35 km from Zanskar, along the long rough road from
Padum, a titular king ruled the Zangla Valley till his death
until a few years back. The old castle is now in utter ruins and
the only surviving edifice is a small chapel that occupies a
hill and sits overlooking the deserted valley below. There is an old
Nunnery near it, which is worth a visit, if only for the austere
life style of the small monastic community of nuns that live here. One
may also see the old monastery situated in the nearby village of
Tsazar that has exquisite frescos. This village lies mid-way between
Stongdey and Zangla. Today, Zangla is the nodal point on the popular
trip covering Padum, Strongdey, Zangla, Karsha and back again to
Padum covering almost all the cultural sites of Zanskar. One can still see the old rope suspension bridge spanning the tumultuous Zanskar near Zangla, which is the testimony of a rare feat of folk engineering. However, it is no longer in use now. Today. People use a temporary footbridge to cross the river and approach the left bank along which the trail to Karsha follows. Zangla is also the starting point of various trekking expeditions for the Padum - Markha valley. In June, the summer is at its height in the region and the climate is ideal for trekking along the route but in winters, a frigid dormancy envelops the area.
