Neighborhoods

* **Padum:** The administrative center and most populous town; the commercial hub featuring markets, government offices, hotels, and a mix of Buddhist and Muslim populations. * **Karsha:** Located across the river from Padum, it is the largest village in Zanskar and home to the prominent Karsha Monastery, cascading down a steep mountainside. * **Zangla:** A village in northern Zanskar that was once the capital of the local royal family; known for its ruined hilltop castle and nunnery. * **Stongdey:** The second-largest monastic establishment in Zanskar, situated on a dramatic rocky outcrop overlooking the valley. * **Phugtal / Lungnak Valley:** A remote southeastern corridor renowned for the Phugtal Monastery, which is built directly into a massive cliffside cave.