Preparing yourself for the Chadar Trek

An unusual expedition of trailing on ice, Chadar trek (3850 m) has cloudy blue-green waters. Black rocks are covered under a thick veneer of ice and snow. Chadar trek is also known as the “Chadar” (or veil). A very unique winter trek is worth experiencing in winter in Ladakh. Chadar trek is also familiar as Khado sanglam in Zansakari lingo – Dakini Path. Local people of Zanskar use this path to connect with other nearby places and hence, this trek is left almost alienated from many people. Every year this route remains chop off due to heavy snow fall.

The literal meaning of Chadar means white sheet of crystal ice. Trekking on silent blanket of snow can be a life time experience for the trekkers. One of the most exciting treks of Ladakh is very special as there is a pleasant river of Tsarap. You will be stopped by the Chilling Sumdo, a small settlement. Continue trekking towards a narrow vale filled with exciting and breathtaking sights of ice peaks. There are grazing grounds on the way. Spend your nights at camp side or in cave camps. Enjoy dinners with campfire. You will be amidst the whole serene and tranquil surroundings of Ladakh region.

A born fire will make you relaxed and warm. Sun's up and blue skies will let you cheer despite the cold weather. The trek trails through the pleasant Tsarap River in the region of Nyerag, Lingshed and forms to Zanskar region! Zanskar is a complete portal of Trekking trails in Ladakh. Explore the ancient cloisters and monastic establishments of Zangl and Karsha. These places promise you to give a deep insight into the mystic Ladakh and its culture. Chiling and Lingshed are the only sizeable settlements on this trek till you reach Hanamur and Pidmo before Pishu and Zangla.

Trekking on Zankar valley is a quality experience for adventure lover as well as trekkers. The trek traces the river gorge through a scenic landscape, a photographer’s heaven, providing rare sighting of Wildlife.

An ideal time to hike Chadar trek is mid January to end of February. Level of difficulty for this trek is moderate to challenging. You need to be very fit for his hike.

The necessary steps one should take before the trek:

• Chadar trek is quite a high altitude trek.

• This trek is an unsafe voyage with temperatures regularly getting below minus 30° C.

• This trek needs reasonable fitness as quality trekking gear is difficult.

• Make sure that you are done with your trekking equipments properly.
• Carry all your equipment with you before you leave home.

• Make a list of important things and equipments you will need for Chadar trek.

• Get adjusted with the climate before trekking.

• Sort out or divide your trekking equipments as per their need.

• Before leaving home for high altitude trek, it is advisable to have a medical check up.

• Carry essential medications and remedies, common medicines.

• Carry warm sleeping bags, warm clothing, gloves, pairs of socks and specially walking sticks.

Tips for Foreign visitors:

• Carry valid passports and visas.
• Ensure that your ‘tourist visa’ contains the duration of your visit.
• You need to take special permits before get into the territory of Ladakh.
• Special permits are not need for hiking in the Indian Himalayas, with the exception of certain restricted areas.
• If you carry heavy equipment like, special cameras or scientific equipment, then you will have to hire porters, and hence you will be charged for this extra service.

Markha valley Trek

One of the most variegated and striking treks in the foothills of Himalayas; Markha Valley trek (5030 m) has huge rock pinnacles, prayer-flagged passes, petty gorges and overhanging cliffs. A route brings you into two passes of Himalaya. The Ganda La and Kangmaru La are worth by stopping.

This trek will lead you to a hilltop cloisters, Tibetan shrines and prayer walls. The Wildlife such as, Ibex, Himalayan Blue sheep can be viewed. Towards the end of trek, you envision some

exciting and spectacular sights of the snowy peaks of Tibet and other mounts of Karaloram range.

On the first phase, drive to Spituk where you cross the beautiful river and enter into the valley of Zinchen River. You get a chance for tenting in the nearest village. Stopping by picturesque valley, you trail ascent on the difficult path to reach Stok. On the way, the pristine river awaits you at the massif of Stok Kangri.

Let your eyes observe the magnificent path towards Yurutse. Cross a pretty and small settlement which boasts of having small valley. After a short walk, descend and get entered into the Markha Valley Trek, rich in its flora. Few hundred meters further, there lays the splendid place called Skiu.

If you want to explore unusual and great vegetation then, follow a route which moves to right of Markha. Here you will traverse through infertile plain. Chaluk is another place to visit. Walk along the left bank of river, a hike will lead you to village of Markha. Camping can be enjoyed near the river.

Another trek route leads towards the main valley. Sometimes hard to cross, this trail is set in the river bed. The monastery of Humlung is a worth place stopping by. Continue Trekking with right bank, reach Hankar, place that has some houses.

The path to Nimaling will let you explore the broad and pleasant valley on the road side. As you go deep into this valley, it becomes more narrow and higher. Another destination called Tchatchutse is reached after crossing the bridges. You need to climb pastures to reach Nimaling, one of the most attractive high valleys in Ladakh.

While trekking to another pass, you need to cross Markha valley and follow long climb. A difficult route leads to Kongmarula La. Keep trekking through steep gorges and reach in Chukirmo. Arrive into Shang after crossing right and left bank. You get a chance to do camping in groves. An hour away, there is a monastery.

A trek towards Hemis offers you to visit the most famous and ancient monastery of Ladakh. A huge Tankha is said to be one of the largest in the world. Pay a visit to Hemis monastery, Shey monastery. Shey monastery comprises of 7.5 copper statue of Buddha, coated with gold. Thereafter, drive further to explore Thiksey monastery on a hilltop. You will find some wall paintings and temples.

This whole tour of Markha valley trek imparts a true flavor of the colorful and magical landscapes of Indian's Ladakh region!

Zanskar – Adventure and blue skies

Situated south of Ladakh district and surrounded by high mountains, Zanskar remains inaccessible for most of the part of the year; reason being its tricky geographical locations. Zankar has kept alive the ancient form of Tibetan buddhism which flourishes in the monasteries neatly tucked away in the Zanskar valley.
Zanskar River flows from Padum to Zangla cutting a series of gorges through the Zanskar Range. It joins the Indus after a voyage across 300 km of mountains and ridges. The Valley of Zanskar is renowned for its gompas and nice friendly people. Zanskar is created as two subsidiaries namely Stod and Linak merge at the foot of Padum; Padum being the important habitation of that area. Karsha near Padum is the largest Gompa of that region. There are quiet a few other monasteries which are worth a visit once you visit Zanskar. The best time to visit Zanskar would be between the months of June to September. A few of its Adventure trek routes have been discussed in detail below.
Major trekking routes in Zanskar regionPadum

Padum is well-known as a key trekking point and a well-liked traveler hot spot. Padum (3505 m) was once the capital of the olden empire of Zanskar. It is the current day governmental head office of the province. Otherwise a barely populated vale, Padum can be portrayed as the most densely inhabited setup of Zanskar. By the way, it is only in Padum that there is a population of Muslims comprising practically half the township's populace, its beginning in the vicinity dating from mid 17th century. Recently, Padum has turned out to be a famed trekking base and a popular tourist destination. On the way quite a few places of visitor interest in the neighborhood of the township can be visited in the course of pleasurable hikes.
Kargil to Padum
When all suspension bridges are open the path is available from early June to late October. On the last day's hike from Phe to Padum you traverse the river and bypass the Sani gompa, one of the most imperative in Zanskar.Padum to Lamayuru
There is another course from Padum that commences from the other side of the Zanskar River. It takes you to Linghsot Gompa before following the first route.

Padum to Kishtwar
On this trek you have to make use of porters and not horses. The last few days are hard work with many climbs and drops but the way from Kishtwar by now stretching to Galar is steadily being extended.
Stongdey
The Stongdey monastery is 18 km from Padum, on the way to Zangla. An ancient establis
hment linked with the Tibetan yogi, Marpa, Stongdey is at present the second largest monastic organization of Zanskar, occupied by the resident community of about 60 Gelukpa monks. The great white-washed complex has a quantity of temples, each a warehouse of the region's rich monastic legacy. Stongdey can be arrived at in about 4 hours by road on foot. The ascent up to the monastery is rather exhausting but it is worth the trouble for the magnificent landscape of the gorge seen from here.
Zangla
Lying in the northern side of Zanskar at the end of the 35 km long road from Padum an old castle is in ruins except for a small chapel which occupies a hill that overlooks the deserted valley below. Just close to that is the old nunnery which is worth paying a visit for the austere life style of the small monastic community of nuns. An old monastery located in the close by village of Tsa-zar has lovely murals.
Zangla is also a starting point for the Padum-Markha valley treks. Mid-way Zangla and Stongdey, the villages lie mid-way. Zangla is a connecting point on the well-known Padum-Strongdey-Zangla-Karsha-Padum route, where you get to see most of Zanskar’s rich heritage. The river has a provisional foot-bridge built across for going to the left bank along which the trail to Karsha follows.
Darcha – Lamayuru Trek
Imagine rigorous hardships, 14 to 20 km of strenuous and superb sights every day for 3 weeks. This trek starts at the Western Himalayas footpath connecting Darcha in Lahoul with Padum in Zanskar and Lamayuru in Ladakh. On the way you will check out various monasteries starting with Phuktal monastery which is built under a huge cave, Sani gompa, Mani gompa, Burdan gompa, Karsha gompa, Lingshed gompa and Lamayuru gompa. At 5100 meters the path crosses several passes Shingo la 5100 metres, Perfi la, Hunuma la 4800 metres, Sengge la 5060 metres, Sirsir la and Prinkiti la. The route passes by the rivers of Tsarap, Chandra, Bhaga, Doda, Indus and Zanskar.

Zanskar is home to some of the finest treks on this planet. The remote location of this place provides spine chilling adventure to the visitors here. Visit to the monasteries here is a humbling experience. The simple people of Zanskar look like they belong to a forgotten land. When you trek through deep gorges or cycle down the passes and when you cannot stop gazing at God’s creations you know you have achieved what most come here seeking for – peace and bliss.

Chadar trek Adventure

Cloudy blue-green waters and black rock are shrouded beneath a thick veneer of ice and snow, known as the “Chadar” (or veil) lie dormant like a downy white blanket.

Chadar Trek is an unusual expedition of walking on ice. Trekking in Zanskar is the best experience for adventure lovers. The conventional name of the trek is "Chadar Trek", called as the frozen sheet.

Do not forget that, for this trek you need to be patient, resourceful, and mentally flexible.

Esoteric nature of Buddhism practiced here, and enabled its some ten thousand inhabitants to preserve and perpetuate their cultural identity.

Zanskar has the differentiation of being the least interfered with microcosms of Ladakh, is one of the last few surviving cultural satellites of Tibet. It is the most isolated place and inaccessible for nearly eight months a year due to heavy snowfall resulting in closure of all the entries.

The trek is a hazardous journey with temperatures regularly dipping below minus 30° C.

Also, the state of the ice can change quickly from a solid surface to unsteady flows. The route is

passable only when the river is at its coldest.

The trek will require constant alertness in the gorge when ice melts rapidly or conditions change. In some places, the gorge is only 5m wide and there are only a few emergency escape routes and caves for shelter. The trek follows the river gorge through a spectacular landscape, a photographer’s paradise, offering occasional sighting of wildlife.

This Chadar trek will offer you to get through this isolation and to examine some of the villages along the Zanskar River in the midst of winter and thus catch a glimpse of the lifecycle during this unique time of the year.

Many ancient monastic establishments of Karsha and Zangla promise to heighten your insight into the mysteries of this Shangri-la, a land and culture frozen in time behind the ramparts of the Zanskar Mountains.

Visit the villages like, Chilling and Lingshed, which come on this trek until Hanamur and Pidmo before Pishu and Zangla in Zanskar, all the rest are names of places and caves, which come in route.