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Rupshu Valley lies southeast of Leh is the western extension of
the Tibetan Plateau. Previously closed to visitors, this region
offers some of the most amazing scenery to be found in Ladakh.
It is a land of monasteries and high passes, dissected by
several mountain ridges and traversed by a number of ancient
trading routes. While on this trek, one venture in a mineral
wilderness where only a few nomads live, totally reliant on
their yak and sheep herds for their subsistence. Rupshu is a
vital part of the Chang Tang, Tibet's 600-mile-wide, 15,000-foot
high northern steppes, of which it is the westernmost extremity.
Rupshu has imposing sweeping deserts separated by narrow ranges
with lofty passes offering distant views, and a hardy, wide
ranging nomadic people called Changpas. Traders from Lahaul used
to drive their caravans of sturdy mules across Rupshu into
western Tibet, carrying goods such as wool ,salt, cloth and
costume jewellery and trading for stones ,gems, hides , and
wool. This trade existed almost till 1960s and Chairman of
Adventure India was posted that time at Patseo to watch the
trade and report to office located in Punjab.
The lowest point in all of Rupshu is at 13,000 feet along the
Indus River near the settlement of Chumathang. Within Rupshu
valley, which is spread under 5500-square-mile area are the
mighty peaks of Ladakh and Zanskar mountains, and several large
crystalline lakes including Tsomorari and Pangong framed in wide
basins between the two ranges. |
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