Chorbat Valley : Where Ladakh Gives Way to Baltistan

So where exactly does Baltistan begin and Ladakh end ? Well to be honest there is no such defined physical feature but most consider the Chorbat Valley as a part of Baltistan rather than Ladakh. In the pre-partition days Chorbat was an “Ilakka” in the Baltistan Wazarat. Geographically the Chorbat Valley starts at the point where the Shyok Valley narrows and becomes a Gorge before the Village of Bogdang. Bogdang is considered the first Village of the Chorbat Valley and hence the first Village of Baltistan. Technically it lies sandwiched between the Ladakh Range and the Karakorams.

Prashant MathawanSeptember 25, 2021chorbat valley, ladakh, shyok, thang, franu, tyakhashi, turtuk, baltistan, khaplu

Pangi to Zanskar

The Ancient Routes which connected Pangi Valley in Chamba with Zanskar in Ladakh : Excerpts from Guide to Dalhousie Chamba and the Inner Mountains Between Shimla and Kashmir (1923)

Himalayan GeographyPrashant MathawanJanuary 9, 2020pangi, zanskar, chamba, ladakh, ancient routes Comment

Historical Map of the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir

The State of Jammu and Kashmir as it was at its largest extent under the rule of the Dogras. This Map helps people understand the complicated Geography and Diversity of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indigenous People of Jammu and Kashmir

The erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir was one of the most diverse State in the country in Ethnic, Religious and Lingual dimensions. The main "People" of Jammu and Kashmir and its different regions are briefly described in this Article.

The Dhankar Buddha of Spiti

The Dhankar Gompa in Spiti as among st its posessions a metal Statue of the Buddha which was off limits to outsiders. A few people had ever seen and it was first photographed for open sources only in 2010. This is the story of the Buddha which came all the way from Gilgit

Himalayan HistoryPrashant MathawanAugust 14, 2019dhankar gompa, spiti, trans himalayas, tibetan buddhism, gilgit shahis, ladakh, tibetComment

The Lingual Diversity of the state of Jammu and Kashmir

The state of Jammu and Kashmir is made up of a number of geographically separate Regions divided by Ranges of the Himalaya. Its home to a diverse variety of Ethnicity, Cultures, Religions and of course Languages and Dialects. This article looks at the language diversity in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pass of Shiva

The Pass of Shiva as it was originally called is one of the main Passes used since historical times and it connected Kashmir with Ladakh. A fascinating insight into the Pass of Shiva or the Sheoji Pass. Today this name has transformed into what we call the Zoji La.

The Exploration of the Siachen or Rose Glacier

The Story of the Exploration of the Siachen Glacier. This Glacier, now said to be the highest Battlefield in the World, was first Explored and Mapped by a team led by a Lady Fanny Bullock. This is her Story as well as Guide to explaining the Siachen Glacier with its main features and Glaciers around it.

The Inter-State Himalayan Boundary Dispute at 14000 ft

An Inter-State Boundary dispute at 14000 ft beyond the mighty Baralacha La between the Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The dispute involves the marking of the actual Border between Lahaul on the Himachal side and Ladakh on the Jammu and Kashmir side.

High Altitude Gear from the Hall of Fame in Leh

The Hall of Fame Museum near Leh in Ladakh has a section dedicated to the Equipment used by High Altitude Mountaineers generally and the Indian Army specifically while guarding the high frontiers in the Himalayas and the Karakorams. We have a look at some of the great Gear on display.

New Routes Opened in Ladakh

The Government has announced the Opening of some new Routes in Ladakh which were earlier Off Limits to the General Public except with Special Permits. Hopefully in the near future more such areas would be opened up for Tourism in Ladakh.

Antiquities from Ladakh at the British Museum

The Collection of Antiquities and everyday use Items from Ladakh at the British Museum Collection.

Thang : India's most Northernly Village

Thang is the last Village before the LOC in the Turtuk Sector. Entry to Thang is restricted and presenting some rare pics from inside the Village.

Himalayan GeographyPrashant MathawanSeptember 27, 2018thang, baltistan, LOC, ladakh, turtuk Comments

A Place Called Chushul

On the desolate Changthang region of the Tibetan Plateau lies the Village of Chushul. It lies close to the Border with China. And it was here that a Treaty was signed and Ladakh became a part of the Sikh Empire.

Himalayan HistoryPrashant MathawanSeptember 25, 2018chushul, ladakh, changthang, tibet, zorawar singh Comments

The Changthang

The Changthang is a part of the Tibetan Plateau which is located in the Western and North Western part of Tibet and it also includes Eastern Ladakh. Its a forbidding Plateau and is home to a number of Lakes like the Pangong Tso and the Tso Moriri. However it holds a large array of wildlife in its high altitude Wetlands. Its home to the Changpa People who are nomadic herders known to keep the best herd of Pashmina Goats.

Himalayan GeographyPrashant MathawanSeptember 7, 2018changthang, ladakh, pangong, tsomoririComment

The Karakorams in India

The Karakorams are the most vertical of all the Mountain Ranges in the World. A large part of the Karakoram falls within India but most people are unaware of it. We explain.

Herodotus's Legendary Fox Sized Gold Digging Ants

Herodotus was a famous Greek historian of the ancient times who lived around 500 BC and he was born in Asia Minor in the Persian Empire. He was referred to as the Father of History as he wrote a lot of history and tales of the unknown from lands far off. One of his most intriguing account was the one of the legendary Gold digging ants, as big as Foxes, which lived in the high Himalayas in a land he called Dardae.

Himalayan HistoryPrashant MathawanJuly 6, 2018herodotus, marmot, ladakh, kargilComment

La Dvags : Ladakh The Land of Passes

Ladakh, the word comes from the derivation of the of the Tibetan word for the region “La Dvags” which literally means the Land of Passes. Of course there are N number of Passes within Ladakh so we try and enumerate the Passes which connect Ladakh with its neighboring Regions and well as the Passes within Ladakh connecting the different areas in Ladakh. We try and list them up

The Curious Case of the Baltis of Dehradun

The story of Balti people, originally from Baltistan, who now live in Vikas Nagar near Dehradun. They operate seasonal Dhabas in the Kargil District both in Kargil and Drass. We find out how they ended up in Dehradun

The Battle of Basgo

There once was Battle fought in Ladakh where a Mughal Army in support of the King of Ladakh fought against a joint Mongol Tibetan Army which had laid siege to the Fort of Basgo. The Mughals were supported by allies such as the Raja of Kullu wheres as the Mongol-Tibetans had support from the Raja Bushahr.

Himalayan HistoryPrashant MathawanMay 18, 2018mongols, basgo, ladakh, mughals, dalai lama Comments