Parkachik glacier en route Zanskar valley
Parkachik is the last village in Suru valley. The Parkachik glacier is 1km away from the village of Parkachik. Much of the snow had melted when we saw it in the month of July, but it sill made for an interesting look especially with the mighty Himalayas surrounding it.
This picture was taken from a truck in which we travelled from Parkachik to Zanskar.SuruvalleySuru valleyIndiaLadakh
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Landscapes en route Zanskar
After Parkachik, the last village of Suru Valley civilisation comes to a sudden halt. The river Suru, tributary of Indus gives you company most of the way into Zanskar.
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Landscapes en route Zanskar
Rangdum, the southernmost tip of Suru valley is a tiny hamlet of around ten houses.
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Landscapes en route Zanskar
The hamlet of Rangdum brings with it some signs of life. These are the Himalayan horses walking on the banks of the Suru river. Randum is the southernmost tip of the Suru valley, the valley that separates Kargil from Zanskar, the most remote valley in India.
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Technology in the middle of nowhere at Rangdum en route Zanskar
Even the remote Rangdum midway between Zanskar and Kargil is now touched by technology.
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Typical houses in higher Himalayas
This is a typical stone houses found in the Zanskar and Ladakh regions. Built with flat stones stacked on top of each other, they are then coated with a layer which is a mixture of local mud, cattle dung and other things.
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A guest house in Rangdum en route Zanskar
Rangdum is midway between Kargil and Padum, the headquarters of Zanskar valley. Travelers often halt for the night at Rangdum on their way to Zanskar. Some houses operate homestays and guest houses for these travelers.
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Landscapes en route Zanskar
Rangdum is midway on the 250km route from Kargil to Padum, headquarter of the remote Zanskar valley. A convenient halt on this long route, it is a tiny hamlet of ten houses and a couple of food stalls and guesthouses. Its geographic location makes it, essentially, the definition of "in the middle of nowhere".
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Landscapes en route Zanskar
Soon after Rangdum is Penzi la, the only mountain pass on the way to Zanskar.
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Landscapes en route Zanskar
The rugged browns of the Greater Himalayas give company after crossing the Penzi la. Soon after Rangdum is Penzi la, the only mountain pass on the way to Zanskar. The water the glacier melt of Drang Drung glacier, the source of the Suru river.
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Drang Drung glacier on Penzila enroute Zanskar, India
We saw the Drang Drung glacier after crossing the highest point at 4200 meters, of Penzi la, the only mountain pass en route Zanskar. It was an enormous glacier, melting in full flow at the peak of summer. Read more about Mountain passes we crossed in the Himalayas.
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Drang Drung glacier on Penzila enroute Zanskar, India
We saw the Drang Drung glacier after crossing the highest point at 4200 meters, of Penzi la, the only mountain pass en route Zanskar. It was an enormous glacier, melting in full flow at the peak of summer. Read more about Mountain passes we crossed in the Himalayas.
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Landscapes en route Zanskar
The meandering gravel path is how much of the 250 km, only motor-able "road" to Zanskar is.
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Drang Drung glacier en route Zanskar
From atop the Penzi la, this was the closest we got to the Drang Drung glacier. Read more about Mountain passes we crossed in the Himalayas.
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