Oktatabyebye

This rafting trip is run professionally by only a handful of operators - fairly flexible in their apporach, but sharp on safety and comfort. A lot of the journey is initially covered by road, to get to the actual point from where the rafting journey starts, but even this road part, is full of unforgettable experiences, stunning views and deep forays into the heart of Zanskar valley and the lives of its people.

The Zanskar river rafting trips extend over an average 10 days, though the actual rafting part on the Zanskar is for 4 – 5 days.

Day 1: You start at Leh, the day mostly devoted to acclimatising and  local sight-seeing (a few monasteries such as Shey, Thikse and Hemis ) and a trip to the Leh Bazaar. Chang Gali, behind the main bazaar is less bustling but has intriguing little shops selling curios and jewelry like pearls, turquoise, coral, malachite, lapis and many other kinds of semi-precious stones, as well as curiously carved Yak-horn boxes, quaint brass locks, china or metal bowls etc.

Day 2: The next day it’s the 9 hour drive through the stark and spectacular moon-like landscape from Leh  to Mulbek – Kargil. Highlights include the drive over the Fotu La (14,000 ft), a high mountain pass that exits the Indus valley and the stopover at the Lamayuru monastery a major landmark on the old silk route  and the Rizong monastery and nunnery.

Day 3: Drive Kargil – Rangdum, into the heart of the Zanskar region. A spectacular drive past Panikar and Parkachik, with fabulous views of the Nun and Kun massifs (7000 metres), hanging glaciers and large meadows. Camp is overnight, in the lush green meadows near the Rangdum monastery.

Day 4: A 6 hour drive from Rangdum – Remala over the Pensi La pass (14,500 ft and the highest altitude we touch) that  opens out stunning views of the Zanskar peaks at the bottom of which is the Drung Durung glacier that feeds the Stod and Zanskar rivers. Remala is the start point of the rafting expedition.

Day 5 & 6: Remala – Karsha – Pidmu: easy rafting over 2 days and 80 km with some class 2 stretches. Great for first time rafters & for others to acclimatise and brush up on paddling skills. Very scenic as it’s surrounded by 6000 metre high peaks that make it the stuff of fables and with hikes to the Karsha Gompa and the nearby hamlet villages of Pidmu and Hanumil.

Day 7:  Rafting down the Class 3 sections between Pidmu and Nyerak. Action packed as the river boils up, and equally stunning as the Zanskar gorge narrows in on the river – giving it the name of the the Grand Canyon of India

Day 8: One of the most exciting parts of this rafting trip, is this section between Nyerak and Lamaguru. Classic white water, with continuous Class III rapids, and a few Class IV rapid where the river squeezes between a gap of about 16ft.  Add to that a breathtaking waterfall at the confluence of the Markha and the Zanskar rivers. Rock formations, spires and an amazing palette of colours add to this trip.

Day 9: Last day on the raft between Lamaguru and Nimmu. Nimmu is the confluence of the Indus and the Zanskar rivers. After Nimu the Indus cuts into another gorge and drops into Pakistan. Then on, its 60km by road, to Leh. The usual enroute stopover is at the famous and inspiring Alchi Monastery.

The Alchi Monastery

Over 10 centuries old, profusely painted walls depict the events of the Buddha’s life, lamas and musicians. Its murals, dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, pre-date the Tibetan style of painting that is present in all the other gompas. Some of them are reminiscent of the paintings of the far-off Ajanta caves and are presumed to be almost the sole survivors (along with some in Phuktal Gompa in Zanskar & Tabo in Spiti) of the Buddhist style current in Kashmir during the first millennium.

With its towering mountain peaks, rugged terrain and fast flowing rivers, the Zanskar valley is a challenging area that appeals to the adventurer in you. Excellent for trekking, mountaineering and rafting, Zanskar is a must-have experience for all who love the outdoors.

Details and information on the Zanskar River rafting tour operators:

1. Aquaterra Adventures(India) Pvt. Ltd.: S-507, Ground Floor, Greater Kailash – II. New Delhi -110048.
   Phone: 91-11-29212641, 29212760, 41636101. Fax:91-1129212641
   Mobiles : Vaibhav +91-9811103831, 9868244275. Avilash : +91-9411113769. Fay : +91-9873929407.
   Email:. aquatera@vsnl.com; info@treknraft.com
   Website: http://www.treknraft.com/zanskar.htm
2. Mercury Himalayan Explorations Ltd.: Jeevan Tara Building, Parliament Street, New Delhi – 110001.
   Phone: +91-11-23340033, 23346209
   Email: mhe@himalayanadventure.com
   Website: http://himalayanadventure.com/index.htm

What is White Water Rafting?
White Water Rafting or simply rafting as it is more popularly known involves negotiating and taming fast-flowing torturous rivers in an inflatable rubber raft or a kayak over swirling rapids and crushing waves. The raft can be manned by one or many adventure seekers. With forward and reverse strokes, the rafters are required to maneuver the raft over the rapids.

How rivers are graded? (Grading of Rivers)
Most rivers are graded on a scale of one to six depending on the volume, gradient, and intensity of the rapids-one being the calmest and four considered to be challenging without being excessively dangerous. In India, the Zanskar and the Indus, both in Ladakh, are graded I - IV, while the more southern stretches of the Beas, Chenab, Sutlej and Teesta are graded IV – VI

Who can raft?
Just about everyone can go white-water rafting. No experience is necessary though there are a few medical restrictions (diabetes, epilepsy heart and lung impairment, pregnancy etc.).

Monastic Festivals: Most of the festivals in Ladakh are monastic in nature, i.e., they are annual events of the major monasteries which the local people look forward to attending, both for attaining religious merit and as a means of social entertainment. Monastic Festivals are generally held to commemorate the establishment of a particular monastery, the birth anniversary of its patron saint or some major events in the history and evolution of Tibetan Buddhism.

The biggest and most famous of the monastic festivals is that of Hemis, which falls in late June or early July, and is dedicated to Padmasambhava. Every 12 years, the gompa's greatest treasures, a huge Thangka, is ritually exhibited. Other monasteries, which have summer festivals, are Lamayuru (early July), Phyang (late July/ early August), Tak-thok (after Phyang) and Karsha in Zanskar (after Phyang). Like Hemis, the Phyang festival too involves the unveiling of a gigantic thangka, though here it is done every third year.

The J&K State Road Transport Corporation operates deluxe and regular buses between Srinagar and Leh, with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis are also available at Srinagar and Leh for the journey. The bus journey between Leh and Manali takes about 19 hours or two days, with an overnight halt in camps with basic facilities, at Serchu or Pang.

The road journey from Manali to Leh: The 473 km Manali- Leh Road is open for about three months in the year from early July to September. The first major pass in this road is the Rohtang Pass (3,978 m), which is crossed soon after departing from Manali. Beyond Keylang, the region's main town, the road follows the Bhaga River up towards its source, passing a few more villages, till the territory of Ladakh is entered.
Road to Baralacha-la (4,892 m) is steep with hairpin bends. Baralacha-la is a tri-junction, with a trail from Spiti also joining in from the southeast. The Zanskar Range, which lies next on this road, is crossed through two more passes, the Lachulung-la (5,059 m) and the Taglang-la (5,325 m).

The journey from Kashmir to Leh by road: The main overland approach to Ladakh is from the Kashmir Valley through the 434-km Srinagar-Leh highway, which follows the historic trade route, also known as the ‘Treaty Road’. It generally remains open for traffic from early June to mid-November
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