KARGIL (2704 m), 204 kms from Srinagar in the west and 234 kms from Leh in the
east, is the second largest urban centre of Ladakh and headquarters of the district
of same name. A quite town now, Kargil once served as important trade and transit
centre in the Pan-Asian trade network.
Numerous caravans carrying exotic merchandise comprising silk, brocade, carpets,
felts, tea, poppy, ivory etc. transited in the town on their way to and from China,
Tibet, Yarkand and Kashmir. The old bazaar displayed a variety of Central Asian
and Tibetan commodities even after the cessation of the Central Asian trade in
1949 till these were exhausted about two decades back.
Similarly the ancient trade route passing through the township was lined with
several caravanserais. Now, since 1975, travellers of numerous nationalities have
replaced traders of the past and Kargil has regained its importance as a centre
of travel-related activities.
Being located in the centre of the Himalayan region with tremendous potentials
for adventure activities, Kargil serves as an important base for adventure tours
in the heart of Himalayas. It is also the take off station for visitors to the
erotic Zanskar Valley.
Tourists travelling between Srinagar and Leh have to make a night halt here before
starting the second leg of their journey. The town lies nestling along the rising
hillside of the lower Suru basin. Two tributaries of the Suru River that meet
here are the Drass and Wakha.
The land available along the narrow valley as also the rising hillsides are intensively
cultivated in neat terraces to glow barley, wheat, peas, a variety of vegetables
and other cereals. Kargil is famous for the fine apricots grown here. In May the
entire countryside becomes awash with fragrant white apricot blossoms while August,
the ripening fruit lends it an orange hue.
