| Zanskar River | |
|---|---|
 Zanskar River | |
 Map of theIndus River System - the Zanskar is a tributary of the Indus | |
  Location of mouth | |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| State | Ladakh |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | |
• coordinates | 33°46′19″N76°50′43″E / 33.7719174°N 76.8453493°E /33.7719174; 76.8453493 |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Indus River |
TheZanskar River is the first major tributary of theIndus River, equal or greater in volume than the main river,[citation needed] which flows entirely withinLadakh, India. It originates northeast of theGreat Himalayan range and drains both the Himalayas and theZanskar Range within the region ofZanskar. It flows northeast to join the Indus River nearNimo.
Zanskar (Zangs-kar) means "white copper" or brass.[1]
In its upper reaches, the Zanskar has two main branches. First of these, theDoda, has its source near thePensi-la 4,400 m (14,400 ft) mountain-pass and flows south-eastwards along the main Zanskar valley leading towardsPadum, the capital ofZanskar. The second branch is formed by two main tributaries known as Kargyag river, with its source near theShingo La 5,091 m (16,703 ft), andTsarap river, with its source near the Baralacha-La. These two rivers unite below the village of Purne to form the Lungnak river (also known as the Lingti or Tsarap). The Lungnak river then flows north-westwards along a narrow gorge towards Zanskar's central valley (known locally as gzhung khor), where it unites with the Doda river to form the main Zanskar river. This river then takes a north-eastern course through the dramaticZanskar Gorge until it joins theIndus nearNimo inLadakh.[2]
The area has homestays,Buddhist monastery and valley tourism.
Lower (northern) sections of that gorge are popular in summer with tourists making rafting trips, typically from Chiling to Nimmu. In winter when the road to Zanskar is closed by snow on the high passes, the only overland route to Padum is by walking along the frozen river, a multi-day hike that is now sold as an adventure activity called theChadar Trek ('ice sheet').[3] This trek will eventually be rendered obsolete once the road from Chiling to Padum is completed.[4]
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