First glimpse of Phuktal monastery, Zanskar, India
After the long, breath taking (as well as breathless making) walk up at around 4200 meters in the Phuktal valley, the sight of the Phuktal monastery was, more than anything, relieving! Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery
Trek to Phuktal monastery, Zanskar, India
Zanskar is probably the most isolated valley in India and Phuktal is the remotest part of Zanskar. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery
Early morning in Cha en route Phuktal, Zanskar, India
While we prepared to leave our homestay in Cha early morning for the Phuktal monastery, this woman has already gathered her first basket of the day. Read full story on Trek to Phuktal Monastery
Phuktal monastery trekChaZanskararhakzanskar valleyIndiaLadakh
Leaving Cha village for Phuktal monastery
It's a tiny village. No shop. No school. Be prepared to have only locally grown vegetables. (And some home brewed alcohol). We stayed here overnight on our way to Phuktal monastery. Read full story on Trek to Phuktal Monastery
ChaZanskarIndialandscapesandeepachetanzanskar valleyIndiaLadakh
Leaving Cha village for Phuktal monastery
It's a tiny village. No shop. No school. Be prepared to have only locally grown vegetables. (And some home brewed alcohol). We stayed here overnight on our way to Phuktal monastery. Read full story on Trek to Phuktal Monastery
ChaZanskarIndialandscapesandeepachetanzanskar valleyIndiaLadakh
Homemade liquor in Zanskar, India
Chang, made from fermented barley is the most famous drink in Zanskar. Arhak is a distilled form of Chang. The family where we spent the night en route Phuktal monastery, had Arhak making scheduled for the day. That evening we had some fresh homemade Arhak post dinner! Read full story on Trek to Phuktal Monastery
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Bridge at Purne en route Phuktal, Zanskar, India
The Phuktal monastery is the epitome of monks living high up in the mountains, detached from the rest of the world. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery
Bridge at Purne en route Phuktal, Zanskar, India
The Phuktal monastery is the epitome of monks living high up in the mountains, detached from the rest of the world. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery
ChaZanskarIndialandscapesandeepachetanzanskar valleyIndiaLadakh
Cha village enroute Phuktal, Zanskar, India
Phuktal is the remotest part of Zanskar. The green fields are a rare sign of civilisation in the sparsely populated interiors of this Zanskar valley. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery
Villages of Zanskar valley
This is a typical landscape in Zanskar - brown barren mountains of the Greater Himalayas, white stone houses and patches of fields around the villages being the only greenery. We crossed this village on our way to the Phuktal monastery. Read full stories on Trek to Phuktal Monastery
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Bardan monastery, Zanskar, India
Part of the original trek route to Phuktal, Bardan is a short distance ahead of Padum. Read full stories on Trek to Phuktal Monastery
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Photograph by Chetan Karkhanis
Padum, Zanskar valley, India
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Photograph by Chetan Karkhanis
Padum, Zanskar valley, India
PAD201307258053crop5DBaratocanonchetanchetan karkhanisgeotagHindistanindeIndiaIndieIndienIndiëIndlandIntiajammu and kashmirkargilkarkhanislandscapepadum valleyphotophotographphotographerphotographyphotossandeepasandeepa karkhanissandeepachetantourismtravelvalleyzanskarÍndiaІндіяИндияИндијаהודוינדיאַالهندبھارتهندوستانอินเดียẤn Độインド印度인도
Barley fields in Padum, Zanskar, India
Barley is the main crop in the cold valley of Zanskar, which sees snow cover for nearly six months. This was the peak of summer and the barley was ready for harvest.
PadumZanskarIndialandscapesandeepachetanzanskar valleyIndiaLadakh
Barley fields in Padum, Zanskar, India
Barley is the main crop in the cold valley of Zanskar, which sees snow cover for nearly six months. It was the peak of summer and the barley was ready for harvest!
PadumZanskarIndialandscapesandeepachetanzanskar valleyIndiaLadakh
A signboard in Zanskar put up by BRO, Border Roads Organisation
This board is bang opposite a petrol pump (gas station). A single hand cranked fuel dispenser is operated by a lone employee there. This petrol pump caters to the fueling needs of around 14000 people - the population of the entire Zanskar valley! Which makes this solitary pump the one and only means for the people of Zanskar to be connected to the world beyond their valley.
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View from a hillock in Padum, Zanskar, India
The bridge over the river leads to the village of Stongdey. It also connects Padum with the only petrol pump in the entire Zanskar valley.
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A young couple from Zanskar dressed in traditional clothes
This young couple hosted us at their guest house called Mont Blanc in Padum, the headquarters of Zanskar valley. The guy was the elected representative of the people of Padum. He was mesmerised by Mont Blanc on his trip to France and decided to name his place after it.
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Old monastery in Karsha, Zanskar, India
Next to the main monastery in Karsha is an old 11th C. monastery called Chuchik Jal Lhakhang. It has many beautiful old paintings on its walls. The monastery is now not in use and they are trying to raise funds for its restoration and maintenance.
Old monastery in Karsha, Zanskar, India
Next to the main monastery in Karsha is an old 11th C. monastery called Chuchik Jal Lhakhang. It has many beautiful old paintings on its walls. The monastery is now not in use and they are trying to raise funds for its restoration and maintenance.
Old monastery in Karsha, Zanskar, India
Next to the main monastery in Karsha is an old 11th C. monastery called Chuchik Jal Lhakhang. It has many beautiful old paintings on its walls. The monastery is now not in use and they are trying to raise funds for its restoration and maintenance.
Old monastery in Karsha, Zanskar, India
Next to the main monastery in Karsha is an old 11th C. monastery called Chuchik Jal Lhakhang. It has many beautiful old paintings on its walls. The monastery is now not in use and they are trying to raise funds for its restoration and maintenance.
View of the Karsha valley from the top of the Karsha gompa.
Seen in the top right of this picture is the Karsha nunnery and a long winding road to it. A similar road leads to the gompa. Karsha has the biggest monastery in the Zanskar valley.
View of the Karsha valley from the top of the monastery in Zanskar, India
Seen in the top right of this picture is the Karsha nunnery and a long winding road to it. A similar road leads to the gompa. Karsha has the biggest monastery in the Zanskar valley.
Panorama of the view from Karsha monastery
Karsha has the biggest monastery in Zanskar. The village of Karsha is known as a model village. There is a school, a medical sub centre. Trees have been cultivated systematically and most people are into agriculture.
View from Karsha monastery
Karsha has the biggest monastery in Zanskar. The village of Karsha is known as a model village. There is a school, a medical sub centre. Trees have been cultivated systematically and most people are into agriculture.
View from the Karsha monastery in Zanskar, India
Karsha has the biggest monastery in Zanskar. The village of Karsha is known as a model village. There is a school, a medical sub centre. Trees have been cultivated systematically and most people are into agriculture.
View from the Karsha monastery in Zanskar, India
Karsha has the biggest monastery in Zanskar. The village of Karsha is known as a model village. There is a school, a medical sub centre. Trees have been cultivated systematically and most people are into agriculture.
View from the Karsha monastery in Zanskar, India
Karsha has the biggest monastery in Zanskar. The village of Karsha is known as a model village. There is a school, a medical sub centre. Trees have been cultivated systematically and most people are into agriculture.
View from Karsha monastery in Zanskar, India
Karsha has the biggest monastery in Zanskar. The village of Karsha is known as a model village. There is a school, a medical sub centre. Trees have been cultivated systematically and most people are into agriculture.
Climb up to Karsha monastery, Zanskar, India
Karsha monastery, close to the headquarters of Padum, is the biggest monastery in Zanskar.
View from Karsha monastery in Zanskar, India
Karsha is known as a model village. There is a school, a medical sub centre. Trees have been cultivated systematically and most people are into agriculture.
Tibetan scriptures carved on rocks in Zanskar
Religion and prayers play a very important part in the lives of the people of Zanskar. Read more about the life here at Simple life in Sani.
Tibetan scriptures carved on rocks in Zanskar
Religion and prayers play a very important part in the lives of the people of Zanskar. Read more about the life here at Simple life in Sani.
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
Music is in the air! The festival resonates with the beats and rhythms of several musical instruments. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
SaniSani monastery festivalZanskarIndiaportraitsandeepachetanIndiaLadakh
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
Music is in the air! The festival resonates with the beats and rhythms of several musical instruments. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
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Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
Music is in the air! The festival resonates with the beats and rhythms of several musical instruments. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
A two-day riot of colour, dance and music, the Sani Festival is the perfect way to build a social camaraderie among the far-flung villages of the Zanskar valley. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
SaniSani monastery festivalZanskarIndiaportraitsandeepachetanIndiaLadakh
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
A two-day riot of colour, dance and music, the Sani Festival is the perfect way to build a social camaraderie among the far-flung villages of the Zanskar valley. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
SaniSani monastery festivalZanskarIndiaportraitsandeepachetanIndiaLadakh
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
The most celebrated event of the Sani festival is the bridal dance. All the newly wed brides of the Sani village, arrive all dressed up in the whole bridal finery. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
SaniSani monastery festivalZanskarIndiaportraitsandeepachetanIndiaLadakh
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
The most celebrated event of the Sani festival is the bridal dance. All the newly wed brides of the Sani village, arrive all dressed up in the whole bridal finery. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
The most celebrated event of the Sani festival is the bridal dance. All the newly wed brides of the Sani village, arrive all dressed up in the whole bridal finery. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
SaniSani monastery festivalZanskarIndiaportraitsandeepachetanIndiaLadakh
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
The most celebrated event of the Sani festival is the bridal dance. All the newly wed brides of the Sani village, arrive all dressed up in the whole bridal finery. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
SaniSani monastery festivalZanskarIndiaportraitsandeepachetanIndiaLadakh
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
Children get an off from school to be a part of the Sani festival, a two-day riot of colour, dance and music. Read more about the festival at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
SaniSani monastery festivalZanskarIndiaportraitsandeepachetanIndiaLadakh
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
Taking advantage of large number of visitors at Sani festival, we saw her collecting funds for restoration of the 11th C. monastery called Chuchik Jal Lhakhang. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
SaniSani monastery festivalZanskarIndiaportraitsandeepachetanIndiaLadakh
Happiness is your best friend and you! at Sani festival, Zanskar, India
Everyone enjoys themselves at the Sani festival, an important event in the social calendar of Zanskar. Read more about the festival at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
SaniSani monastery festivalZanskarIndiaportraitsandeepachetanIndiaLadakh
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
Little monks who provide rhythm to the Sani festival. Music is an important aspect of the Sani festival, a two-day riot of colour, dance and music. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
SaniSani monastery festivalZanskarIndiaportraitsandeepachetanIndiaLadakh
Sani Festival, Zanskar valley, India
These are the monks who provide rhythm to the Sani festival. Music is an important aspect of the Sani festival, a two-day riot of colour, dance and music. Read more at Sani festival: Colourful victory of good over evil
SaniSani monastery festivalZanskarIndiaportraitsandeepachetanIndiaLadakh