The group that traveled in the trucks to Zanskar
Unavoidable circumstances forced us to halt overnight in the middle of nowhere. We spent the night in one of the trucks. This was the farewell picture we took with our kind drivers the next morning, after we had finally made it to Zanskar.
Back to PHOTO GALLERIESDrang 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.
Back to PHOTO GALLERIESDrang 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.
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.
Landscapes en route Zanskar
It was late afternoon when we crossed the Penzi la, the landscape was starting to "feel" cold! Read more about Mountain passes we crossed in the Himalayas.
On the Penzi la en route Zanskar
Our truck trudges through Penzi la, the only pass on the only motor-able road that connects Zanskar valley to the rest of India. Read more about Mountain passes we crossed in the Himalayas.
Kids at Rangdum, Kargil, India
Modeling was in her blood and her spontaneity and ease in front of the camera made her a pleasure to shoot. She was posing as if it was a routine for her. Considering that she lived in the remote and isolated little hamlet of Rangdum, on the way to the Zanskar valley, her natural response to the camera was surprising and endearing. Read more of the kids we met at The kids of the hills…
Kids at Rangdum, Kargil, India
Read more of the kids we met at The kids of the hills…
Kids at Rangdum, Kargil, India
Modeling was in her blood and her spontaneity and ease in front of the camera made her a pleasure to shoot. She was posing as if it was a routine for her. Considering that she lived in the remote and isolated little hamlet of Rangdum, on the way to the Zanskar valley, her natural response to the camera was surprising and endearing. Read more of the kids we met at The kids of the hills…
Kids at Rangdum, Kargil, India
Modeling was in her blood and her spontaneity and ease in front of the camera made her a pleasure to shoot. She was posing as if it was a routine for her. Considering that she lived in the remote and isolated little hamlet of Rangdum, on the way to the Zanskar valley, her natural response to the camera was surprising and endearing. Read more of the kids we met at The kids of the hills…
Kids at Rangdum, Kargil, India
Modeling was in her blood and her spontaneity and ease in front of the camera made her a pleasure to shoot. She was posing as if it was a routine for her. Considering that she lived in the remote and isolated little hamlet of Rangdum, on the way to the Zanskar valley, her natural response to the camera was surprising and endearing. Read more of the kids we met at The kids of the hills…
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".
Rocks inscribed with Tibetan scriptures en route Zanskar
These rocks are a common sight in Zanskar and Ladakh. They are inscribed with Buddhist prayers in a Tibetan script and found mostly around monasteries.
RangdumSuru valleyZanskarIndialandscapetibetan scriptureRangdomIndiaLadakh
A Himalayan calf en route Zanskar
A tiny calf grazes in the open, something that can only be done in summer in Zanskar. Zanskar one of the remotest valleys in India. In the winter months the entire valley of Zanskar is covered in snow. Unlike in the plains, the cattle here have a thick coat of fur for some warmth.
Kids at Rangdum, Kargil, India
These kids were playing near a village stupa of Rangdum when we halted for lunch. When we started to take their pictures, this guy took a break from play. Got his younger sister there. And posed for a picture with her. Read more of the kids we met at The kids of the hills…
Kids at Rangdum, Kargil, India
We wondered what lives must be like, for these kids of Rangdum. Living in such isolation, in the middle of nowhere. From what we saw, it sure seemed like a lot of fun! Read more of the kids we met at The kids of the hills…
Kids at Rangdum, Kargil, India
We wondered what their lives must be like, for these kids of Rangdum. Living in such isolation, in the middle of nowhere. From what we saw, it sure seemed like a lot of fun! Read more of the kids we met at The kids of the hills…
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.Stone houses in Parkachik village of Suru valley, India
Back to PHOTO GALLERIESSummer farming in Zanskar, India
Summer is the only time the people of Zanskar have access to fresh local food. Every family in this region has a small farm where they grow vegetables like peas, carrots, potatoes and a variety of greens. The family consumes what's needed . The rest is put to dry for use in the severe winter months.
Farms and solar panels in the village of Parkachik in Suru valley, India
Parkachik, Kargil, India
5DBaratocanonchetanchetan karkhanisHindistanindeIndiaIndieSuru valleyIndienIndiëIndlandIntiajammu and kashmirkargilkarkhaniskashmirparkachikphotophotographerphotographyphotossandeepasandeepa karkhanissandeepachetantourismtravelÍndiaІндіяИндияИндијаהודוינדיאַالهندبھارتهندوستانอินเดียẤn Độインド印度인도IndiaLadakh
The peaks on Nun Kun seen from Parkachik la, India
The twin peaks of Nun (7135m) and Kun (7087m) are the biggest and the highest attraction in the Suru valley. The contrast of the perennially snow covered Nun and the barren Kun add to the mystic of the place. Suru valley stretches from Kargil right up to the Penzi la after which the Zanskar valley starts. It is the greenest valley of the Greater Himalayas. Every village in the Suru valley takes pride in the view it affords of the Nun and the Kun peaks.
Nun KunParkachikSuru valleyZanskarKargilKashmirIndialandscapeIndiaLadakh
View of Suru valley from a vantage point in Parkachik
Parkachik, Kargil, India
5DBaratocanonchetanchetan karkhanisHindistanindeIndiaIndieSuru valleyIndienIndiëIndlandIntiajammu and kashmirkargilkarkhaniskashmirparkachikphotophotographerphotographyphotossandeepasandeepa karkhanissandeepachetantourismtravelÍndiaІндіяИндияИндијаהודוינדיאַالهندبھارتهندوستانอินเดียẤn Độインド印度인도IndiaLadakh
View of Suru valley from a vantage point in Parkachik
Parkachik, Kargil, India
5DBaratocanonchetanchetan karkhanisHindistanindeIndiaSuru valleyIndieIndienIndiëIndlandIntiajammu and kashmirkargilkarkhaniskashmirparkachikphotophotographerphotographyphotossandeepasandeepa karkhanissandeepachetantourismtravelÍndiaІндіяИндияИндијаהודוינדיאַالهندبھارتهندوستانอินเดียẤn Độインド印度인도IndiaLadakh