The 105- Km Chadar trek over the frozen Zanskar River is a journey most arduous, but not without beauty and magic. Chadar is more than a trek for the people of Zanskar, the only Buddhist dominated area in muslim majority Kargil district of Ladakh region. It is believed to have a trekking history of more than 1000 years.
The Zanskari people call it “Khado Sanglam” In winters Penzi La the only road which connects Zanskar with the out side world gets closed due to snow
So when the River Zanskar freezes during winters, it forms a layer of Ice hard enough for letting people to walk and reach Chilling, which has an all weather road connecting Leh.
This has been a traditional route for these people for centuries. It was part of the Silk Route, and people waited for it to freeze, so they could head back to their homes.
Today also this route is used by the people from Zanskar to move in and out of the Zanskar Valley for reaching Leh and School children .who come to study in Leh, go back home on the frozen River.
