Kharnak - Rupshu Trek | Trekking in Himalaya

A Journey in the Highlands of Chang thang with nomads and lakes

Trekking Duration		10 - 15 Days

Altitude		Min: Leh 3500 Mts. Max: Zalung karpo La (5,200 Mts.)

Region		Ladakh

Season		July – September

One of the most exciting high altitude treks in Ladakh. This trek takes one across the vast valleys, inhabited by semi nomadic people with their winter villages and tented encampments, deep gorges, barren deserts and beautiful lakes.

The trek starts from the remote region of Karnak, situated between the Indus Valley and Zanskar. The trail moves over the Lalung Pass (4,600 Mts.) to the high altitude pastures of Nimaling and further across Zalung karpo La (5,200 Mts.) the trail make its way into the wilderness following remote valleys with tiny winter settlements. As we cross two more passes of Yar La (4,850 Mts.) and Pog mar La (4,800 Mts.) to enter into the plains of Rupshu - Rupshu is a high altitude desert in the middle of Himalaya on the Tibetan Borderland it is an extension of the changthang plateau. 4,000 nomads live in Rupshu area.

The rupshu area is about 14,000 ft above sea level and is extremely cold. The ordinary people of the country side peasants and herdsmen live scattered over an area of 60,000sq kms. At altitudes ranging from 2,750 to 4,500 mts above sea level. This region is a part of Chang thang – grassland, which further extends all the way into Tibet. The area is famous for its salt water Lakes such as Tsokar, Tsomoriri, and Pangong Tso and for the Kyang’s (wild Ass), this is the reason why it is also called Kyang Chu Thang (house of Kyang). Its inhabitants , the Chang pa’s, are up country pastoral community.

The Changpa’s have retained their nomadic glory, in spite of the continuing hardships and harsh weather. They live at the higher regions of Changthang at heights above 4,500 mts. Their means of livelihood depends upon their herds of Yak, Sheep, Goats and horse with which they migrate from one pastoral land to another. Within Changthang they can be spotted by their Ribose (black Yak hair tents) Changpa’s are warm-hearted people, devoted to their families and flocks. They are Buddhists and Buddhism here mixes with the ancient “animistic” Bon religion, they are socially active and love music and dancing. We enter into Rupshu with beautiful view of Tsokar Lake and Thugje monastery far on the other side and Nuruchan (a place with few houses, occasionally used by Changpas), on the right side. The trail now winds through Nuruchan over Rachungkaru La, with a magnificent view of Rachung karu.

The last phase of the journey is over another pass (4,800 Mts.) into a beautiful landscape, with green patches of land and stream. The trek finally ends at Karzok Village, set beside the famous lake of Tsomoriri the village houses an ancient Monastery. The present building was erected around 1850, but the origin of the shrine goes back to Mon and Dart times possibly before the 9th century.

Trek Sketch

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