Ladakh is a land like no other. Bounded by two of
the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the
Karakoram, it lies athwart two other, the Ladakh range and the Padum
range. Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet (2750m)
at Kargil to 25,170 feet (7,672m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram.
Padum
Once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Zanskar, Padum (3505 m) is the present
day administrative headquarters of the region. With a population of nearly 1500,
Padum can be described as the most populous settlement of Zanskar, otherwise
a very scarcely inhabited valley.
Stongdey
The monastery of Stongdey lies 18 kms. To the north of Padum, on the road leading
to Zangla. An old foundation associated with the Tibetan Yogi, Marpa, Stongdey
is now the second largest monastic establishment of Zanskar, inhabited by the
resident community of about 60 Gelukpa monks.
Zangla
Lying deep in the northern arm of Zanskar at the end of the 35 km. Long rough
road from Padum, Zangla was being ruled by a titular king till his death a few
years back. The old castle now in ruins except from a small chappel, occupies
a hill, overlooking the desertic valley below. Nearby is the old Nunnery worth
a visit for the austere life style of the small monastic community of nuns.
Zanskar
About 20 kms. South of Rangdum stands the Pazila watershed across which lies
Zanskar, the most isolated of all the trans Himalayan Valleys. The Panzila Top
(4401 m) is the picturesque tableland adorned with two small alpine lakes and
surrounded by snow covered peaks.
