Places of worship in Zanskar
- 01
Bardan Monastery
Bardan Gompa stands beside the Lungnak river south of Padum, an old Drukpa Kagyu monastery with a large assembly hall, statues and a wheel-of-life painting.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Mornings, June to September
- Tickets
- Entry is usually by small donation; confirm locally. Remove shoes at shrines and ask before photographing murals or monks.
- 02
Dzongkhul Monastery
Dzongkhul is a Drukpa Kagyu cave monastery in the Stod valley, built against a rock wall with two caves behind it, associated with the yogi Naropa.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the drive
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- June to September; the Huchot festival falls in spring
- Tickets
- Entry is usually by small donation; confirm locally. Remove shoes at shrines, keep quiet and ask before photographing cave paintings.
- 03
Karsha Monastery
Karsha Gompa is the largest monastery in Zanskar, a cluster of whitewashed buildings climbing a cliff above the valley, with wide views back over Padum and the confluence of rivers.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning light, June to September; the Gustor festival falls in winter and is not on the usual visitor calendar
- Tickets
- Entry is typically by small donation or ticket; confirm locally. Remove shoes before shrines, keep quiet during prayers and ask before photographing murals or monks. Inner shrines may be closed without a monk to open them.
- 04
Phugtal Monastery
Phugtal (Phuktal) Gompa is a monastery built into a cliff around a natural cave, deep in the Lungnak valley, and one of the most striking and remote religious sites in Zanskar.
- Time needed
- A full day or an overnight trip
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- June to September, when trails are open
- Tickets
- Entry is usually by donation; confirm locally. Visitors may be able to stay in the monastery guesthouse, but arrangements change, so check ahead. Remove shoes at shrines and respect prayer times.
- 05
Rangdum Monastery
Rangdum Gompa crowns a steep hill at the head of the Suru valley, on the road between Kargil and Padum, at about 4,000 m. It is the natural first stop on the way into Zanskar.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- June to September; morning or late afternoon light
- Tickets
- Entry is usually by small donation; confirm locally. Remove shoes at shrines, ask before photographing and expect some rooms to be locked.
- 06
Sani Monastery
Sani is a walled monastery on flat ground a few kilometres from Padum, built beside the Kanika chorten, one of the oldest religious structures in Zanskar. It is also the valley's only Drukpa Kagyu monastery with nuns.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Mornings in summer; the Naro-Nasjal festival in July or August is the busiest time
- Tickets
- Entry is usually by small donation; confirm locally. Remove shoes at shrines, avoid walking in front of monks during prayers and ask before photographing inside.
- 07
Stongdey Monastery
Stongdey Gompa sits on a hillock above its village on the Padum to Zangla road. It is the second-largest monastery in Zanskar, with seven temples and old wall paintings.
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Daytime, June to September
- Tickets
- Entry is usually by small donation; confirm locally. Remove shoes, ask before photographing murals, and expect some rooms to be locked unless a monk is available.
Landmarks in Zanskar
- 08
Drang-Drung Glacier
Drang-Drung is a glacier up to about 23 km long, close to Pensi La, and likely the largest in Ladakh after Siachen. It is visible from the Pensi La road and can be seen from the pass.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes at the roadside; a full day for the trek
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- July to August are cited as best; clear mornings
- Tickets
- No entry fee for roadside views. Treks need a guide, suitable clothing and acclimatisation. Check the road and weather before setting out.
- 09
Pensi La
Pensi La is the 4,400 m pass that separates the Suru valley from Zanskar. Prayer flags mark the summit, and the road down to the Stod valley is steep, with views of glaciers and peaks.
- Time needed
- 20 to 30 minutes at the top
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- July to September; clear mornings
- Tickets
- No entry fee or ticket. The pass is open only in the warmer months, and it closes in winter snow; check with local authorities before travelling.
Experiences in Zanskar
- 10
Chadar Trek
The Chadar is a winter trek on the frozen Zanskar river, once the only link between Zanskar and the outside world in the cold months. It is a famously hard, cold route, aimed at fit adults.
- Time needed
- A week or more with a guided group
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- January to February
- Tickets
- Treks are run by licensed operators and need advance booking. Check current permits, ice conditions and safety rules before you plan, since access has changed over time.
Neighbourhoods in Zanskar
- 11
Padum
Padum is the district headquarters of Zanskar and the practical base for everything else: a small, flat town on a wide valley floor, with fields, a few shops and the Zanskar Range standing high on every side.
- Time needed
- Half a day in town; 2 to 4 days using it as a base
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late June to mid-September, when the roads are open and the valley is green
- Tickets
- No entry fee for the town. Guesthouses are small and fill in peak summer, so book ahead through an agent in Leh or Kargil, and confirm that your stay has hot water and power backup.
Forts in Zanskar
- 12
Zangla
Zangla is a high village on the Zanskar river, with a ruined hilltop fort and a small nunnery. It is a historic seat of Zanskar's rulers and a quieter, more remote counterpart to Padum.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours on site; most of a day with the drive
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- June to September, in the morning light
- Tickets
- No formal ticket is known for the fort; confirm locally. Respect the nunnery as a place of worship, keep quiet and ask before photographing people.
