Winding rivers of ice and snow, flowing from the Shafat & Drang-Drung glacier, the largest glacier in Ladakh, outside the Siachen formation. The word Zanskar means ‘White Copper’ or ‘Brass’. Probably the white copper indicates the frozen rivers formed due to temperatures below -25 during the winter in Zanskar. The Stod or Doda River, the main tributaries of which meet at Padum, to form the river Zanskar, and flows into Zanskar range. The head waters of Zanskar river are Yunam, the Serchu and Cherpa,which rise to the north of Himalyas near Bara Lacha.
The frozen Zanskar river is used as a short route to reach Nimmo, this also attracts few adventure lovers to trek in frozen region during the winter particularly in month.
The valley demands expert trekkers as the routes are rough, passes very high, rivers deep and oxygen level low at the high altitude that varies from 3000m to 6000m.For the longer winter season in Zanskar over 07 months (Oct to April) the hardy domestic animals like Yak ,Dzo and Horses are most common.The Ibex,antelopes and snow leopards are visible in higher regions. |
