Rangdum

Rangdum village is an elliptical expanded plateau that is situated midway between Kargil and Padum. Located 130 km south-east of Kargil, in the beautiful Suru Valley in Leh District, Rangdum is surrounded by steep hills, pastures, streams and rocky mountains. Being the farthest region of the Suru Valley at an altitude of 3657 meters, it has evolved with a wild beauty. This isolated place is known for an old monastery, which is one of the most revered Buddhist places in Leh-Ladakh.

Rangdum Monastery

The first monastery on the way to Panikar and Parkutse from Kargil is Rangdum. The amazing structure of the Rangdum monastery, founded by the Gelukpa order, dates back to the 18th century Buddhist architectural patterns. Home to about 40 monks, it is surrounded by colourful hills on one side and rocky mountains on the other. The major attraction of the monastery lies with its central prayer hall that houses a unique collection of statues, tiny hamlets (Yuldo and Tashi-Tongze), paintings and other Buddhist antiques. There is a small museum in the monastery, which exhibits a priceless and varied collection of Tibetan and other relics.

Other Attractions

Rangdum is popular among adventure enthusiasts for its fascinating trek routes. The most popular trek route leads to Henaskut (a five-day trek near Lamayuru), across the Kanji valley.

Parkachik glacier (90 km south of Kargil) in the Nun-Kun slopes is another major trek site near Rangdum.

Lingshet Monastery, located south east of Rangdum, is among the oldest monasteries of Leh-Ladakh.

How To Get There

By Air: The nearest airports are Srinagar (204 km) and Leh (230 km).

By Road: The region is well connected with Kargil (130 km) and Padum by regular bus service. One can hire a car or jeep taxi from Kargil that takes around seven to eight hours to reach Rangdum.

Accommodation

Although the place is located in a remote area, one can find Government rest house, tourist bungalows, tourist complex and several tents for accommodation, and delicious Kashmiri cuisine.