Padum is the main town of the remote Zanskar valley, a high, rugged region south of Kargil. It has a small bazaar, basic hotels and a few cafés, surrounded by barren mountains and fields. Nearby, impressive monasteries like Karsha and Stongdey cling to hillsides, offering grand views of the Zanskar River and valley. Trekking routes, river expeditions and homestays spread out from Padum, making it the gateway to one of the most isolated and beautiful parts of Ladakh.
About this place
History & highlights
Zanskar was historically a separate Himalayan kingdom and later a remote province of Ladakh, with its own line of rulers and strong Buddhist traditions. Snowbound passes kept it cut off for much of the year, so monasteries like Karsha became crucial religious and social centres. Padum itself remained a small settlement until modern roads started reaching the valley in the late 20th–early 21st centuries. Even today, its development is limited by geography. As connectivity improves, Padum is transitioning from isolated highland capital to adventure-tourism hub, but its history as a self-contained world in the mountains still shapes its culture and landscape.
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