Drass
Drass (3230 m), 60 km west of Kargil on the road to Srinagar, is a small township
lying in the centre of the valley of the same name. It has become famous as the
second coldest inhabited place in the world by virtue of the intense cold that
descends upon the valley along with repeated snowfalls during winters. Winter
temperature is sometimes known to plummet to less than minus 40 degrees.
The Drass valley starts from the base of the Zojila pass, the Himalayan gateway
to Ladakh. For centuries its inhabitants are known to have negotiated this formidable
pass even during the most risky period in the late autumn or early spring, when
the whole sector remains snow-bound and is subject to frequent snow storms, to
transport trader's merchandise across and to help stranded travellers to traverse
it.
By virtue of their mastery over the pass they had established a monopoly over
the carrying trade during the heydays of the Pan-Asian trade. A hardly people
enduring with fortitude and harshness of the valley's winter, the inhabitants
of drass can well be described as the guardian's of Ladakh's gateway.
Drass is a convenient base for a 3-day long trek to Suru valley across the sub-range
separating the two valleys. This trek passes through some of the most beautiful
upland villages and flower sprinkled meadows on both sides of the 4500 mts high
Umbala pass, which falls enroute. The trek to the holy cave of Amarnath in neighbouring
Kashmir, which stars from Minamarg below Zojila, takes 3 days and involves crossing
of 5200 mts high pass. Drass also offers numerous shorter treks and hikes to the
upland villages.
How to reach ?
Buses plying between Srinagar and Kargil/Leh touch Drass. Local buses leave Kargil
in the morning and afternoon for drass. srinagar is connected with rest of the
country via Air and Road through National Highway NHIA.
Where To Stay ?
The Tourist Complex here provides furnished rooms and suites. Advance reservation
can be done through the tourist office at Kargil or its branch at Drass. Some
private hotels also provide rooms equipped with basic necessities.
