A Journey to God’s Mountain: Gonbo Rangjon, Zanskar Valley (2025)
Table of Contents
Introduction
Being an avid traveler throughout my life, I have explored many hidden gems of Ladakh. But only a few places in your whole life leave you spellbound and make you think how God has crafted such majesty on this planet. One such place which is etched in my memory forever is Gonbo Rangjon also known as Gumok Rangan. In the Tibetan language “Gonbo” means God and “Rangan” means Natural. Does the name sound as if it is God’s dwelling place? Yes, it definitely is. The native Tibetan Buddhists regard it as holy and generally call it “God’s Mountain”. In this article, I will cover each detail to make your trip memorable.
Where is Gonbo Rangjon located?
Gonbo Rangjon is located south of Kargyak village in the Lungnak valley of Zanskar, Ladakh with an elevation of 14800 ft (4500m). The top of this sacred peak is at around 18100 ft (5520m) making it a popular destination among trekkers, photographers, and nature lovers exploring the Zanskar valley.
How to Reach ?
First Route
Manali — Sissu— Jispa— Darcha — Shinklu Pass — Gonbo Rangjon
(Total Distance: 150Km ; Total Time: 5-6 hours)
Reaching Manali: Manali is well connected from Delhi and Chandigarh whether you are travelling by air or road. You can take an overnight bus either from Delhi or Chandigarh and reach next morning to Manali which usually takes 11-12 hours. Manali can also be reached by Air, the nearest airport is Bhuntar Airport, Kullu which is located at a distance of 55 Km from Manali with a total travel time of 1.5 hours. You can also reach Manali by train, Ambala Cantt is the nearest train station to Manali located at a distance of 200 Km and from there you can take a bus or a taxi which will take around 10 hours. An alternative train route is through Joginder Nagar Railway Station but it is not as popular as other routes due to fewer trains.
After reaching Manali, you can take a private taxi which will cost around Rs. 25000 depending upon the vehicle. As of now, there is no public transport that operates on this route but the Government is planning to start bus service from Manali to Zanskar in upcoming season 2025, I will update you once it gets operational. Apart from Private Taxis, Sharing taxis also run from the local bus stand of Manali in early hours which will charge Rs. 2000-2500 per person but these sharing taxis run only in the peak season time by the Zanskari drivers. I will share a few contacts of the drivers of sharing taxis that run on these routes. You just have to call them and reserve your seat for a specific date. Although sharing taxis will save you a bunch of money and time but these taxis cover the whole journey from Manali to Gonbo Rangjon in a single day so the chances of hitting Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are very high as you will gain altitude drastically from 6750 ft to 15000 ft in one day. It would be better if you make one night halt at Jispa which is at 10500 ft and then advance your journey to Gonbo Rangjon next day for better acclimatization of your body.
This is the shortest route among the 3 routes to reach Gonbo Rangjon but this route can be travelled only during the time when Border Road Organization (BRO) opens Shinklu Pass for commercial vehicles which is usually in the months from June to September rest of the year it is closed due to heavy snowfall on the Pass. I usually don’t recommend everyone to traverse this route due to its steep altitude which may result in Acute Mountain Sickness. So if you are travelling for the first time to this majestic place, it’s better to commence your journey either from Leh or Srinagar for better acclimatization of your body.
Second Route
Leh — Sirsil La — Lingshed — Padum — Purne — Gonbo Rangjon
This is one of the most scenic routes you will witness in your Zanskar valley trip and also the most followed by the travellers due to its better altitude and climate acclimatization. The iconic journey starts from Leh which is well connected by road and air. You can get round the year flights to Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh which is the only airport of Leh from the major cities of India like Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata etc.
Thereafter, you can hire a private taxi to reach Gonbo Rangjon. It will take 2 days from Leh to reach there. I would advise you to stay overnight at Padum and then commence your journey the next day to Gonbo Rangjon. As there is no direct public transport to reach Gonbo Rangjon from Leh, you can get shared taxis to Padum in the season time (June to September) from Leh Bus Stand. After Padum, if you are lucky enough you can get a shared taxi but in most cases, you have to hire a private taxi. The route from Leh to Linghsed is something like a roller coaster ride with lots of off-roading and breathtaking views. Thereafter, Padum to Purne, road condition is almost good with a few narrow roads. There is a diversion near Purne which will lead to Phugtal Monastery which is one of the most famous Monasteries in Zanskar Valley. So, you can cover this place too. After Prune, you can smoothly cover your journey to Gonbo Rangjon, your final destination.
Third Route
Srinagar — Sonmarg — Zojila Pass – Kargil— Suru Valley — Rangdum — Pensi La Pass— Padum — Gonbo Rangjon
I followed this route when I first visited God’s Mountain. The route begins from Srinagar crossing the exquisite beauty of Sonmarg and the lofty Zojila Pass before reaching Kargil. After making an overnight stay at kargil, begin your journey passing the massive landscape of Suru Valley to the main village of Zanskar Valley i.e. Rangdum where you will get a few homestays to relax overnight before heading to Padum next day. The next day you will reach Padum after crossing the majestic twin lakes of Pensi La Pass i.e. Stat Tso and Lang Tso Lake and unearthly snow covered Drang Drung Glacier which is the only glacier in India that can be visited by road. The serene beauty of Zanskar will continue to exhibit its charm before you reach Padum which is the main centre of Zanskar Valley. Rest overnight in Padum and begin your journey the next day to Gonbo Rangjon. This route will take minimum 3 days to reach Gonbo Rangjon and I consider it the best route as the altitude numbers increase gradually adapting the body to the surroundings of the valley.
Where to Stay?
4-5 Years ago, there was no stay option at Gonbo Rangjon. The nearest homestay available was in Kurgiakh Village which is located at a distance of 10 Km. Another option was to bring your own camp and pitch there. But now, you can find 3-4 camping agencies and 1 cottage which will be operational this season. The details are as under:
a) Acho Camping and Restaurant: Mr. Stanzin Nantak is the owner of the camp. It will charge you around Rs. 1600 per person with 2 meals (breakfast and dinner). For booking, you can contact him on call/Whatsapp : 9469057514, 6006255467, 9149450212.
b) Phuktal Camp: Mr. Sherab Gyalson runs this camp. Charges of the camp per night is Rs. 1600 per person with 2 meals (breakfast and dinner). For booking, you can contact him on call/Whatsapp : 9996268608, 9015918066.
c) Doksa Hut and Restaurant : This is the only cottage option available there run by Mr. Lobzang Norbu. For present season charges, you can can contact him on call/Whatsapp : 6006403357 /E-mail: doksa1700@gmail.
When to travel and Weather at Gonbo Rangjon ?
June to September are the favourable months to travel to this place when temperature is quite favourable to roam around. Below is the complete table of temperature and weather conditions round the year at Gonbo Rangjon:
Things To Do
a) Stargazing: In my whole astrophotography journey, this is the best place in India where stargazing is at another level. Gonbo Rangjon has Bortle Scale-1 sky and zero light pollution making it an exceptional place to watch the Milky Way with naked eyes.
b) Camp and Relax at Kurgiakh Chu River: Kurgiakh river flows alongside the Gonbo Rangjon with its pristine clear waters making the whole canvas a nature’s masterpiece. You can pitch your personal camp near the river and nestled yourself in the beautiful landscape of the place.
c) Spotting Wildlife: This place is gaining momentum for wildlife lovers. Animals like Snow Leopard, Himalayan Brown Bear, Marco Polo Sheep (Argali), Tibetan Antelope (Chiru), Marmot, Yak (domesticated and wild), Wild Goat etc. can be seen near to this place.
d) Flora: Gonbo Rangjon also has a rich class of flora. Alpine Flowers (Edelweiss, Rhododendrons, Primulas), Himalayan Willows, Junipers and Tibetan Medicinal Plants (Saussurea, Artemisia species) can be seen in the August-September months in the valley.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Where is Gonbo Rangjon located?
Gonbo Rangjon is situated south of Kargyak village in the Lungnak valley of Zanskar, at an elevation of 14,800 ft (4,500 m). The peak itself reaches approximately 18,100 ft (5,520 m), making it a popular destination for trekkers and nature enthusiasts.
Are there public transportation options to Gonbo Rangjon?
Currently, there is no regular public transport directly to Gonbo Rangjon. However, the government plans to start a bus service from Manali to Zanskar in 2025. Sharing taxis may be available from Manali to Gonbo Rangjon during peak season (June to September), but these typically run only once a day.
What is the best time to visit Gonbo Rangjon?
The best time to visit is from June to September when the weather is more favorable, and the Shinklu Pass is open. Outside of these months, the region experiences heavy snowfall, making travel difficult.
What precautions should I take regarding altitude?
Due to the significant altitude gain, particularly on the Manali route, travelers are at risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). It is advisable to spend a night in Jispa (10,500 ft) for acclimatization before continuing to Gonbo Rangjon.