is a town in the
Kargil District of
Jammu and
Kashmir, India. It is often called 'The Gateway to
Ladakh. The town shot into prominence in the summer of 1999 following Pakistani-backed incursions into
Jammu and
Kashmir. The
Kargil War saw the town being shelled by infiltrators and the war ended with the Indian Army recapturing the areas surrounding the town and the
Kargil district
Location:150 km north of
Leh. Altitude: 3500 m
Significance:Historical heartland of
Ladakh.
Also known As:Orchard of
Ladakh.
Places to see: Drok-pa village, Baigdandu village, Shyok Valley, Diskit and Hundar
How to spend time/Attractions: Camping, Photography,
Trekking and
Mountaineering is famous for the
Kargil war which was fought in 1999. National Highway 1D passes through
connecting
Srinagar and
Leh. Tiger Hill and the Tololing ranges were captured by the Pakistani army and could directly block National Highway 1D. The famous three heights which were recaptured during the war were the Tololing,
Tiger Hill and The Three Pimples. Throughout May and June the war was fought in these heights to eliminate the enemies from the heights which overlooked National Highway 1D.
is the coldest inhabited place in India. Winters are extremely harsh with average lows around -22oC (-10oF), and as low as -45oC at the height of winter, which lasts from mid-October to mid-May.In
Summers start in June and go on up till early September, with average temperatures near 15oC (60oF) and little precipitation. Annual precipitation is almost entirely concentrated in the months from December to May when
gets about 360 mm (14 inches) of snows
JK Tourism online offers various ladakh tours with a difference