Zanskar

Located amidst scenic locales of Ladakh region, Zanskar is one of the most unexplored places in the country. Pleasant climate, vistas of barren landscapes, snow-capped Himalayan Mountains and sparkling rivers make Zanskar a perfect holiday destination.

Zanskar is one of the most unexplored places in the country. Located 105 km from Leh, Zanskar is as secluded as it can get. Cut off from the rest of the country, Zanskar is accessible only from April to August.

Situated in the Himalayan ranges, Zanskar is popular with adventure junkies. It is a hotspot for trekking, paragliding and river rafting. Lamayuru to Darcha, Lamayuru-Padum, are some of the popular trekking trails passing around Zanskar. Treks to Markha Valley and Khangri originate from Zanskar. Trekking on frozen water is also a unique adventure activity undertaken in Zanskar.

Zanskar houses a large population of Tibetan Buddhists. Daily life of Zanskar revolves around monks and Buddhist monasteries.

They generally speak in Zanskari. Nonetheless, they are also fluent in Hindi, Ladakhi and Urdu. Some people also speak in Tibetan and English.

Human activity in Zanskar dates back to the Bronze Age (3000-1000 BC).

Around 200 BC, influence of Buddhism spread in Zanskar. Tibetans tried to spread Bon religion in Zanskar; however, Tibetans got converted to Buddhism. Buddhism spread widely in Zanskar in the 8th century.

Till the 15th century Zanskar existed as an independent kingdom ruled by four royal families. Dogra general Zorawar Singh conquered Zankar and reduced the power of the royal families. Zanskar became a part of Ladakh region and its fortunes have been closely related to it since then.

SHOPPING

There aren’t too many shopping options in Zanskar. Pashmina and Kashmiri shawls are the most popular tourist buys. Apart from that, handicrafts and silk carpets of Zanskar are extremely famous.

WHERE TO STAY

There are no accommodation options in Zanskar. Tourists prefer setting up their own tent when they visit Zanskar. Some of them also prefer staying in the nearby areas like Padum where there is a tourist complex or at Leh that offer a wide range of accommodation options like hotels, resorts and guest-houses catering to budget, mid-range and luxury needs for stay.