Located in the remotest part of the Indian state of Ladakh, the Zanskar Valley has long been regarded as one of the last bastions of ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture. Isolated for centuries, the Zanskar Valley is surrounded by the towering mountains of the majestic Himalayas. The average elevation of the Zanskar peaks is estimated to be 3,600 m, with the highest peak reaching 7,000 m.
To get a sense of the beauty of this place, please take a look at the photo collection of Jigmat Laudup. He is a local with 12 years of experience as a tour guide and he can be your great companion if you want to visit Ladakh.
Peaceful Valley
Zanskar is a sub-district of Kargil district, located in the eastern half of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Its administrative center is Padum. Zanskar, along with neighboring Ladakh, was briefly part of the Guge kingdom of western Tibet.
Vast nature in Zanskar
Zanskar in the golden season
A house perched on a mountain slope
The houses are hidden among the mountains
Clouds and mountains overlap
The majestic Zanskar Range separates Zanskar from Ladakh. Geologically, the Zanskar Range, with an average elevation of 6,000 m, is part of the Himalayas.
Sunlight across the high mountains
The mountain range acts as a climatic barrier protecting Ladakh and Zanskar from most of the monsoon, resulting in a pleasantly warm and dry climate in summer.
Dawn breaks behind the rocks
A baby in the middle of Zanskar autumn
With such an isolated geographical location, the number of residents in Zanskar is very small, according to statistics only about 14,000 people. However, up to 95% of the residents here follow Tibetan Buddhism, the rest follow Sunni Islam.
An old man in Zanskar in traditional dress
Bright smiles behind the cliff
The bewildered look of a boy from Zanskar
The main occupation of the people here is cattle raising and land cultivation. That is why when coming to Zanskar, the image of herds of cattle wandering and grazing in the valleys is very common.
Flocks of sheep roam freely, a hallmark of nomadic life.
A farmer is working at the foot of the mountain.
In winter, the temperature here can drop to -40 degrees.
For the people of Zanskar, the snowfalls are vital. In winter, the rivers freeze and only melt in the summer, becoming a precious source of irrigation water for the entire valley.
JIGMAT LUNDUP - HIMALAYA APERTURE TRAVEL
- Add: Zomdey complex, zangsti 194101
- Email: Jigmatlundup@gmail.com
- Mobile: +91-9469529676/ 9596999749
