The Himalayas - Ladakh Himalayas - Villages and Plateus

Ladakh himalayas

General Info

· Villages

· Valleys and plateaus
    · Dras Valley
      · Dras
    · Suru Valley
      · Kargil
    · Nubra Valley
      · People
      · Siser La
      · Tulimpati La
    · Shyok Valley
      · Murgo
      · Burtsa
      · Daulat beg Oldi
      · Digar La
      · Karakoram Pass
      · Khardong La
    · Indus Valley

Chanthang Plateau
          Rupshu
    · Salt Lake Valley
    · Puga Valley

· Lakes
· Passes
· Glaciers
· Rivers

· People
· Religion
· Fairs and festivals
· Other places of interest

The Himalayas - where earth meets sky

The Chanthang Plateau
This is a vast plateau with an average elevation varying from 4,200 to 5,000 m. It is amongst the highest inhabited lands in the world. The Changthang Plateau provides some of the most magnificent natural settings known to mankind. It has two approaches. One route goes over the Tanglang La pass (5,700 m) to the southeast of Leh, while the other route takes one over the Chang La pass (5,900 m) to the northeast of Leh.

The climate on this plateau is extremely dry. The snowline can at places be as high as 6,600 m and snowfall is scanty. Scorching heat is radiated by the sun's rays during the day time and at night the mercury drops to below freezing point even in the middle of summer, as a result of which the water freezes.

Newcomers to this tract are likely to feel giddy, faint and breathless due to the extreme rarity of the air.

Cultivable land is rare in the region. Credit: Discover India
Cultivable land is rare in the region.
Credit: Discover India
This plateau is inhabited by the Changpas. They rear sheep and goats for their livelihood. Barley is also sown, though on a very limited scale. These people live in tents made of yak and goat hair, which provide them with shelter even in the harsh winter months.

Rupshu
Rupshu is the highest inhabited part of the Changthang plateau. The altitude of Rupshu ranges from 4,600 to 5,000 m. The inhabitants of Rupshu are the Changpas. There are few permanent settlements. The population density is extremely low in Rupshu.

Karzok is the main settlement of Rupshu. It is situated near the Tsomorari lake. Karzok has small fields around it. The yields are poor due to the extremely harsh conditions. Situated at an elevation of about 5,000 m, Karzok is considered to be the highest inhabited and cultivated place in the world. Dora is the winter pasture of the Changpas of Rupshu.