Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 10:09, 28 June 2022
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	\| country = IND		\| country = IND
	\| name = Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road		\| name = Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road
	~~\| translation =~~
	\| type =		\| type =
	\| route =		\| route =
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	}}		}}

	'''Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road''' or '''Zanskar Highway'''{{sfnp\|Demenge, The Political Ecology of Road Construction\|2011\|loc=p. 80, note 59}} is a road under construction between the Indian union territory of [[Ladakh]] and the state of [[Himachal Pradesh]], passing through the region of [[Zanskar]]. It connects [[Nimmu]] in the [[Indus River\|Indus Valley]] to [[Padum]], the capital of Zanskar, to [[Darcha]]~~, the main town~~ in [[Lahul and Spiti]].{{sfnp\|Demenge, The Political Ecology of Road Construction\|2011\|p=26}}		'''Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road''' or '''Zanskar Highway'''{{sfnp\|Demenge, The Political Ecology of Road Construction\|2011\|loc=p. 80, note 59}} is a road under construction between the Indian union territory of [[Ladakh]] and the state of [[Himachal Pradesh]], passing through the region of [[Zanskar]]. It connects [[Nimmu]] in the [[Indus River\|Indus Valley]] to [[Padum]], the capital of Zanskar, to [[Darcha]] village in [[Lahul and Spiti]].{{sfnp\|Demenge, The Political Ecology of Road Construction\|2011\|p=26}}
	It provides an alternative to the [[Leh–Manali Highway]] in linking Ladakh with the rest of India.<ref name="India Today"/> It is being built by the [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO) of the Indian army. Construction of road is expected to be completed by late ~~2022~~.<ref>{{Cite news \|title=High road at Chilling: India builds Himalayan bridges and highways to match China \|first=Devjyot \|last=Ghoshal \|date=29 September 2020 \|newspaper=Reuters \|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-china-road-idUSKBN26K1F7}}</ref> Already completed [[Atal tunnel]] and the under-construction [[Shingo La#Shingo-La-Tunnel\|Shingo La Tunnel]] which will be completed by ~~2024~~ will provide all weather connectivity.<ref name=comp1>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/defence-ministry-clears-the-bro-tunnel-under-shinkun-la-in-ladakh-101621414374031.html Defence ministry clears the BRO tunnel under Shinkun La in Ladakh], [[Hindustan Times]], 19 May 2021.</ref>		It provides an alternative to the [[Leh–Manali Highway]] in linking Ladakh with the rest of India.<ref name="India Today"/> It is being built by the [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO) of the Indian army. Construction of road is expected to be completed by late 2023.<ref>{{Cite news \|title=High road at Chilling: India builds Himalayan bridges and highways to match China \|first=Devjyot \|last=Ghoshal \|date=29 September 2020 \|newspaper=Reuters \|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-china-road-idUSKBN26K1F7}}</ref> Already completed [[Atal tunnel]] and the under-construction [[Shingo La#Shingo La Tunnel\|Shingo La Tunnel]] which will be completed by 2025 will provide all weather connectivity.<ref name=comp1>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/defence-ministry-clears-the-bro-tunnel-under-shinkun-la-in-ladakh-101621414374031.html Defence ministry clears the BRO tunnel under Shinkun La in Ladakh], [[Hindustan Times]], 19 May 2021.</ref>

	It is estimated that travel on this road will only take 10-12 hours to reach Leh from Manali, as opposed to the [[Leh-Manali highway]] taking almost [[Leh-Manali Highway#Travel time\|14-16 hours]] under good weather condition. The road is strategic for the [[Indian Army]] as it is set back the international border and can facilitate safe troop movements.<ref name="India Today">		It is estimated that travel on this road will only take 10-12 hours to reach Leh from Manali, as opposed to the [[Leh-Manali highway]] taking almost [[Leh-Manali Highway#Travel time\|14-16 hours]] under good weather condition. The road is strategic for the [[Indian Army]] as it is set back the international border and can facilitate safe troop movements.<ref name="India Today">
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	[[File:Chadar trek image 2.jpg\|thumb\|right\|270px\|Frozen Zanskar River (called "Chadar") was used for travelling between Padum and Leh]]		[[File:Chadar trek image 2.jpg\|thumb\|right\|270px\|Frozen Zanskar River (called "Chadar") was used for travelling between Padum and Leh]]
	The regions of Lahul (''Lha yul'') and Spiti (''sPi ti'') were earlier part of Ladakh.<ref>		The regions of Lahul (''Lha yul'') and Spiti (''sPi ti'') were earlier part of Ladakh.<ref>
	{{citation \|last1=Powers \|first1=John \|last2=Templeman \|first2=David \|title=Historical Dictionary of Tibet \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LVlyX6iSDEQC&pg=PA749 \|year=2012 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=978-0-8108-7984-3 \|p=387}}: "In the past, ''La dwags'' [Ladakh] sometimes included ''sBal ti yul'' (Baltistan); ''Zangs dkar'' [Zanskar]; Lahaul; Spiti; the Aksai Chin (Hin. ''Aksä'i cina''; Ch. ''Akesai Qin''); and ''mNga' ris'' [Ngari]."		{{citation \|last1=Powers \|first1=John \|last2=Templeman \|first2=David \|title=Historical Dictionary of Tibet \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LVlyX6iSDEQC&pg=PA749 \|year=2012 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=978-0-8108-7984-3 \|page=387}}: "In the past, ''La dwags'' [Ladakh] sometimes included ''sBal ti yul'' (Baltistan); ''Zangs dkar'' [Zanskar]; Lahaul; Spiti; the Aksai Chin (Hin. ''Aksä'i cina''; Ch. ''Akesai Qin''); and ''mNga' ris'' [Ngari]."
	</ref>		</ref>
	They were attached to [[Zanskar]].<ref>		They were attached to [[Zanskar]].<ref>
	{{citation \|last1=Fisher \|first1=Margaret W. \|last2=Rose \|first2=Leo E. \|last3=Huttenback \|first3=Robert A. \|title=Himalayan Battleground: Sino-Indian Rivalry in Ladakh \|date=1963 \|publisher=Praeger \|url=https://archive.org/details/himalayanbattleg0000unse/mode/2up \|via=archive.org \|pp=18–19}}: "The Ladakhi chronicles state that the eldest son [of King Nyimagon], ''Pal-gyi-gön'' [Lhachen Palgyigon], received Ladakh and the Rudok area; the second son, ''Tra-shi-gön'' [Trashigon], Guge and Purang; while the third son, ''De-tsuk-gön'' [Detsukgon], was given Zanskar, Spiti and Lahul."		{{citation \|last1=Fisher \|first1=Margaret W. \|last2=Rose \|first2=Leo E. \|last3=Huttenback \|first3=Robert A. \|title=Himalayan Battleground: Sino-Indian Rivalry in Ladakh \|date=1963 \|publisher=Praeger \|url=https://archive.org/details/himalayanbattleg0000unse/mode/2up \|via=archive.org \|pages=18–19}}: "The Ladakhi chronicles state that the eldest son [of King Nyimagon], ''Pal-gyi-gön'' [Lhachen Palgyigon], received Ladakh and the Rudok area; the second son, ''Tra-shi-gön'' [Trashigon], Guge and Purang; while the third son, ''De-tsuk-gön'' [Detsukgon], was given Zanskar, Spiti and Lahul."
	</ref>		</ref>

	By 1847, when the [[British Raj]] arrived, they got separated from Ladakh and came under the control of [[Punjab\|British Punjab]]. Thus the connections between Zanskar and Lahul and Spiti were partly severed.<ref>		By 1847, when the [[British Raj]] arrived, they got separated from Ladakh and came under the control of [[Punjab\|British Punjab]]. Thus the connections between Zanskar and Lahul and Spiti were partly severed.<ref>
	{{citation \|last=Cunningham \|first=Alexander \|title=Ladak: Physical, Statistical, Historical \|publisher=Wm. H. Allen and Co \|location=London \|year=1854 \|url=https://archive.org/details/ladakphysicalsta00cunnrich \|via=archive.org \|p=18}}: "Ladak is divided politically between Maharaja Gulab Sing and the East-India Company. To the former belong all the northern districts, to the latter only the two southern districts of Lahul and Spiti."		{{citation \|last=Cunningham \|first=Alexander \|title=Ladak: Physical, Statistical, Historical \|publisher=Wm. H. Allen and Co \|location=London \|year=1854 \|url=https://archive.org/details/ladakphysicalsta00cunnrich \|via=archive.org \|page=18}}: "Ladak is divided politically between Maharaja Gulab Sing and the East-India Company. To the former belong all the northern districts, to the latter only the two southern districts of Lahul and Spiti."
	</ref>{{efn\|Lahul was separated from Ladakh at the end of the [[Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal War]] (1679–1684) and Upper [[Kinnaur district\|Kinnaur]] was annexed to [[Bashahr]]. Spiti was annexed to British India after the [[Treaty of Amritsar, 1846\|Treaty of Amritsar]] through a poorly documented transaction.}}		</ref>{{efn\|Lahul was separated from Ladakh at the end of the [[Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal War]] (1679–1684) and Upper [[Kinnaur district\|Kinnaur]] was annexed to [[Bashahr]]. Spiti was annexed to British India after the [[Treaty of Amritsar, 1846\|Treaty of Amritsar]] through a poorly documented transaction.}}
	Nevertheless, Lahaulis fought for the defence of Ladakh and Zanskar during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948]]. [[Prithi Chand (Indian Army officer)\|Major Prithi Chand]] trekked over the [[Zoji La]] pass in winter to arrive in Leh before the [[Gilgit Scouts\|raiders from Gilgit]].<ref>		Nevertheless, Lahaulis fought for the defence of Ladakh and Zanskar during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948]]. [[Prithi Chand (Indian Army officer)\|Major Prithi Chand]] trekked over the [[Zoji La]] pass in winter to arrive in Leh before the [[Gilgit Scouts\|raiders from Gilgit]].<ref>
	{{cite journal \|last1=Gutschow \|first1=Kim \|title=The Politics of Being Buddhist in Zangskar: Partition and Today \|journal=India Review \|volume=5 \|issue=~~3-4~~ \|year=2006 \|pages=470–498 \|issn=1473-6489 \|doi=10.1080/14736480600939306 \|ref={{sfnref\|Gutshow, The Politics of Being Buddhist in Zangskar\|2006}}}}		{{cite journal \|last1=Gutschow \|first1=Kim \|title=The Politics of Being Buddhist in Zangskar: Partition and Today \|journal=India Review \|volume=5 \|issue=3–4 \|year=2006 \|pages=470–498 \|issn=1473-6489 \|doi=10.1080/14736480600939306 \|s2cid=42308945 \|ref={{sfnref\|Gutshow, The Politics of Being Buddhist in Zangskar\|2006}}}}
	</ref>		</ref>

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	==Route==		==Route==
	[[File:Jankar Nala Ramjak Grass Oct20 D72 18148.jpg\|thumb\|right\|~~{{QI seal}}~~ Road under construction on right bank of Jankar Nala near Ramjak, Oct 2020]]		[[File:Jankar Nala Ramjak Grass Oct20 D72 18148.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Road under construction on right bank of Jankar Nala near Ramjak, Oct 2020]]
	[[File:Jankar Nala Sumdo Downstream Oct20 D72 18183.jpg\|right\|thumb\|~~{{QI seal}}~~ New road from Zanskar Sumdo to Darcha, Oct 2020]]		[[File:Jankar Nala Sumdo Downstream Oct20 D72 18183.jpg\|right\|thumb\|New road from Zanskar Sumdo to Darcha, Oct 2020]]

	=== Nimmu terminus to Padum ===		=== Nimmu terminus to Padum ===
	Total distance from Nimmo to Padum is 155 km on the proposed ~~allignment~~, only 30 km remains to be commissioned. This section covers following towns/villages:		Total distance from Nimmo to Padum is 155 km on the proposed alignment, only 30 km remains to be commissioned. This section covers following towns/villages:
	* [[Nimo, Ladakh\|Nimo]]		* [[Nimo, Ladakh\|Nimo]]
	* [[Chiling_Sumda\|Chiling]]		* [[Chiling_Sumda\|Chiling]]
	* Nerak		* Nerak
	* [[Zangla]]		* [[Zangla]]
	* [[Padum]]<ref>https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/connecting-ladakh-india-growing-road-network-to-link-borders-with-the-mainland-1713978-2020-08-22</ref>		* [[Padum]]<ref>{{Cite web \| url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/connecting-ladakh-india-growing-road-network-to-link-borders-with-the-mainland-1713978-2020-08-22 \| title=Connecting Ladakh: India's growing road network to link borders with the mainland }}</ref>

	=== Padum to Darcha terminus ===		=== Padum to Darcha terminus ===
	From Padum, the road climbs up to the [[Shingo La\|Shingo La pass]] at {{Convert\|5,091\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}. ~~It then~~ descends on the right bank of the Jankar Nala through Ramjak to Zanskar Sumdo, which has a helipad. The ~~newly-surfaced road (as of Oct '20) continues to Palden Lhamo where the~~ Jankar Nala enters a short gorge about {{Convert\|100\|ft\|m\|abbr=on}} deep. On the sides of the gorge is a Buddhist shrine to the deity [[Palden Lhamo]]. The road crosses the gorge and runs along the left bank via Chikka and Rarik to meet the [[Leh-Manali Highway]] about 2 km before Darcha. This segment covers a distance of approximately {{Convert\|~~132~~\|km\|mi\|abbr=on}}.<ref>		From Padum, the road climbs up to the [[Shingo La\|Shingo La pass]] at {{Convert\|5,091\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}}. The newly-surfaced road (as of Oct '21) continues from the Shingo La pass down to the Darcha terminus. The road descends on the right bank of the Jankar Nala through Ramjak to Zanskar Sumdo, which has a helipad. The Jankar Nala enters a short gorge about {{Convert\|100\|ft\|m\|abbr=on}} deep. On the sides of the gorge is a Buddhist shrine to the deity [[Palden Lhamo]]. The road crosses the gorge and runs along the left bank via Chikka and Rarik to meet the [[Leh-Manali Highway]] about 2 km before Darcha. This segment covers a distance of approximately {{Convert\|142\|km\|mi\|abbr=on}}.<ref>
	{{Cite web \|title=Padum–Darcha route \|url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=graphhopper_foot&route=33.469%2C76.878%3B32.681%2C77.188#map=9/33.0766/77.0650&layers=C \|url-status=live \|access-date=17 November 2020 \|website=OpenStreetMap.org \|type=Note: Distance by foot used as OSM currently does not show a route by car. The road mostly follows the trekking trail. The actual distance may differ marginally.}}		{{Cite web \|title=Padum–Darcha route \|url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=graphhopper_foot&route=33.469%2C76.878%3B32.681%2C77.188#map=9/33.0766/77.0650&layers=C \|url-status=live \|access-date=17 November 2020 \|website=OpenStreetMap.org \|type=Note: Distance by foot used as OSM currently does not show a route by car. The road mostly follows the trekking trail. The actual distance may differ marginally.}}
	</ref>		</ref>
	<gallery mode="nolines" heights="100px">		<gallery mode="nolines" heights="100px">
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	==Bibliography==		==Bibliography==
	* {{citation \|first=Jonathan \|last=Demenge \|title=The Political Ecology of Road Construction in Ladakh \|publisher=University of Sussex \|year=2011 \|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/8768446.pdf \|ref={{sfnref\|Demenge, The Political Ecology of Road Construction\|2011}}}}		* {{citation \|first=Jonathan \|last=Demenge \|title=The Political Ecology of Road Construction in Ladakh \|publisher=University of Sussex \|year=2011 \|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/8768446.pdf \|ref={{sfnref\|Demenge, The Political Ecology of Road Construction\|2011}}}}
	* {{citation \|first=Jonathan \|last=Demenge \|title=The Road to Lingshed: Manufactured Isolation and Experienced Mobility in Ladakh \|journal=Himalaya: ~~the~~ Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies \|volume=32 \|number=1 \|pp=51–60 \|year=2013 \|url=https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1825&context=himalaya \|ref={{sfnref\|Demenge, The Road to Lingshed\|2013}}}}		* {{citation \|first=Jonathan \|last=Demenge \|title=The Road to Lingshed: Manufactured Isolation and Experienced Mobility in Ladakh \|journal=Himalaya: The Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies \|volume=32 \|number=1 \|pages=51–60 \|year=2013 \|url=https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1825&context=himalaya \|ref={{sfnref\|Demenge, The Road to Lingshed\|2013}}}}

imported>Dbhaimital: /* Nimmu terminus to Padum */

2021-08-21T18:53:11Z

Nimmu terminus to Padum

New page

{{short description|Road in India}}
{{infobox road
| country = IND
| name = Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road
| translation =
| type =
| route =
| length_km =
| image = Jankar_Nala_Rarik_Oct20_D72_18292.jpg
| image_notes = Chikka & Rarik villages, 6 km from the Darcha terminus, Oct 2020
| map =
| map_custom =
| direction_a = North
| terminus_a = [[Nimmu]], [[Ladakh]]
| destinations = {{flatlist|
* [[Nimmu]], [[Ladakh]]
* [[Padum]], [[Ladakh]]
* [[Darcha]], [[Lahaul and Spiti district|Lahaul & Spiti]], [[Himachal Pradesh]]
}}
| direction_b = South
| terminus_b = [[Darcha]], [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| junction =
| length_notes =
| states = [[Ladakh]], [[Himachal Pradesh]]
}}

'''Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road''' or '''Zanskar Highway'''{{sfnp|Demenge, The Political Ecology of Road Construction|2011|loc=p. 80, note 59}} is a road under construction between the Indian union territory of [[Ladakh]] and the state of [[Himachal Pradesh]], passing through the region of [[Zanskar]]. It connects [[Nimmu]] in the [[Indus River|Indus Valley]] to [[Padum]], the capital of Zanskar, to [[Darcha]], the main town in [[Lahul and Spiti]].{{sfnp|Demenge, The Political Ecology of Road Construction|2011|p=26}}
It provides an alternative to the [[Leh–Manali Highway]] in linking Ladakh with the rest of India.<ref name="India Today"/> It is being built by the [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO) of the Indian army. Construction of road is expected to be completed by late 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=High road at Chilling: India builds Himalayan bridges and highways to match China |first=Devjyot |last=Ghoshal |date=29 September 2020 |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-china-road-idUSKBN26K1F7}}</ref> Already completed [[Atal tunnel]] and the under-construction [[Shingo La#Shingo-La-Tunnel|Shingo La Tunnel]] which will be completed by 2024 will provide all weather connectivity.<ref name=comp1>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/defence-ministry-clears-the-bro-tunnel-under-shinkun-la-in-ladakh-101621414374031.html Defence ministry clears the BRO tunnel under Shinkun La in Ladakh], [[Hindustan Times]], 19 May 2021.</ref>

It is estimated that travel on this road will only take 10-12 hours to reach Leh from Manali, as opposed to the [[Leh-Manali highway]] taking almost [[Leh-Manali Highway#Travel time|14-16 hours]] under good weather condition. The road is strategic for the [[Indian Army]] as it is set back the international border and can facilitate safe troop movements.<ref name="India Today">
{{Cite news |title=Ground report: India's 'untraceable' road connecting Manali-Leh to allow hassle-free troop movement |author=Manjeet Singh Negi |date=6 September 2020 |newspaper=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/untraceable-china-pakistan-bro-road-connecting-manali-leh-hassle-free-troop-movement-1719074-2020-09-06}}
</ref>

==History==
[[File:Chadar trek image 2.jpg|thumb|right|270px|Frozen Zanskar River (called "Chadar") was used for travelling between Padum and Leh]]
The regions of Lahul (''Lha yul'') and Spiti (''sPi ti'') were earlier part of Ladakh.<ref>
{{citation |last1=Powers |first1=John |last2=Templeman |first2=David |title=Historical Dictionary of Tibet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LVlyX6iSDEQC&pg=PA749 |year=2012 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-7984-3 |p=387}}: "In the past, ''La dwags'' [Ladakh] sometimes included ''sBal ti yul'' (Baltistan); ''Zangs dkar'' [Zanskar]; Lahaul; Spiti; the Aksai Chin (Hin. ''Aksä'i cina''; Ch. ''Akesai Qin''); and ''mNga' ris'' [Ngari]."
</ref>
They were attached to [[Zanskar]].<ref>
{{citation |last1=Fisher |first1=Margaret W. |last2=Rose |first2=Leo E. |last3=Huttenback |first3=Robert A. |title=Himalayan Battleground: Sino-Indian Rivalry in Ladakh |date=1963 |publisher=Praeger |url=https://archive.org/details/himalayanbattleg0000unse/mode/2up |via=archive.org |pp=18–19}}: "The Ladakhi chronicles state that the eldest son [of King Nyimagon], ''Pal-gyi-gön'' [Lhachen Palgyigon], received Ladakh and the Rudok area; the second son, ''Tra-shi-gön'' [Trashigon], Guge and Purang; while the third son, ''De-tsuk-gön'' [Detsukgon], was given Zanskar, Spiti and Lahul."
</ref>

By 1847, when the [[British Raj]] arrived, they got separated from Ladakh and came under the control of [[Punjab|British Punjab]]. Thus the connections between Zanskar and Lahul and Spiti were partly severed.<ref>
{{citation |last=Cunningham |first=Alexander |title=Ladak: Physical, Statistical, Historical |publisher=Wm. H. Allen and Co |location=London |year=1854 |url=https://archive.org/details/ladakphysicalsta00cunnrich |via=archive.org |p=18}}: "Ladak is divided politically between Maharaja Gulab Sing and the East-India Company. To the former belong all the northern districts, to the latter only the two southern districts of Lahul and Spiti."
</ref>{{efn|Lahul was separated from Ladakh at the end of the [[Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal War]] (1679–1684) and Upper [[Kinnaur district|Kinnaur]] was annexed to [[Bashahr]]. Spiti was annexed to British India after the [[Treaty of Amritsar, 1846|Treaty of Amritsar]] through a poorly documented transaction.}}
Nevertheless, Lahaulis fought for the defence of Ladakh and Zanskar during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948]]. [[Prithi Chand (Indian Army officer)|Major Prithi Chand]] trekked over the [[Zoji La]] pass in winter to arrive in Leh before the [[Gilgit Scouts|raiders from Gilgit]].<ref>
{{cite journal |last1=Gutschow |first1=Kim |title=The Politics of Being Buddhist in Zangskar: Partition and Today |journal=India Review |volume=5 |issue=3-4 |year=2006 |pages=470–498 |issn=1473-6489 |doi=10.1080/14736480600939306 |ref={{sfnref|Gutshow, The Politics of Being Buddhist in Zangskar|2006}}}}
</ref>

Further separation ensued in 1979 when Ladakh was divided into two districts by the state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], with Zanskar being made part of the Muslim-majority [[Kargil district]].{{sfnp|Demenge, The Road to Lingshed|2013|pp=52–53}}

The stretch of the road between [[Nimmu]] and [[Padum]], called the '''Chadar Road''', was begun by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Works Department in the 1970s.{{sfnp|Demenge, The Road to Lingshed|2013|p=52}}
But it was reportedly cancelled by a member of the [[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] from Srinagar to block linkage between Zanskar and Leh. Zanskar being Buddhist, the politicians of Kargil had apprehensions that it might eventually come under Leh's jurisdiction. So, instead of the Chadar Road, a road between Kargil and Padum was constructed.{{sfnp|Demenge, The Road to Lingshed|2013|p=53}}

Following the [[Kargil War]] in 1999, the unfinished Chadar Road project was handed over to the [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO).{{sfnp|Demenge, The Road to Lingshed|2013|p=52}}<ref>
{{harvp|Demenge, The Political Ecology of Road Construction|2011|p=80}}: "The road under construction passed into BRO hands in 2001, following the war and the recommendations of the Kargil Committee. It was already under construction for civilian purposes but the war demonstrated the need for all-year-round access to Ladakh to move troops and supplies to the Pakistani front, as opposed to the existing roads that were closed for five to six months in winter."
</ref>
Trekkers on the [[Chadar trek]] (the frozen [[Zanskar River]] during winters) perceived the planned road as spoling the wild and pristine environment. The central government questioned the state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2007 as to its need. The councillor of the Lingshed constituency replied that it was a "right" and a necessity for the development of the remote and backward villages of the region.{{sfnp|Demenge, The Road to Lingshed|2013|p=53}}

In September 2020, the Border Roads Organisation reported that only a 30-kilometre stretch of the road remained to be completed.<ref name="India Today"/>

==Route==
[[File:Jankar Nala Ramjak Grass Oct20 D72 18148.jpg|thumb|right|{{QI seal}} Road under construction on right bank of Jankar Nala near Ramjak, Oct 2020]]
[[File:Jankar Nala Sumdo Downstream Oct20 D72 18183.jpg|right|thumb|{{QI seal}} New road from Zanskar Sumdo to Darcha, Oct 2020]]

=== Nimmu terminus to Padum ===
Total distance from Nimmo to Padum is 155 km on the proposed allignment, only 30 km remains to be commissioned. This section covers following towns/villages:
* [[Nimo, Ladakh|Nimo]]
* [[Chiling_Sumda|Chiling]]
* Nerak
* [[Zangla]]
* [[Padum]]<ref>https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/connecting-ladakh-india-growing-road-network-to-link-borders-with-the-mainland-1713978-2020-08-22</ref>

=== Padum to Darcha terminus ===
From Padum, the road climbs up to the [[Shingo La|Shingo La pass]] at {{Convert|5,091|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It then descends on the right bank of the Jankar Nala through Ramjak to Zanskar Sumdo, which has a helipad. The newly-surfaced road (as of Oct '20) continues to Palden Lhamo where the Jankar Nala enters a short gorge about {{Convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}} deep. On the sides of the gorge is a Buddhist shrine to the deity [[Palden Lhamo]]. The road crosses the gorge and runs along the left bank via Chikka and Rarik to meet the [[Leh-Manali Highway]] about 2 km before Darcha. This segment covers a distance of approximately {{Convert|132|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>
{{Cite web |title=Padum–Darcha route |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=graphhopper_foot&route=33.469%2C76.878%3B32.681%2C77.188#map=9/33.0766/77.0650&layers=C |url-status=live |access-date=17 November 2020 |website=OpenStreetMap.org |type=Note: Distance by foot used as OSM currently does not show a route by car. The road mostly follows the trekking trail. The actual distance may differ marginally.}}
</ref>
<gallery mode="nolines" heights="100px">
File:Jankar Nala Ramjak Shingo Ri Lahaul Oct20 D72 18107.jpg|Ramjak up to Shingo Ri, road left to centre, Oct '20
File:Padum Zanskar Sumdo Road Jankar Nala Lahaul Oct20 D72 18099.jpg|Road from right to centre, down Jankar Nala near Ramjak, Oct '20
File:Cyclists Shingo La Road Lahaul Oct20 D72 18081.jpg|Cyclists on under-construction road to Shingo La pass, Oct '20
File:Road Work Zanskar Sumdo Lahaul Oct20 D72 18188.jpg|Road construction near Zanskar Sumdo, Oct '20
File:Road Work Accident Zanskar Sumdo Lahaul Oct20 D72 18199.jpg|Construction accident, Oct '20
File:New Road Zanskar Sumdo Lahaul Oct20 D72 18201.jpg|Newly-surfaced road below Zanskar Sumdo, Oct '20
File:Palden Lhamo Jankar Nala Lahaul Oct20 D72 18287.jpg|Gorge, bridge and shrine at Palden Lhamo, Oct '20
File:Jankar Nala Gorge Palden Lhamo Lahaul Oct20 D72 18211.jpg|Jankar Nala gorge, Oct '20
File:Prayer Stones Palden Lhamo Lahaul Oct20 D72 18239.jpg|Buddhist prayer stones, Oct '20
</gallery>

{{clear}}

==See also==
* [[Leh-Manali Highway]]
* [[Shingo La]]
* [[Zanskar River]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{citation |first=Jonathan |last=Demenge |title=The Political Ecology of Road Construction in Ladakh |publisher=University of Sussex |year=2011 |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/8768446.pdf |ref={{sfnref|Demenge, The Political Ecology of Road Construction|2011}}}}
* {{citation |first=Jonathan |last=Demenge |title=The Road to Lingshed: Manufactured Isolation and Experienced Mobility in Ladakh |journal=Himalaya: the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies |volume=32 |number=1 |pp=51–60 |year=2013 |url=https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1825&context=himalaya |ref={{sfnref|Demenge, The Road to Lingshed|2013}}}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nimmu - Padam - Darcha road}}
[[Category:Scenic roads in India]]
[[Category:Roads in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Himalayas]]
[[Category:Roads in Ladakh]]
[[Category:Transport in Ladakh]]
[[Category:Transport in Himachal Pradesh]]