Snow covered Buddhist chortens mark the entrance to Karasha monastery, founded in the 11th century. Zanskar, India.

Snow covered Buddhist chortens mark the entrance to Karasha monastery, founded in the 11th century. Zanskar, India.

Lungta marks the entrance to a Zanskar village. Zanskar, India

River deep, Mountain Jihg. Vertical walls and slippery slopes line the ice gorge, cut millions of years ago by the Zanskat River. The Zanskaris have legends and tales about many of the rock formations. Zanskar, India.

The verticle cliff wall to the frozen river where a misstep means certain death. Zanskar, India

The Zanskaris call this valley the Chodar,"ice gorge", and it is only for the period of some six weeks each year that it feezes over solidly enough to allow access. Even so the ice is slippery and treacherous, and it takes an experienced guide to safety path. for atleast 1000 years the Zanskaris have used it as a winter trading route, preferring to make their commercial trips when their fields are lying dormant under the snow. Zanskar, India

Overview of Zanskar landscape of peace, isolation and meditation. Zanskar, India

The Zanskaris call this valley the Chodar,"ice gorge", and it is only for the period of some six weeks each year that it feezes over solidly enough to allow access. Even so the ice is slippery and treacherous, and it takes an experienced guide to safety path. for atleast 1000 years the Zanskaris have used it as a winter trading route, preferring to make their commercial trips when their fields are lying dormant under the snow. Zanskar, India

With all roads and passes blocked by snow, there’s only one route through Zanskar in the wintertime. A 112-mile ice trek through a Himalayan gorge on a frozen river that’s not always frozen. Mind your step on the blue patches. Zanskar, India.

Traders aren't the only people who uses the frozen river. Those timber-getters are hauling building materials into the isolated valley-which is above the tree line. Zanskar, India.

Traders aren't the only people who uses the frozen river. Those timber-getters are hauling building materials into the isolated valley-which is above the tree line. Zanskar, India.

In winter, all roads and passses to Zanskar are blocked by snow. The only option for travellers is a 180 km trek down a (not always) frozen river in a narrow gorge. Temperatures stay at 20 degree celcius not counting the windchill factor. Zanskar, India

The frozen waterfall in the background clearly indicates the extrem coldness in the valley at this time of the year. The Zanskaris have their own effective way of coping with the cold and carrying their loads. Zanskar, India.

Zanskar porters survey river. Zanskar, India.

In many places the ice doesn't extend across the river or is too thin to walk on. At such times, trekkers have to exercise extreme caution on the ice-to fall into the water is a life-threatening experience-or try to find a way up and along the sheer rock walls. on the other hand, obviously such spectacular scenery is a reward for this hardship. Zanskar, India.

Slippery slopes and vertical walls line the ice gorge cut millions of years ago by Zanskar river. This treacherous winter route has been in use for at least a thousand years. But familiarity with thw path does not guard against fatal mishaps. Abale, the group's guide, falls through the river, only his backpack saving him from being swept away by the currant. Even as fear eitches itself on his face, another member slides bravely along on the thin ice, stretching his stick forward. Abale grabs it and is pulled back to safety. Zanskar, India.

A shear canyon captivates with its beauty till it becomes clear that the river goes right up to the rock walls. The ice sidewalks have turned to slush and faced with hypothermia, the trekkers are forced to climb the crumbling cliff walls. Any misstep on this vertical cliff-face means certain death. Zanskar, India.

Overview of Zanskar landscape of peace, isolation and meditation. Zanskar, India

Expedition leaders Kim Gutschow, Harvard Antropoligist and Carroll Dunham, Princeton Antropolgist survey roue in with Zanskar porters. Zanskar, India

The trip takes at least a week, and along the route the only shelter is in cave like this. Hardy travellers and their own supplies an dextremely warm sleeping gear. Zanskar, India.

The trip takes at least a week, and along the route the only shelter is in cave like this. Hardy travellers and their own supplies an dextremely warm sleeping gear. At night the Zanskar is entertain each other by telling tales and sharing ribald jokes around the campfire. Zanskar, India.

At the heart of Zanskaris culture is Tibetan Buddhism, though local superstitions have been added to the traditional canon of beliefs. Zanskar, India.

The trip takes at least a week, and along the route the only shelter is in cave like this. Hardy travellers and their own supplies an dextremely warm sleeping gear. Zanskar, India.

Porter slipped into the river filling their boot with freezing water. Wool socks are squeezed quickly of the water preventing immediate frost bite. Zanskar, India

Isolated away from any commercial markets, Zanskaris craft their own boots made from sheep skin and wool. Zanskar, India.

The Lonpo, a humble and erudite doctor-turned-monk, is Zanskar’s greatest scholar. Highly educated in Budhist philosophy, he doesn’t believe in witches, but shared his thoughts on the matter. “from a Budhist medical perspective, we do believe there are malevolent spirits which can cause illness and madness but witches are only given strength by those who believe in them. If your faith is strong, witches will not harm you”. Zanskar, India

At the heart of Zanskaris culture is Tibetan Buddhism, though local superstitions have been added to the traditional canon of beliefs. Zanskar, India.

Gelugkpa monk boys, Karsha monastery. Zanskar, India.

Kids hit slopes with local skis made from pipes. Zanskar, India

Kids hit slopes with local skis made from pipes. Zanskar, India.

Zanskar village with kids engulfed by changra goats, providers of milk, cheese and valubale Kashmiri wool. Zanskar, India.

The Zanskaris call this valley the Chodar,"ice gorge", and it is only for the period of some six weeks each year that it feezes over solidly enough to allow access. Even so the ice is slippery and treacherous, and it takes an experienced guide to safety path. for atleast 1000 years the Zanskaris have used it as a winter trading route, preferring to make their commercial trips when their fields are lying dormant under the snow. Zanskar, India

Kharsha Monastery.

Kharsha Monastery. Zanskar, India.

Zanskar, India.