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The mouth of the Zanskar river gorges, near the village of Chiling. Once frozen, the river can be covered by foot

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The mouth of the Zanskar river gorges, near the village of Chiling. Once frozen, the river can be covered by foot

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A frozen cascade falls from the cliff upon which rises the village of Nerak

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A stretch of the Zanskar river gorges between the villages of Nerak and Hanumil

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In some places, the river Zanskar isn't completely frozen, and the travellers have to clamber up the steep, rocky gorge sides

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A fire is lit at night in order to ward off the rigid temperatures

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At night, the caves along the river are used as shelters from the intense cold

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In some places, the river Zanskar isn't completely frozen, and the travellers have to clamber up the steep, rocky gorge sides

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A passage in front of a frozen cascade in the Zanskar river gorges

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A monk walking through the narrowest part of the Zanskar river gorges between the villages of Nerak and Hanumil

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The Zanskar river gorges at the confluence with the Karnak Chu tributary

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Walking barefoot so the freezing water doesn't wet one's shoes

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In winter, the inhabitants of the village of Nerak protect themselves from the cold by living in underground rooms which take in light from a single aperture in the ceiling

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In winter, the inhabitants of the village of Nerak protect themselves from the cold by living in underground rooms which take in light from a single aperture in the ceiling

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Thukstop Dorjan, the astrologer from the village of Nerak, in the chapel inside his house

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A herder from the village of Nerak plays a type of bombardon in his house

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Inhabitants from the Zanskar valley, who are travelling along the frozen river, rest in a bivouac near the village of Nerak

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Inhabitants from the Zanskar valley, who are travelling along the frozen river, rest in a bivouac near the village of Nerak

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Chering Tashi, an inhabitant from the village of Nerak, takes the butter which is preserved inside a goat's stomach, from his cellar. He will travel by foot to take the butter to the traders in Leh market

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Close-up of Chering Tashi, an inhabitant from the village of Nerak

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Chering Tashi leaves on foot from his house in the village of Nerak, to take the butter to the traders in Leh market

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Chering Tashi leaves on foot from his house in the village of Nerak, to take the butter to the traders in Leh market

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A stretch of the route along the Zanskar river, towered over by the mountain range of the same name

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Some examples of Ibex (Siberian ibex) feeding on the few buds found on the trees in the Zanskar river gorges

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The river Zanskar at the end of the gorges near the village of Hanumil

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Ice patterns on the Zanskar river

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Morning frost on the trees in front of the houses in the village of Hanumil

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A chorten, Tibetan term to indicate a stupa “spiritual monument”, in the village of Pigmo. On a symbolic level, the Stupa represents Buddha's body, his speech and his mind, which show the path of illumination

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A woman from the village of Zangla in her kitchen

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A family from the village of Pigmo in their home

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A female monk from the village of Hanumil in her kitchen

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The flags carrying Buddhist prayers, flutter in the Zanskar river gorges, near the village of Chiling

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INDIA - Zanskar - Walking on the frozen river

Photos: Bruno Zanzottera

Zanskar is a remote valley in northern India, wedged between Ladakh and Kashmir, through which runs the Indus river tributary of the same name. In winter, the numerous villages in the valley would be totally isolated from the rest of the world, if it wasn't for the river, which, freezing over in the coldest months, permits the inhabitants to walk on it. It's a fascinating journey which winds amongst seventy kilometres of gorges, where, at night, one has to shelter from temperatures of -30° inside caves created by the erosion of the soft sandstone. The inhabitants of Zanskar still use the frozen river to transport butter, which is particularly fragrant and appreciated, to Leh market (the capital of Ladakh)

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