Surreality of Zanskar
or
"The trek is busy in season".
Two faces of Chadar Trek and Zanskar Valley.
Where is Zanskar? It lies in the Indian part of Himalayas, close to "Little Tibet" Ladakh, in Jammu and Kashmir state. But is it a good question for sure? I would ask rather - when. Ancient land of Zanskar seems to be somewhere out of time. Especially in winter this place has something strange. Views are surrealistic and you are not sure if it is still earth. Truly otherworldly.
But there is also another face of Zanskar Valley. It is crowded. "The trek is busy in season," said my Indian friend. Many tourists wanted to complete the famous Chadar Trek. Full of porters and guides. Full of trash.
Chadar Trek 2023 - The last dance?
Chadar means layer of ice and snow over the surface of Zanskar river. Thanks to that it's possible to go to some distant villages of Zanskar Valley. Trek became a tourist attraction and compelled many outdoor lovers. Plenty of agencies arrange the "adventure". But on the trail work local people not agency owners from Leh, Delhi or Mumbai. They guide, carry equipment on sleds, set up tents and cook. All the trek lay over their shoulders.
But what is the future of the trek? According to some rumors from Leh, the 2023 edition was the last. So called Zanskar Highway is under construction. It is going to connect Padum, capital of the land and will be great facilitation to local people.
And it is hard to overestimate impact of climate change. Few years ago, the trek season began in February. Now, at the beginning of this month, ice on the river breaks. It is highly possible that in the next few years the river will not freeze.
Is it worth visiting Zanskar? It depends. If you are looking for adventure not necessarily. But if you're looking for some unusual views and landscape - by all means.
All photos made by Chadar Trek 2023 edition. Zanskar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
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