Zangskar, Zanskar and Zaskar all refer to 7000 square kilometres of high mountainous terrain on the southern fringe of Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir State. For me they are the most enchanting 7000 square kilometres on earth (at least that I have had the good fortune to wander through). Since 1994 I have returned to the area on 13 separate occasions, making visits in both winter and summer. I have trekked extensively in the area, made somewhat faltering attempts to climb and ski, rafted the Zanskar river, and researched changing agricultural practices and the politics of irrigation development. In short, the region has provided me with a wealth of experiences, a portion of which I want to share in the pages of this Resource.
The Zangskar/Zanskar Resource is free to use and is for individual use only. I hope that anyone using my research material will conform to current academic practice when it comes to citing sources.
Please also note that the information set out in this Resource is set out in the best of faith and is believed accurate at the time of publication. The author cannot be held liable for any loss, injury or inconvenience suffered by anyone using or acting on the information provided in this resource. In addition any views expressed, unless otherwise stated, are those of the author alone. The author recommends that you verify critical information from other appropriate secondary sources before relying on it.
A note on spellings:
Zangskar, the etymologically correct spelling, is largely confined to the research pages of this resource. Zanskar, the spelling in most popular usage, will also be recognised and widely used, especially in relation to trek information and local news reports. The usage of Zaskar, the spelling usually found in atlases and dated maps of the region, will be restricted to the replication of direct quotes where this spelling has been used.