Rangdum
The farthest and the most isolated part of the Suru Valley, Rangdum is an elliptical
expanded plateau surrounded by colourful hills on the one side and glacier encrusted
rocky mountains on the other. Situated 130 kms South- east of Kargil, it falls
midway between Kargil and Padum.
Due to its remoteness from inhabited parts either of Suru or Zanskar, the areas
wild beauty is almost haunting, while its isolation is near perfect even as the
unpaved Zanskar road traverses its length. The chief attraction of this area is
an imposing 18th century Buddhist monastery with about 40 monks in residence.
Perched picturesquely atop a centrally rising hillock which is entrenched around
by the bifurcated course of a wild mountain stream, the Rangdum monastery has
the aura of an ancient fortification guarding a mystical mountain valley.
The villagers are descendents of the monastery's agricultural, serf-tenants, who
do not own any land in the region. The monastery enjoys perpetual and unalienable
o wnership of the entire valley including the fields tilled by the villagers,
the pastures, hills and even the streams.
Rangdum also serves as an important trekking base. The most popular trek from
here leads to Henaskut near Lamayuru, across the spectacular gorge of the kanji
valley. This 5-day trek also forms the last leg of the two week long trans-Himalayan
traverse between Kashmir and Ladakh.
How to reach ?
Sankoo, Panikhar and Parachik are connected with Kargil with regular bus services,
in summer even twice a day. A bus ride from Kargil takes 2 hours to Sankoo, 3
hours to Panikhar and about 4 hours to Parkachik. Rangdum is serviced by the BI-week
bus service to Padum, which increases according to demand.
Some trucks plying between Kargil and Padum also offers a lift in the cabin for
the price of a bus seat. Cars and jeeps taxis can be hired from Kargil for visiting
different places in the Suru Valley, including Rangdum and Penzila.
More Places of Interest
