Surreality of Zanskar or "The trek is busy in season".
Where is Zanskar? It lies in the Indian part of Himalayas, close to "Little Tibet" Ladakh, in Jammu and Kashmir state. However, is that really the right question? I would like to know rather - when. Ancient land of Zanskar seems to be somewhere out of time. Especially in winter this place has something peculiar. Views are surrealistic and you are not sure if it is still earth. Truly, otherworldly.
But there is also some other Zanskar of Zanskar Valley. The trek is busy in season, said my Indian friend. Many tourists desire to complete the famous Chadar Trek. The trek is overflowing with porters and guides. And full of trash.
Chadar refers to the layer of ice and snow that forms on the surface of the 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". However, it's the local people working on the trail, not agency owners from Leh, Delhi, or Mumbai. They guide, carry equipment on sleds, set up tents and cook. The entire trek relies on their shoulders.
But what lies ahead of the trek? According to some rumors from Leh, the 2023 edition was final. So called Zanskar Highway is under construction. It is going to connect Padum, capital of Zanskar. The road will be a great facilitation to Zanskar's people. And it is hard to overestimate the impact of climate change. A 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.
