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 Zanskar
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.
Drok-pa Circuit
Down the Indus, between Khalatse and the Shayok -Indus confluence, live a people,
known as Drok-pa, Buddhists in name, but racially and culturally distinct from
the rest of the Ladakhis. Two of the five villages inhabited by them may now
be visited, Dah and Biama. The route follows the Indus down fromKhalatse, past
the villages of Domkhar, Skurbuchan and Achinathang, along a fairly good road.
Nubra Valley Circuit
The upper Shayok and Nubra rivers drain the east and west sides of the Saser
Spur, the eastern most outcrop of the Karakoram. The name Nubra is applied to
the district comprising the valley of the Nubra river, and that of the Shayok
both above and below their confluence, where they meander in many shifting channels
over a broad sandy plain before flowing off to the northwest to join the Indus
in Baltistan.
Pangong Lake Circuit
This route takes the visitor past picturesque villages of Shey and Thikse, and
turns off the Indus valley by the side-valley of Chemrey and Sakti. The Ladakh
range is crossed by the Chang-la (18,000 feet / 5,475 m) which despite its great
elevation is one of the easier passes, remaining open for much of the year even
in winter, apart from periods of actual snowfall. Tangse, just beyond the foot
of the pass, has an ancient temple.
Tso-Moriri Lake Circuit
The area traversed by the Manali leh road, and containing the drainage basins
of Tso-moriri and other lakes is known as Rupshu. Here, the Zanskar range is
transformed into bare rolling many-hued hills divided by open high altitude
valley scoured by dust-devils. It is a landscape unlike any other in Ladakh
-or elsewhere in India.
