Doda River

he Doda River or the Stod River is a river 79 kilometers (49 mi) long, which forms the Stod Valley in the Zanskar valley of the Ladakh region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.The Doda River rises from the Drang-Drung Glacier Near Pensi La , a mountain pass off the Zanskar- Kargil road. The Drang-Drung Glacier is a river of ice and snow by itself and is the largest glacier other than the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh outside the Karakoram Range. It gives rise to a mountain peak named “Doda Peak”, 21,490 ft (6,550 meters) high, and it is the namesake for the Doda district, which lies in the rear side of the glacier.

The Doda River is also known as the Stod River. After rising from its source, the Doda River flows southeast down the Kargil – Zanskar road in the main Zanskar valley, through the towns of Akshu, Abran, Kushol and Phey. The river then passes to confluence with its tributary, the Tsarap River , at Padum, the capital of Zanskar. Together, these two rivers form the Zanskar River , a tributary of the Indus River.

The Doda River contributes to the minimal agricultural production of the Zanskar valley by providing irrigation to the fields of barley, wheat, buckwheat and peas.The Doda River is famous for adventure sports. Rafting events are organized throughout the length of the Doda and the Zanskar. Through the towns of Akshu, Abran, Kushol and Phey. The river then passes to confluence with its tributary, the Tsarap River