The state of Jammu and Kashmir hosts the geologic riches of the Great Himalayan Range in India, with the Indus River and mighty glaciers carving the valleys of the Ladakh Range and the Zanskar Mountains. Traversing the spectacular mountain passes allows access from Srinagar to Kargil via ZojiLa, and from Leh to either PangongTso via ChangLa or to the Nubra Valley via KhardongLa.
Southward from Kargil the road winds through picturesque villages and into the magnificent Suru Valley, bypassing glacial river valleys and heading into the twisted sedimentary mountains surrounding the gompa at Rangdum. The pass at PenziLa bridges the grand vistas of the Suru and Zanskar Valleys as the road continues onward to Padum and the gompas perched on the mountainsides of the surrounding valleys.
Journeying from Kargil to Leh showcases beautiful passes, verdant valleys punctuated by gompas adorned with multi-colored prayer flags, and magnificent mountainscapes. Far from the high altitudes are the cultural centers of Agra, with the Taj Mahal and its spectacular fort, and Old Delhi with its enduring architectural wonders.
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