Suru Valley Tour

Suru Valley

Suru valley

Suru valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in all of Jammu and kashmir. It is know for its beautiful trees, dotted villages, pristine river stream and above all beautiful people. Major villages in suru valley are sankoo and trespone. Though village of sankoo is mostly muslim and unlike in Afghanistan, they have shown tolerance in preserving a bamiyan like ancient Buddha statue. It’s a major tourist attraction. Sankoo stands out to be the most beautiful village of suru valley.

The long route of kargil to padum is divided by midpoint mountain pass of pensi la. The region from kargil to pensi la is part of suru valley and from pensi la to padum is zanskar. The area of suru valley has its first major stop purtikche and panikhar and road from kargil to panikhar is smooth and well developed. From panikhar, it starts getting rough and gets really bad on the way to rangdum. At panikhar, one gets to witness nun kun peaks at close proximity. The people of suru valley are proud of these peak as its not only the silver lining of their landscape but also lately a major attraction for tourist and trekkers alike.

On reaching rangdum from panikhar, the landscape changes dramatically and one is treated to incredible flora and fauna. Its rugged mountains are close enough to feel awed. Rangdum is the last major stop of suru valley and about 25 kms from pensi la pass top. Being a midpoint, it is often used as a resting place for your trip to padum or half way to pensi la to see the drang durung glacier.

If one has an extra day at kargil or want to do something different from the known routes in leh Srinagar route, day trip to suru valley is highly recommended.

Major tourist stops along the route of suru, i.e. from kargil upto pensi la pass:

• Trespone (22kms) is a beautiful village known for its Imambarah atop a hillock.
• Sankoo (42kms) is a block headquarter and the most famous village in suru valley. It is a trekking base for 4 day shargole/mulbekh trek and many other short treks. It is also home to famous bamiyan style Buddha statue of karchay khar. The village is a dense scene filled with trees and river suru following in its midst.
• Purtikchay (56kms) is a short stop over to your onward journey to padum. The peaks of nun kun are clearly and geographically visible from here.
• Damsna (61kms) is a popular picnic spot and government has developed it as a fishing point too. You can have a licence arranged to fish here. Its is also a terminating point for rafting.
• Panikhar (67kms) is an important base station for trekkers to under take important routes to ladakh and Kashmir valley.
• Parkachik (85kms) is another point to undertake adventure short treks; especially to trek up a mountain to see the peaks of nun kun most clearly.

• Rangdum (130kms) is the last major stop of suru valley. by the time one has reached here the landscape has changed dramatically with rise of beautiful mountains besides lush green vegetation accompanied by wild animals like marmots, etc. The rich vegetation also attracts bakarwalas and their sheep for grazing. Rangdum is about 30 kms before pensi la pass top and can be used as a stopover for onward / return journey to padum. For a comfortable stay at rangdum, book at the only hotel available. La Himalaya guest house and restaurant.

  At nearly 13,000ft odd, Rangdum is a high altitude point and requires proper acclimatization to spend the night here.

• Pensi la pass top (160kms) is the highlight of your zanskar trip with an excellent view of Drang drung glacier. At 14000ft it offers a vantage point to oversee the zanskar valley ahead with doda and suru river spreading itself beautifully.