Ladakh’s picturesque Pangong Lake hosts the world's highest frozen lake half marathon with an aim to raise awareness about sustainable tourism and ecological concerns of the region.
Rugged hills cutting right through the centre of a bright aqua expanse, dividing the skies above and the clear waters below into two azure halves – that’s the image that comes to mind when the Pangong Lake is mentioned. Yes, as pretty as picture postcards can get. Replace the blue waters with a white snowy sheath and the beauty remains intact.
Pangong Lake, one of the major centres of attraction in Ladakh, becomes the background vista in thousands of pictures clicked every summer by tourists. For a change, it saw throngs of visitors this winter too.
Ladakh’s long winter is meant for the bravehearts. It’s full of icy adventures, ranging from ice hockey to ice climbing competition. But this year, smashing the world record, the Union Territory hosted the world’s highest frozen lake half marathon on Pangong Tso, earning a Guinness record in the process.
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Braving temperatures plummeting to -20 degree Celsius at an altitude of almost 14,000 ft, where taking a few steps may seem like a lifetime of work for the lungs, the participants had to run for 21.9 km. Pangong Tso, after all, is the world’s highest saltwater lake. No marks for guessing that it becomes the world’s highest frozen lake in winter. Pangong Tso derives its name from the Tibetan word meaning ‘high grassland lake’.
The half marathon, held on 20 February, stretched from Lukung to Maan villages in eastern Ladakh.
While there were of course those who finished earlier than others, everyone deserves a Himalayan round of applause, don’t you think?
Those who stood first were Rigzen Gyurmeth in the men’s category and Tsering Zangmo in the women’s category, who finished the race with a timing of 1 hour 54 minutes 24 seconds and 2 hours 38 minutes 40 seconds, respectively. Muneeb (1:59:03) and Padma Rigzin (2:46:57) were the respective first runners-up in the two categories.
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Among the participants was prominent Ladakhi filmmaker Stanzin Dorjai Gya, who primarily ran for the cause.
Called ‘The Last Run: A leap towards saving our glaciers’, the race was organised jointly by Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) and Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh with an aim to highlight the issue of the melting glaciers in the Himalayas. Around 75 runners from various parts of the world took part in the event to bring attention to the issue of climate change.
“The first ever frozen marathon was held in India to promote sustainable and responsible year-round tourism in the border villages,” Tashi Gyalson, chairman, LAHDC, said.
“The Hill Council would promote the Pangong marathon responsibly and within the carrying,” said Gyalson, who was the chief guest at the event, assuring support to promote rural tourism by strengthening homestays and enhancing livelihood opportunities. Leh Deputy Commissioner Shrikant Suse added that the Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon, organised as a part of the Vibrant Village Programme of the government of India, aims to share the ecologically sensitive concerns of Ladakh with a larger audience through the medium of sport.
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The lead image at the top shows the participants in the frozen marathon that was held to promote sustainable and responsible tourism in Ladakh (Photo by Phunstok Angchuk)
Dawa Dolma is a freelance journalist based in Leh. She writes about climate change, communities, and culture of the Himalayas. She is a Rural Media Fellow 2022 at Youth Hub, Village Square.
