At a distance of around 35 km from Padum, Zangla was the erstwhile seat of the Zanskar kingdom. The old castle of Zangla, located atop a hill, that once housed the royal family is now in ruins, however what still remains is a small chapel overlooking the quiet valley. In close vicinity is a nunnery where you can witness the simple and regulated life that the nuns lead.

Proceeding from the village of Zangla on the road to Stongdey, an old monastery in the village of Tsa Zar is worth a visit. There are some beautiful fresoces preserved in this monastery that make for an interesting sight.


Padum
At an altitude of 3505m and 240 km south of Kargil, Padum has a mix population of Buddhist and Sunni Muslims. It is one place in the Zanskar valley where tourism has started picking up. Padum is also the base from where you can set out on a trekking expeditions and explore the Buddhist monasteries lying enroute. Accommodation options in Padum are limited but satisfactory.


Other Attractions

• Marpa Ling Monastery: From Zangla, Tonde is just four to five hours walk. Tonde is home to the Marpa Ling Monastery that belongs to the Gelukpa School of Tibetan Buddhism. Around 50 monks reside in this monastery.
• Karsha Monastery : The largest and the richest monastery in the Zanskar valley, Karsha can be reached from Padum on foot. Around 150 monks of the Gelukpa order reside in this monastery and celebrate the three day Gustor festival with great enthusiasm every July-August. Worth visiting in the monastery complex is the Lhabrang, a temple where frescoes on the wall are three centuries old.
• Stongdey Monastery : Enroute from Padum to Zangla, Stongdey Monastery is home to around 60 Gelukpa monks. It is the second largest monastery of the Zanskar region and is associated with the Tibetan sage Marpa. The highlight of the gompa is the Gon-khang, a temple housing the veiled protective deities of Buddhism.

How to Reach
By Air - Both Srinagar and Leh Airport can used to reach Kargil.

By Road - From Kargil, buses leave for Padum every other day at three in the morning. It takes two days to reach Padum with an overnight halt at Rangdum. From Padum, Zangla can be reached on a horseback (5 hours) or jeep (1 hour).