The Markha River is a river in
Ladakh
Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. (subscription required) Quote: "Jammu and ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. It is a tributary of the
Zanskar River
The Zanskar River is the first major tributary of the Indus River, equal or greater in volume than the main river, which flows entirely within Ladakh, India. It originates northeast of the Great Himalayan range and drains both the Himalayas and t ...
and starts at the junction of the Langtang Chu and Nimaling Chu. Villages along the river valley include
Skiu (Skyu), Markha, Umlung and Hangkar (Hankar).
[
] The Markha River lies within the
Hemis National Park
Hemis National Park is a high-elevation national park in Ladakh, India. Globally famous for its snow leopards, it is believed to have the highest density of them in any protected area in the world. It is the only national park in India that is n ...
.
[
]
The Markha Valley is one of the most popular trekking routes in
Ladakh
Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. (subscription required) Quote: "Jammu and ...
,
accessible from
Ganda La pass near
Spituk
Spituk or Pitok () is a census town located in the Leh district of Ladakh, India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous count ...
in the west, which is usually the beginning point of the trek,
and
Gongmaru La pass near
Hemis
Hemis, also spelled Hamis, is a village in the Leh district of Ladakh, India. It is located in the Kharu tehsil, 40 km southeast of Leh town on the Leh-Manali Highway and under-construction Bilaspur–Leh line.
Hemis is well known for ...
, where the trek usually ends.
Villages on the route of Markha valley trek are Rumbak, Shingo, Skyu, Sara, Markha and Hankar.
Towards the
head of the valley
The head of the valley or, less commonly, the valley head, refers to the uppermost part of a valley.Leser (2005), p. 935.
Description
The head of a valley may take widely differing forms; for example, in highland regions the valley often ends i ...
you can find the
Kang Yatze, a mountain. The Markha River also passes to the south of the Stok range which includes the
Stok Kangri mountain.
Nomadic families herd their yaks in this valley. Many small monasteries exist, of which
Techa gompa is the most important
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...
in the Markha valley.
References
External links
Rivers of Ladakh
Rivers of India
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