About 20 kms. South of
Rangdum stands the Pazila watershed across which lies Zanskar, the most
isolated of all the trans Himalayan Valleys. The Panzila Top (4401 m) is the
picturesque tableland adorned with two small alpine lakes and surrounded by
snow covered peaks. As the Zanskar road winds down the steep slopes of the
watershed to the head of the Stod Valley, one of Zanskar's main tributary
valleys, the majestic "Drang-Drung" glacier looms into full view.
A long and winding river of ice and snow, the Drang-Drung" is perhaps
the largest glacier in Ladakh, outside the Siachen formation. It is from the
cliff-like snout of this extensive glacier that the Stod or Doda River, the
main tributary of river Zanskar, rises. Zanskar
comprises a tri-armed valley system lying between the Great Himalayan Range
and the Zanskar mountain; The three arms radiate star-like towards the west,
north and south from a wide central expanse where the region's two principal
drainage's meet to form the main Zanskar River. It is mainly along the
course of this valley system that the region's 10,000 strong, mainly
Buddhists population lives. Spread over an estimated geographical area of
5000 sq. kms. High rise, mountains and deep gorges surround Zanskar. The
area remains inaccessible for nearly 8 months a year due to heavy snowfall
resulting in closure of all the access passes, including the Penzi-la.
To-day, Zanskar has the distinction of being the least interfered with
microcosms of Ladakh, and one of the last few surviving cultural satellites
of Tibet. Within the mountain ramparts of this lost Shangrila stand a number
of ancient yet active monastic establishments. Some of these religious
foundations have evolved around remote meditation caves believed to have
been used by a succession of famous Buddhist saints for prolonged meditation
in pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment.
The 240 km long Kargil-Padun
road, of which the first 90 km stretch is paved, remains opened from around
mid July to early November. In June, the summer is at its height in the
region and the climate is ideal for trekking along the route free from
vehicular traffic of any kind and when the countryside is freshly
rejuvenated into life after months of frigid dormancy.
