Rupshu

Rupshu is a high elevation plateau and valley and an eponymous community development block in southeast Ladakh.

[1] The Chumar area disputed by India-China in south-eastern Ladakh lies in Rupshu block, south of the Tso Moriri lake, on the bank of the Parang River (or Pare Chu), close to Ladakh's border with Tibet.

[2] Download coordinates as: Frederic Drew describes the Rupshu valley as follows: From the side of Leh it is approached by leaving the Indus at Upshi (33°49′49″N 77°48′52″E / 33.8302°N 77.8145°E / 33.8302; 77.8145 (Upshi)) and following up the narrow ravine which there joins in from the south.... After 13 or 14 miles we come to Gya (33°38′59″N 77°44′23″E / 33.6498°N 77.7398°E / 33.6498; 77.7398 (Gya)), the last village in this direction, a place elevated 13,500 feet above the sea... we have to cross the Toglung Pass (33°35′19″N 77°44′57″E / 33.5886°N 77.7493°E / 33.5886; 77.7493 (Toglung Pass)), of 17,500 feet elevation, which we approach by continuing up the same valley for some 14 miles more... From the summit we obtain a view which gives us some insight into Rupshu.

There is a pretty steep slope beneath us of near 1500 feet, and then a flat valley extending long to the south-east and widening, thus showing us far off, 18 miles distant, the blue waters of one of the lakes which we shall visit—the [Tso Kar] Salt Lake (33°19′N 78°00′E / 33.31°N 78.00°E / 33.31; 78.00 (Tso Kar)).

More widely, the term "Rupshu" is used for a wider area, ranging from the Manali-Leh Highway region to the west to east of Tso Moriri, incorporating some of the Ladakhi portion of the Changthang Plateau area in which Tso Moriri is found.