Kargil, district of lyeing in the Ladakh region, is one of the districts of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Lying near the Line of Control, it shares borders with Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan to the west, and Kashmir valley to the south. Zanskar is part of Kargil district along with Suru, Wakha and Dras valleys.  It is known for the famous Kargil war between India and Pakistan in 1999. According to the census of 2011 it is the least populous district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated at a distance of 205 KM from Srinagar towards Leh.  Kargil is called the land of Agas it is mostly  inhabited  by Shia Muslims and  Agas  are  the  religious head and  preachers.

Gasho Tha Tha Khan is said to be the first ruler of Kargil, who was originally from Gilgit and captured the area in the 8th century. His dynasty ruled the Sod area of Kargil in the early period and later permanently settled in Shakar Chiktan area where the dynasty is still in existence. Kachos of Kargil are believed to be the derivatives of Tha Tha Khan. Purik Sulatan, believed to be a renowned builder of Kargil, established his domain in Suru area and ruled from Karchay Khar near Sankoo. Kunchok Sherabtan of Fokar, Kalon of Mulback and many Kachos, Sultans and Maqpons of Sod, Pashkum, Wakha, Chiktan, Karchey were the other rulers of the area of Kargil and  expanded  their principalities to be merged  with the  State of  Jammu  and  Kashmir.

Kargil History

Kargil remained relatively incomprehensible right until the Partition of India when the issue of Kashmir became the focal point and resulted in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947. There were inclined battles fought around Kargil which resulted in the entire area including Drass and Zoji La Pass initially coming under Pakistan control. Most of it was reclaimed by Indian troops by November 1948. It remained a part of India after the ceasefire. In the Second Kashmir War India managed to wrest back the reminder of the Kargil area twice. The first capture was on May 17, 1965, when a battle broke out in Rann of Kutch, and India retaliated in the Kashmir sector. However, this had to be returned as per UNMOGIP treaty norms. On August 15, the same year Kargil fell to Indian forces, though it was once again returned as part of the Tashkent Agreement. Under the leadership of Col. Chewang Rinchen, the whole of Kargil region was recaptured in the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971.

In order to rearrange the line of control in the area, the Indian Army launched night attacks when the ground temperatures sank to below −17 C and about 15 enemy posts located at height of 16,000 feet and more were captured. As part of the Shimla Agreement, Kargil and other strategic areas nearby remained with India after the defeat of the Pakistani force. After the bifurcation of the Leh district in the year 1979, Kargil was given the status of a separate district.

Again in the year 1999, vacant high posts belonging to India in the Kargil and Drass regions were occupied by the area armed Pakistani infiltrators, assisted by the Pakistani army. The conspiracy was planned by the the Army Chief of Pakistan Genral Parvez Musharraf shot into the spotlight in spring of 1999, when under a covert plan hatched by the then Army Chief Pervez Musharraf. The war that followed these events saw India regaining the Kargil region from Pakistan.

Kargil Climate

A combination of Arctic and Desert climate is found in Kargil. It experiences dry monsoon due to lack of moisture. Hence Ladakh is commonly known as the cold desert with negligible rainfall. It experiences heavy snowfall in winters. The average snowfall ranges between 2 to 5 meters. The temperature drops to -48 degree Celsius in winters, hence making it the second coldest inhabited place after Siberia. The average temperature rise upto 35 degree Celsius in summers. annual precipitation of 10 cm mainly in the form of snow is observed. Thin, sandy and porous soil is found. There is almost no natural vegetation in the entire area. Channels from the glacier-melted snow are the main source of irrigation. The District enjoys milder climate than Ladakh. The villages situated on the banks of Indus and on the Sangham of Suru and Drass rivers enjoy fine and warm weather. The snow falling happens to be quite heavy and rainfall normal but it does not help in irrigating the fields.

The crops are subjected to irrigation. To keep it precise, the wintersare severely cold and the summers are a little hot and dry. The soil of the District is sandy to loamy in nature and are devoid of organic matter, hence not suitable for agriculture. Phosphorus and potash content in the soil is low. The soil is prone to all types of erosion easily. Kargil experiences annual rainfall of only 26 meters.  Chromed soil deposits can be found at Drass and around it. Copper is also found in Lungnak valley, Zanskar and Tai-Suru. Besides, deposits like lime stone, marble and building material also exist. However, these mineral resources are yet to be exploited for commercial use.

Kargil Culture

The culture is predominantly Tibetan, Shia Islamic and Persian. This is apparent by the rigorous use of Persian words and phrases in The popular religious as well as other songs called marsias and qasidas frequently use Persian words and phrases. Until recently, some Kargilis, especially those of the Agha familys descendants of Syed preachers who were in a direct line descent from the Prophet Muhammad, were sent to Iraq for their education. Muslims and Buddhists practice many common customs and rituals in social ceremonies such as marriages. Due to more pluralistic ethnic population, many dialects are spoken in Kargil as compared to Leh.

Kargil Tourism

Tourist places in Kargil
Zanskar
Sani Monastery
Rangdum Monastery
Zongkhul Monastery
Karsha Monastery
Stongday Monastery
Phugthal Monastery
Padum
Zangla
Mulbekh Chamba & Monastery
Shargole Monastery
Phoker

Trekking Routes
Padum- Lamayuru Trek
Lamayuru - Leh Trek
Padum - Hemis Trek
Hemis - Zangla - Padum Trek
Sankoo - Drass Trek
Nun-Kun Trek
Padum - Phuktal Trek