Tag: Zanskar

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Adventure North India

Zanskar Valley, the remote corner of Ladakh is worth visiting for adventure lovers

Covering an area of 7,000 sq km and with a height that ranges between 3,500-7,000 meters, Zanskar is a semi-desert high-altitude tourist destination of Ladakh region. It mainly consists of the part that is situated along the rivers of Doda and Lungnak, the main tributaries of Zanskar River. Despite being one of the parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the valley has striking natural vistas.

Zanskar is bounded by the Himalayan Range in the southwest. That is why it is known as a ‘place wrapped with snow-clad peaks’. Though the place is known for trekking, rafting, and mountaineering, there are other tourist attractions too. Some of the famous attractions in Zanskar are Drang Drung Glacier, Phuktal Monastery, Zangla, Karsha Monastery, Zongkhul, Stongdey Monastery and Panikhar.

How to Reach

There is a weekly bus service that runs from Leh in Ladakh to Padum in Zanskar with a one night halt in Kargil. If seats are available, one can decide to travel to Zanskar valley in this bus. In the morning, buses commence from Kargil for Sankoo and Panikhar, villages in the Suru valley.

Nimu

Nimu, at an elevation of 3150 meters, is a village that is built along the bank of River Indus and is the end point of the river rafting activity in the Zanskar region and the beginning point of river rafting on the Indus River.

Drang Drung Glacier

The source of River Stod, the Drang Drung glacier, has an approximate length of 23 kilometers and an elevation of 4,780 meters. It is the largest glacier in the Ladakh- Zankskar region that is built near the Pensi La mountain pass.

Phuktal Monastery

Constructed by Gangsem Sherap Sampo in the 12th century, the Phugtal Monastery is one of the major tourist attractions in the Zanskar region because of its distinctive architectural work and construction. It has a library, prayer rooms and also houses 70 monks.

Zangla

A home to 150 lamas, the Zangla Monastery situated in the village of Tsa-zar near Zangla is famous for its collection of wall paintings. Further, Zangla is a prominent stopover on the Padum-Stongdey-Zangla-Karsha-Padum trip.

Zongkhul

The Zongkhul Monastery belongs to the Drugpa sect and was constructed by Naropa, who is believed to have meditated for 2 years at one of the caves in the monastery. It appears on the Padum-Kishtwar trek route and encompasses the great piece of artwork that belongs to the ancient age. It is home to 15 monks and has precious artifacts like the ivory image of Samvara, texts containing the spiritual songs, a crystal stupa, and thangkas. One of the murals of Zhadpa Dorje, which is 300-years-old, is quite splendid.

Stongdey Monastery

The Stongdey Monastery was constructed by Naropa’s disciple in the 11th century. It is 20 kilometers away from Padum and has over 60 monks. Further, it has seven temples that exhibit several artistic works. Nonetheless, the Gustor Festival, which is held in the eleventh month of the Tibetan calendar, is hosted in the Stongdey Monastery.

Panikhar

On the way to Zanskar from the Suru Valley, Panikhar is one of the most amazing inhabited areas in the Trans-Himalayan region. It is a refreshing stopover on the way to Padum. From the nearby Parkachik La one can enjoy the wide view of the glacier situated north face of the mighty Nun-Kun Mountain. Further, Panikhar is a hub for the trekkers and hosts a number of trekking routes.

Karsha monastery

The Karsha Monastery, which is also known as Karsha Chamspaling, was constructed by Phagspa Shesrab. The Karsha Monastery is the biggest and one of the most renowned pilgrimages in the Zanskar region that have ancient rock architectural works like the Avalokiteshvara temple, which widens the era of Rinchen Zangpo through its wall paintings. The monastery has a number of shrines and relics of Dorje Rinchen. It is also a resident to more than 100 monks. The area is also dotted with other monasteries like the Khagsar Monastery, Phagspa Monastery, and Purang Monastery.

Travel Tips

Zanskar remains cut off from rest of the world between November to May due to heavy snowfall and it is best visited between June to September when the road is free from snow.

On your excursion to Zanskar Valley, tourists could find accommodation along the way in campsites and homestays. Once you reach Kargil via Zozi La Pass, you could cover places such as the Kargil War Memorial at Drass and Tiger Hill View from a roadside Dhaba while relishing your lunch. While at Padum, you can cover places such as Sani, Stongdey and Karsha monasteries, Zang La Fort.

While at Zanskar Valley, spend the night by the river in the lap of the Greater Himalaya mountains and leave in the next morning.

The beauty of the Zanskar landscapes will change your definition of beautiful forever. It is an admired destination for the adventure lovers who board on to the adrenaline rushing journeys in trans-Himalayas every year.

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Adventure Treks

7 Winter Treks in India that’ll leave you with the most surreal experiences

In India, the winter doesn’t arrive in December. We are talking about the real spine-chilling winter which only arrives in the mid-January. So what is the perfect timing for the treks in the snow, the last week of December is the answer. The snow isn’t thick enough to cause disturbance to the trekkers and they have a wonderful experience roaming around sightseeing in the pure white snow. There are a few popular places in the country which are deemed perfect for the treks in the snowy mountains, here we have listed our top picks among them, take a good look.

Kedarkantha- Located in the western part of the North Indian state, Kedarkantha is popular as one of the most exciting yet risky treks in the snow. The trek is four days long and the camping up in the mountains amidst the deadly cold temperature is one experience not meant for the week of the hearts. The camp at about 1200 feet from the ground will give you a great 360-degree view of the entire area.

Har ki Dun- Located in the same state as Kedarkantha, this is one another highly desired trek routes in the northern part of the country. However, many people are not aware the fun they can have here in the winters, so they go for the summer treks. But the situation has immensely improved in the past couple of years. The 8-day long trek moves through the beautiful valley and even more beautiful villages.

Deoriatal- Chandrashila- Another winter trek makes its way into hearts when the snow begins to fall in Uttarakhand. The entire ranges of western Uttarakhand are visible when you achieve the highest point during the trek. The eccentric view of all the magnificent mountain ranges of India are visible and its turns out to be a magical experience. The trek lasts for about 6 days and is known to be one of the most dangerous trek routes in the country.

Sandakphu- On the eastern part of the country is one hidden gem of a winter trek which remains unexplored to a large extent. This is one of highest snow treks in the country and you get a great view of all the tallest Indian mountain ranges in a great 360-degree view. The 7-day trek is mostly taken in the summer and other seasons but in winters, the experience is breathtaking.

Brahmatal- This beautiful trekking location is there in Uttarakhand again but it has managed to secure the place in our list due to the added attractions you witness once you go up the mountain. The frozen lake on the way, the eccentric view of the valley from one of the highest points in the country, everything begins to make sense and you realize it feels very short even when it lasts for 6 days.

Chadar – Want to head for a trek the snow-bound villages? Some villages become absolutely inaccessible right from November till March. But imagine a way to access the snow-bound villages? Yes you can trek on the top of the ice of frozen rivers. The chadar trek is one such significant route which connects the villages in the in Zanskar valley with Chillingon the road to Leh along the iced up Zanskar River. The route has been experienced since centuries for trade and transportation purposes. It is said to be most reliable in February when the ice is most stable.

Parashar Encircled by the Dhauladhar ranges in Kullu Valley is a blue-water lake called Prashar which is no less than a graceful secret in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. You will be greeted by a charming trail through a forest and several rivulets while you experience the trek. Meanwhile, one can cherish the local culture as the trail goes through villages as well. The trek offers the most magnificent 180-degree view of the Dhauladhar, Pir Panjal, and Kinnaur mountain ranges.

Snow trekking is adventurous, risky, brilliant and magnetic. Yes, there are risks and there are a few accidents that do take place every now and then. But there is the certain charm about it that compels people to do it again and again and this is an experience that remains unforgettable for years, even decades.

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Adventure Corporate Outings Rejuvenate

Cool Indian River Rafting spots

India, other than being one of the few places in the world that give a strong glimpse into the history, is also known for having some great water sports. River rafting is one of the most popular activities that the tourists absolutely like to do. There are many spots all across the country that offers some of the safest and the most enjoyable river rafting opportunities. Safety is paramount, so research well before you move on to raft about what places are the safest and with lesser number of incidents.

Here are our picks out of the countless number of places from the country.

Rishikesh– If one mentions river rafting in the northern part of the country, there always is the first mention of the city called Rishikesh, located in the Uttarakhand state. Whenever somebody says River Rafting, Rishikesh pops up in the mind. And that is there for some reason. Rafting in the holy water of the river Ganges while surrounded by all natural beauty is one of the things one shall experience at least once in their lifetimes. Other sports such as trekking and hill jumping are also quite popular here. The grade 2 rapid of the river makes the rafting last for about 2 hours.

 Ladakh– Oh yes, you remember that road trip from Delhi to Ladakh on your bullets. But you have barely heard the mentions of it as one of the prime locations for the river rafting fanatics in the country. Well, you aren’t alone. The rafting experience in the Zanskar River is something worth having. Because the place is located at a high elevation spot and there is some next level fun while witnessing the river merging with the Indus River at the end of the raft. The rapids here are known to cross the grade 4 and 5 at some spots. The average time frame is 2 hours with the longest rafting route being 3 hours long.

Dandeli- The Western Ghats are among the craziest places in all over the country to do some intense high-level rafting. The Kali River flows at full force and the rafting route over here in Dandeli river rafting, the trail is about 12 kilometers long. This happens to be one of the most exciting rivers rafting experience one can have. All the testosterone heating up your body while the beautiful sceneries calming your nerves down, it doesn’t get any better than that. The class 3 rapids are most common in the river here.

Darjeeling- Teesta and Rangeet rivers flows down the Darjeeling hills providing the rafters the great view throughout the trail. The foaming white water is formed as the river falls down from the hills. The amazing view of some dense forests is all the addition that you will need in order to make the rafting experience all it’s worth. The rafting here is incredibly long for about 2 hours at the minimum and other options are also there to make it last for 3 hours or more. The rapids vary from class 2 to class 4 at different spots.

There are many other places across the country such as Sikkim, Orchha, and Garhwal where rafters can enjoy a few exciting minutes in the rivers. Almost all the places having services for the rafting are located in between the beautiful scenery which just a pleasant add-on and provides the rafters some added fun.

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