Anupama Nair
When you think of White Christmas — a Christmas day with a lot of snowfall, you think of Northern Europe, Northern USA, or Canada. Siberia is the coldest inhabited place in the world. No one will believe me when I say the second coldest place in the world is in India. The place is called Drask in Kashmir. It is a fact many thousands lose their life due to extreme cold wave conditions in North India every year. I have always enjoyed the winter in Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar, UP, and Haryana where the temperatures are close to zero degrees in winter. Do I need to tell you how cold it is in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand? If you want to visit snow-clad mountains of Switzerland, you need to pay a lot, so these states are a better option. You will do your bit to encourage tourism in India. In fact, winter is my favorite season, drinking endless cups of hot tea and pakodas.
For many India is considered as a country where it is always hot, which is one of the biggest myths about the nation. Indian climate is as diverse as its culture and its people. India is also home to some hilly regions where it can be cold than most of the most famous winter destinations around the globe. There are several places in India where the temperature are very low, and also best during the winters and quite breathtaking.
Today I am going to write about Zanskar which is called as the “gem of incredible India”. It is located at a height of 13,154 ft, and is a semi-arid region nestled in the northern edge of the Great Himalayas. What attracts tourists to this gem are “the beautiful snow-capped mountains, pleasant weather, sparkling water bodies and a lush landscape”. The valley is 105 km away from Leh and is a hotspot for adventure sports like trekking, paragliding, water rafting, among others. You can also opt for popular trekking options like Lamayuru to Darcha, Lamayuru, and Padum trek. You can also visit centuries-old monasteries like Zongla, Zongkhul, Strongdey and they are crowded with tourists and one can even set a camp at the scenic Penzila pass that separates Zanskar from the Suru valley. During winters, the temperature can dip to -30°C. The best time to travel to this frozen paradise is between the months of June to September, otherwise, all the roads to the valley are heavily covered in snow, thus, blocking access to travel.
Zanskar is primarily known for its unique Chadar Trek or the Frozen River Trek, which is even accessible during winters. Apart from this, Zanskar is also known for its treacherous terrain for adventure lovers, such as the Padum-Darcha Trek, Lugnak Trail Trek, and Zanskar-Sham Valley Trek. The Zanskar River offers the best rafting experience in Ladakh, whereas motorbiking is another adrenaline rushing activity that you can enjoy during your visit to Zanskar Region.
The next question is how to reach Zanskar? You can reach this destination by air, train, and road. If you opt for a flight, you need to reach the Kushok Bakula Airport, which is the closest airport to Leh. Then, you need to hire a taxi to get to Zanskar Valley. If you opt for the train journey, you will need to go to the Jammu Tawi railway station and take a taxi that will take you to Leh and then to Zanskar Valley. After reaching Leh, you can opt for a hired vehicle to take you to Zanskar Valley via Kargil.
You need to make proper arrangements in advance, and take note of the following tips for a hassle-free trip. We need to fill your vehicle with fuel at Srinagar – Kargil road but beyond that you will find no gas stations till Padum. Make sure you top up your vehicle with the required fuel in Kargil and refill whenever you get the chance. There is only a single ATM in the Padum market so you need to carry enough cash with you to ensure you are not stuck for cash. There is a possibility that after you cross Sankoo, your mobile might not have any connectivity at all. So be prepared for the trip of your lifetime!
To encourage winter tourism, The Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the first-ever Khelo India Zanskar Winter Sports Festival in January this year at Padum in Zanskar of Kargil district. The 13-day festival had been organized by the Ladakh UT Administration to promote Zanskar as a winter tourist destination. The Union Sports Minister said that “Zanskar used to remain cut off from the rest of the world for 5-6 months due to heavy snow but no more now”! He tweeted saying that “despite the weather being extremely chilly at minus -20°C during day-time and -32°C during night time, the ambiance and the spirit of the people are making the Khelo India Winter Sports Festival at Zanskar colorful and memorable”. This will be an annual event.
The main features of the 13-day festival are ice climbing, trekking on the frozen Zanskar river, ice hockey, snow sculpture and ethnic food festival. Kiren Rijiju said that the Ministry will provide sports facilities in all regions of Ladakh. He said, the Ministry will promote Ladakh as a center for ice hockey and soon open a center for archery and polo. It is one of the major events planned to promote winter tourism in Ladakh.
Pack your bags this Winter for an exciting trip to this “gem of Incredible India”. I sure will.
Thank you anupama for this new information. Wishing to know about many more such places.