Padum
title: "Padum" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cities-and-towns-in-kargil-district", "ladakh", "geography-of-ladakh"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padum" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Padum |
| native_name_lang | Zanskar Skat |
| other_name | Padam |
| settlement_type | Town |
| image_skyline | NE Padum Valley Panorama Zanskar Jun24 A7CR 01091.jpg |
| image_caption | View of Padum town from the southwest |
| pushpin_map | Ladakh |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Ladakh, India |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | India |
| subdivision_type1 | Union Territory |
| subdivision_name1 | Ladakh |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Kargil |
| subdivision_type3 | Tehsil |
| subdivision_name3 | Zanskar |
| established_title | |
| government_type | Autonomous Hill Development Council |
| governing_body | LAHDC, Kargil |
| unit_pref | Metric |
| elevation_m | 3669 |
| population_total | 1550 |
| population_as_of | 2011 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| demographics_type1 | Languages |
| demographics1_title1 | Official |
| demographics1_info1 | Ladakhi, Hindi, Tibetan |
| timezone1 | IST |
| utc_offset1 | +5:30 |
| postal_code_type | |
| postal_code | 194302 |
| registration_plate | LA 01 XXXX |
| website | http://www.kargil.nic.in/ |
| :: |
| name = Padum | native_name = | native_name_lang = Zanskar Skat | other_name = Padam | nickname = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = NE Padum Valley Panorama Zanskar Jun24 A7CR 01091.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = View of Padum town from the southwest | pushpin_map = Ladakh | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ladakh, India | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = Union Territory | subdivision_name1 = Ladakh | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Kargil | subdivision_type3 = Tehsil | subdivision_name3 = Zanskar | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | government_type = Autonomous Hill Development Council | governing_body = LAHDC, Kargil | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_rank = | area_total_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 3669 | population_total = 1550 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_footnotes = | demographics_type1 = Languages | demographics1_title1 = Official | demographics1_info1 = Ladakhi, Hindi, Tibetan | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = 194302 | registration_plate = LA 01 XXXX | website = http://www.kargil.nic.in/ | footnotes =
Padum (also known as Padam) is the main town and the administrative centre of the Zanskar tehsil in Kargil district, Ladakh, India. Named after the Buddhist guru Padmasambhava, it was historically one of the two main capitals of the Zanskar Kingdom, the other being Zangla. It is 235 km via the link road from Kargil city (National Highway No. 1D). The new Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road (under construction) connects Padum directly to Leh in the east and to Darcha in Himachal Pradesh.
Description
The present population of Padum town is about 2,000 people. The traditional heart of the village is below the gompa and Palace khar (now in ruins) where two large chortens stand above old buildings. A road was constructed in 1980 from NH1 at Kargil over Pensi La, which is 235 km away. The 145 km road to Darcha passing through Shinkula pass is now operational, connecting to the Manali-Leh Highway. Padum has several hotels, homestays and restaurants for tourists. Padum has a post office, internet cafes and telephone booths.
Geography
Padum is at the centre of the tri-armed Zanskar valley. It has an average elevation of 3,669 m. There are several villages to the north-east of Padum leading to Karsha monastery.
People
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Front_Wide_Jama_Masjid_Padum_Oct22_A7C_03913.jpg" caption="Jama Masjid, Padum"] ::
Padum is largely inhabited by people of Tibetan descent who follow Tibetan Buddhism. There is also a sizable Muslim population that's been established for several centuries who share several aspects of Zanskari culture and origins.
Town
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Zanskar_Kursha_gompa_01.jpg" caption="Padum from Pibiting village in the north"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/SW_Padum_Market_Reru_Road_Zanskar_Jun24_A7CR_01086.jpg" caption="Padum-Darcha road"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Padum_Zanskar_Range_View_From_Karsha_Oct22_A7C_03931.jpg" caption="Looking south to Padum and Pibiting from [[Karsha Monastery"] ::
The sub-divisional capital Padum is a town of the Zanskar sub-division or tehsil in the Kargil district of Ladakh state, India. The Zanskar River flows through the valley from its source at the Drang Drung glacier of the Pensi La. The Zanskar River joins the Lungnak River near Pibiting village.
A number of notable Buddhist monasteries are located near Padum, including Bardan Monastery and Karsha Monastery and the newly built Dalai Lama Photang. The Phugtal Monastery is accessible from here. It is a day's trek from Dorzang, the end of the road leading from Padum.
Access
A bus operates between 1 June and 30 September, after which the Manali–Leh (NH21) highway is normally closed. Other roads, including the highway from Leh to Srinagar via Kargil, remain open until the end of October.
The Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road is under construction. The road to Darcha via Purne is open as of spring 2024, and half its length is now 2-lane tarmac, with the remainder unpaved.
Jio Has started providing its 4G connectivity from 2020, and now Padum is also connected to 4G network.
Airtel has also started providing its mobile services in Padum in 2023.
References
Bibliography
- Janet Rizvi. (1996). Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia. Second Edition. Oxford University Press, Delhi. .
- Osada et al. (2000). Mapping the Tibetan World. Yukiyasu Osada, Gavin Allwright, and Atsushi Kanamaru. Reprint: 2004. Kotan Publishing, Tokyo. .
- Schettler, Margaret & Rolf (1981). Kashmir, Ladakh & Zanskar. Lonely Planet Publications. South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. .
References
- Osada et al (2000), p. 298.
- Osada et al (2000), p. 298.
- Deboos, Salomé. (2023). "Homeland Or Religion? Personal Identity Building in Zangskar, Indian Himalayas". Brill.
- "Phugtal Monastery".
- "Airtel connects Zanskar Valley in Kargil district with superfast Airtel 5G Plus".
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