To the Zanskar valley : Part II
Zanskar valley: right after PensiLa, with a part of the Drang-Drung glacier visible in the background; on the way from Rangdum to Padum, Ladakh.
We went out of the house at 9am only to find the whole village empty, not one person visible anywhere. We waited for some time and then the lady of the house knocked on the door, pointed a sickle at us and asked us to get out; from her signs we understood that she had to go to the fields and had to lock up the house after we left. Collecting our luggage which had been stored in another room we were out after paying Rs.200/- for the warm night. After a breakfast of Maggi at the restaurant there, we were on the way to a short easy climb to PensiLa. Right after PensiLa is the Drang-Drung glacier; this is the largest glacier in this region but the massive scale of the glacier escapes the eye with the tall mountains surrounding it. The Stod(Doda) river which later becomes the Zanskar river originates from this glacier. It is almost a flat road after this and even becomes a tar road closer to Padum which we reach before sunset. We do take a break at the village of Atill closer to Padum, where we entertain and are entertained by a bunch of happy kids
Route: Rangdum-PensiLa-Abrang-Takkar-Ating-Sani-Padum
Part of 'The Trip/2007', Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov.