side and glacier encrusted rocky
mountains on the other. Situated 130 kms South- east of Kargil, it falls
midway between Kargil and Padum. Due to its remoteness from inhabited parts
either of Suru or Zanskar, the areas wild beauty is almost haunting, while
its isolation is near perfect even as the unpaved Zanskar road traverses its
length. The chief attraction of this area is an imposing 18th century
Buddhist monastery with about 40 monks in residence. Perched picturesquely
atop a centrally rising hillock which is entrenched around by the bifurcated
course of a wild mountain stream, the Rangdum monastery has the aura of an
ancient fortification guarding a mystical mountain valley. The villagers are
descendents of the monastery's agricultural, serf-tenants, who do not own
any land in the region. The monastery enjoys perpetual and unalienable
ownership of the entire valley including the fields tilled by the villagers,
the pastures, hills and even the streams. Rangdum also serves as an
important trekking base. The most popular trek from here leads to Henaskut
near Lamayuru, across the spectacular gorge of the kanji valley. This 5-day
trek also forms the last leg of the two week long trans-Himalayan traverse
between Kashmir and Ladakh.
How
to reach ? Sankoo, Panikhar and Parachik are connected with Kargil
with regular bus services, in summer even twice a day. A bus ride from
Kargil takes 2 hours to Sankoo, 3 hours to Panikhar and about 4 hours to
Parkachik. Rangdum is serviced by the BI-week bus service to Padum, which
increases according to demand. Some trucks plying between Kargil and Padum
also offers a lift in the cabin for the price of a bus seat. Cars and jeeps
taxis can be hired from Kargil for visiting different places in the Suru
Valley, including Rangdum and Penzila.
How
to reach ? 
