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View
of central Zanskar
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About 20 kms south-east
of Rangdum stands the Panzila axis, across which lies Zanskar, the most
isolated of all the trans-Himalayan valleys. The Penzila pass
(4,401m) is a picturesque tableland surrounded by snow-covered peaks.
As the Zanskar
road winds down the steep slopes of Penzi-la to the head of the Stod
valley, the majestic " Drang-Drung" glacier looms into full view. A
long and winding river of ice and snow, "Drang-Drung" is perhaps
the largest glacier in Ladakh, outside the Siachen formation. It is
from the cliff-like snout of this extensive glacier that the Stod
or Doda tributary of the Zanskar River rises.
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Alpine
lake at Penzila
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Zanskar
is a tri-armed valley system situated between the Great Himalayan Range
and the Zanskar mountains, the three arms radiating star-like towards
the west, north and south from a wide central expanse. Here the Zanskar
River comes into being by the confluence of its two Himalaya n
tributaries, the Stod/Doda and the Lingti-Tsarap rivers. It is mainly
along the course of this valley system that the
region’s approximately 14,000 strong, mainly Buddhist population, live.
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Zanskari
villagers in a festival
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The
Zanskar landscape
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Spread over
an estimated geographical area of 5000 sq kms of mountainous territory,
Zanskar is surrounded by high-rise mountains and deep gorges.
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A
Zanskari Woman
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It remains
inaccessible for nearly 8 months a year due to heavy winter snowfall
resulting in closure of all access passes, including the Penzi-la. This
geographical isolation and the esoteric nature of Buddhism practised
here have enabled its inhabitants to preserve their identity, so that
to-day Zanskar is the least interfered with microcosms of Ladakh. Closer
observation of the lifestyle evokes admiration for a people who have
learnt to live in perfect harmony with the unique environment.
Within the
mountainous ramparts of this ‘Shangri-La’ are a number of ancient yet
active monastic establishments. Some of these foundations have evolved
around remote mountain caves, which are by legend associated with famous
Buddhist saints. These are in fact the main places of attraction for
the visitors in the area, in addition to the haunting beauty of the
spectacular landscape and the ancient culture.
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