Rangdum Monastery stands at 4,031 metres at the head of the Suru valley in Kargil district, an eighteenth-century Gelug foundation. It sits alone on a hillock in a wide, treeless bowl, with glaciers on the ridges around it. Geographically it belongs to the Suru; culturally it belongs to Zanskar.
Duke Kashmir Travels, holding Department of Tourism registration JKTA00003978 since 2011, plans the Kargil-Zanskar road with the driving distances allowed for. Packages start near ₹6,350 per person, twin sharing.
By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
- At 4,031 metres, at the top of the Suru valley.
- Built in the eighteenth century by Gelek Yashy Takpa, under King Tsewang Mangyul.
- Belongs to the Gelug order.
- Isolated: the nearest settlements are small and far apart.
- On the road to Pensi La and Zanskar, past Lang Tso and Stat Tso.
- Reachable roughly May to September only.
What is it like there?
A fortified-looking monastery on a low hill in an empty high plain, with peaks and glaciers on every horizon and almost nothing else in sight.
A small community of monks maintains it. Simple accommodation exists nearby for travellers crossing to Zanskar, but facilities are minimal and should not be assumed.
Why is it counted as Zanskar?
Because its religious and cultural ties run to Zanskar over the Pensi La, even though it stands in the Suru valley in Kargil district.
That split is typical of this region, where valleys are connected by passes rather than by administrative lines.
How do you get there?
Up the Suru valley from Kargil, a long day on rough road, and only when the route is open.
Most travellers reach it as part of a Kargil to Zanskar journey. Fuel and supplies should be carried from Kargil. See tour ideas for how the Ladakh roads link up.
Booking this with us
The agency behind this guide, Duke Kashmir Travels, was registered with the J&K Department of Tourism in March 2011 (JKTA00003978) and joined IATO in 2016. More on the paperwork is on our About Us page.
Tell us when you are travelling and how many of you there are, and a costed itinerary follows. Reach us on +91 9018 44 0000, at info@dukekashmirtravels.com, or through the contact page.
About the founder
The agency was started in Srinagar in 2011 by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, who owns it to this day, helped found the JK Tourism Council, and reads every destination guide before it goes up. His LinkedIn profile is here.