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 The area traversed by Manali - Leh road and containing the drainage basins of Tso Moriri and other lakes is known as Rupshu. Here, the Zanskar range in transformed into bare ruling many - hued hills divided by open high altitude valleys scoured by dust - devils. It is a landscape quite unlike any other in Ladakh - or elsewhere in India.
This circuit can be tackled in two or three different ways:
a. From Leh follow Leh - Manali highway up to Upshi, from here leave the highway and continue along Indus river, as it snakes its way through gorge between the Ladakh and Zanskar range, to the Village of Chumathang, where there is a hot sulphur spring. About 17 km further at Mahe, the road crosses from north to south bank of the river by a bridge, it then follows Puga stream up to Sumdo.
Continuing drive to Korzok, situated at 15,000 ft. (4,572 m) with its dozen or so houses and its gompa appearing like a mirage among the barren hills, is the only permanent settlement in Rupshu; otherwise the region is inhabited only by nomadic Changpa herdspeople. The Rupshu Changpa live in tents all the year round moving in accordance with an old-established annual routine between the pastures that exist wherever an occasional stream carrying snowmelt from the heights makes possible the growth of grass, scanty indeed, but reportedly highly nutritious. The new barley-fields at Korzok must be among the highest cultivation in the world, but there is no guaranty that crop will ripen every year. Even Rupshu's bare hills support a sparse population of wildlife, and the animal most likely to be spotted is the Kyang, the wild ass of the Ladakh and Tibet plateaux. More plentiful are marmots (ubiquitous on mountain slopes allover Ladakh), hares, and an unusual tail-less rat. The lakes breading - grounds for numerous species of birds. Chief among them are the bareheaded goose, found in great numbers on the Tso-moriri lake, the great crusted grebe, the Brahamini duck (ruddy sheldrake) and the brown headed gull.
After exploring Korzok and Tso-moriri return to Sumdo, continue through Puga valley over Polokongki-la (about 16,500 ft / 5,030 m) to Tso-kar (salt water lake) and startsapuk-Tso (fresh water). After spending an overnight here and exploring these lakes continue up to Debring, connect to Leh - Manali highway and ascend to Taglang La (17582 Ft.), world's second highest motorable pass. From here descend down to villages of Rumtse, Upshi and continue to Leh. This circuit can be tackled in reverse order also.
Alternatively, it is possible to travel from Debring to Darcha and then on to Manali.
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