Discovery Ladakh (India Pvt. Ltd.) is amongst the foremost tour operators in Northern India based at Leh-Ladakh (India).
Kargil
Kargil town (2,704 m), situated midway between Srinagar (204 Kms) and Leh, (234 kms) on the Srinagar-Leh highway, is the second largest urban centre (approx. 8,000 inhabitants) of Ladakh and headquarters of Kargil district. A quiet town now, in the past it served as an important trade and transit centre for the Central-Asian merchants due to its unique equidistant location (about 200-230 kms) from Srinagar, Leh and Skardo, all well known trading outposts on the old trade route network. Numerous caravans carrying exotic merchandise transited in the town on their way to and from China, Tibet, Yarkand, Kashmir and Baltistan. Since 1975, travellers of various nationalities have replaced traders of the past and Kargil has regained its importance as a centre of travel-related activities.

Being located in lap of the Himalayas, Kargil serves as an important base for undertaking adventure tourism and trips to the exotic Zanskar Valley and other Himalayan regions. Visitors travelling between Srinagar and Leh have to make a night halt here before starting the second leg of their journey.

Kargil is convenient base for undertaking adventure activities like trekking, mountaineering, camping, river- rafting, etc. in the high Himalayan valleys. It is also a convenient base for taking excursions to the Wakha- Mulbek valley, where the chief attraction is a 9 m high rock sculpture of Maitreya, besides other monuments. Another tour option is to visit the beautiful Suru Valley to behold the gradually unfolding panorama of the impressive Himalayan landscape. Yet another interesting excursion option is to visit Drass to see its famous features like Tolo-ling, Tiger Hill and the Mushkoo Valley, well known throughout India on account of the extensively televised conflict on the LoC between India and Pakistan during May-August, 1999.
Drass
Drass is said to be the coldest place after Siberia with temperature falling to 590 degrees centigrade during peak winter. Drass is a large village with small clusters of huts scattered over a valley. The inhabitants are Dards and Baltis. Geographically, the region of Drass clearly shows a steep demarcation from the Kargil valley with barren hills covered with snow. Ferocious winds are known to bring snowstorms that can cover entire villages under them. Around 500 A.D., when the Tibetan armies invaded the Ladakh region, the original inhabitants of Drass region called Dards, were converted to Buddhism. However, isolated pockets of their original heritage still remain.

The Dards today are Sunni Muslims while the Baltis are Shias. There are also some other communities who are Buddhists. Drass is situated at 10,144 ft and is difficult to access even under normal circumstances. The Tibetans call Dras "Hembabas."

City Information

Location: 234-km From Leh In The East, Ladakh Region, J&K
Altitude: 2,704m
Local Dialect: Purik
Historical Significance: An Important Trade And Transit Centre In The Pan-Asian Trade Network.

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