Zangla was the seat of the royal family of Zanskar for several centuries. The palace — or rather the ruins of it — sits on a crag above the village of Zangla, about 40 kilometres northeast of Padum. The Zanskar kingdom was never large or powerful, but it maintained its independence until the early 19th century, and the royal family continued to hold a position of local authority well into the 20th century.
The ruins are modest but atmospheric: a collapsed outer wall, some intact interior rooms with faded murals, and a small active monastery built alongside the main ruin. The village below the palace is one of the more picturesque in the valley, with poplar-lined lanes and views across the river. Getting here requires a jeep and about an hour's drive from Padum on a rough track.