Panikhar On the route to Zanskar, Panikhar, which is commonly considered to be on the border of the Suru Valley, is an important place. There is a high pass between Panikhar and Sanko, a moderately sized valley about 40 km from Kargil, Ladakh. Zorawar Singh and his forces entered Ladakh from the Suru Pass in 1832 en route to conquer Tibet. He built a fort whose ruins stand to this day.

View of a valley betweenLingshot and Yulchung, Zanskar Credit: Jarkko Lavinen

Penzella Pass
The Panzella Pass is situated at an elevation of more than 4,200 m over the Zanskar range (Penzella mountains). It separates Zanskar from the Suru valley and other parts of Ladakh. On either side of the pass there are camping grounds used by migratory grazier communities and travelers. At the top, an enchanting view of the surrounding ranges and countryside greets the visitor.

At the top of the pass, there are two springs of greenish water credited by legend to be the birth place of the progenitors of the famous Zanskar breed of ponies.

Different forms of vegetation come up around the pass soon after the snow melts in summer. These include many species which have medicinal value. Marmots live in burrows, moving to lower elevations in winter. The brown bear is also found on the slopes of the Penzella Pass.

Moonlit valley Credit: Jarkko Lavinen

There are glaciers on both sides of the pass, from which streams flow into either the Suru or the Zanskar catchment. The Penzella glacier, where the Suru river arises, is situated on one of the flanks of this pass. On the Zanskar side, an extensive stretch of flat land is present at the foot of the pass. It is dissected by a number of streams and supports riverine vegetation which becomes thick in summer. This is an ideal camping ground for graziers and trekkers.

The Penzella Pass remains open only from May to September, being closed for the rest of the year due to heavy snowfall.

On the way to Purni (3750m), Zanskar Credit: Jarkko Lavinen

Tangol
Tangol is a small hamlet situated on a level plain at a distance of about 14 km from the pass. It has a well formed willow grove which serves as a welcome change from the barren surroundings. In the backdrop is the towering Himalayan mountain wall and a number of glaciers. A track leads from Tangol to Kishtwar across the snowfields on the mountain wall. The Suru River forms a deep gorge through this mountain wall and is spanned by a short bridge.

Parkhachik is a small village forming the border between the Suru and Zanskar valleys. The people in the Suru Valley are Baltis, while the Zanskar Valley is mainly populated by Buddhists.