Testa, Zanskar

Testa (elevation 3,980 m (13,060 ft)^[1]) is a small village in the Lungnak valley on the left bank of the Kargiakh Chu (river). It is located at a distance of 61 km (38 mi) from Padum on the Padum-Darcha road.^[2] The distance from Darcha in Lahaul is 68 km (42 mi), the road climbing over the 5,091 m (16,703 ft) Shinko La pass. Testa village has an area of 170.80 hectares (422.1 acres).^[3]: 80

The population as of the 2011 Census was 460 with 71 households. Females comprised 48.5% of the population. The literacy rate was 53%. 97.4% of the inhabitants belonged to scheduled tribes.^[3]: 80-81 The pre-dominant religion is Buddhism.^[4]: 48

The Testa Gram Panchayat is a government office and local self-government body that governs the villages of Testa and Kargyak.^[5] The two villages together have a population of 889 as per the Census 2011.^[3]: 80

Testa has pre-primary, primary and middle schools. It has a dispensary, it is served by a mobile phone operator and electricity supply is available.^{[4]: 147-149,151}

The economy is largely agrarian with tourism also providing jobs and income. Annual precipitation is low, fields are irrigated through channels from streams fed by snow-melt.^[6] In 2011, 47% of the cultivated land was irrigated.^[4]: 152

In June 2024, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) announced that it would soon commence a bus service from Keylong in Lahaul to Padum. This would run on the Nimmu-Padum-Darcha road and would serve Testa.^[7]

Testa is a way-point on the popular Darcha-Padum trek. This trek of moderate difficulty takes 9-10 days. It crosses the 5,091 m (16,703 ft) Shinko La pass, then alternates on the left and right sides of the Lungnak valley. A day hike in the middle is a visit to Phuktal Gompa.^[8] With the completion of the Darcha-Padum road, this trek has lost its appeal.^{[citation needed]}