Kargil Tour

Location: A district of Ladakh, lies on the line of control (LOC); 205 km from Srinagar.
Best Time To Visit: May and June.

Kargil served as an important centre on the trade route of the Pan-Asian network.Merchants carrying silk, brocade, carpets, tea, poppy and ivory  passed through Kargil on their way to Central Asia. Trade flourished along this route till about half a century ago.
This wonderful and serene destination has the majestic Himalayas for a backdrop and several divine rivers nourishing the region.

At a height of 2704 metres above sea level, Kargil offers a base for numerous adventure tours to the Himalayas. Kargil has a mixed ethnic population accompanied by a rich cultural identity. Folk songs such as 'Rgyaglu' and 'Balti ghazals' are popular here. You can find the most distinctive natural beauty here along with a number of tourists attractions.

Tourist Attractions

Monasteries in Kargil are among the much visited for their marvellous beauty. Monasteries such as the Mulbek Gompa, Cave monastery, Trespone and Sankhoo Imambaras have some  beautiful collections of murals and amazing statuesThe grand Tibetan architectural designs of these monasteries are indeed noteworthy.

If you visit Kargil in May, you may get an opportunity to see the Archery Contest held annually in the month of May. The rugged landscape offers opportunities for.adventure sports such as trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting and hiking.

Other places of Buddhist significance include Turtot Gyat at Sani, considered one of the eight holiest Buddhist locations of the world. A few other holy stopovers are Rangdum monastery, Karsha Gompa, Stongday Gompa, Zongkhul and Phugthal Monastery.

Flora And Fauna

The Drass and Wakha streams of Suru River provide water for the cultivation of barley, wheat, peas and a number of other vegetables and cereals. Tourists from around the world visit  Kargil for its famous apricots.

You may also spot a few wild species such as bear, deer, leopard and wild cats in the dense greens.

Shopping

In Kargil, you will not find much to shop for besided some basic Pashmina shawls, local carpets and woolen handicrafts.

Food/Cuisine

There are a few dhabas that serve authentic Ladakhi/Kashmiri cuisine. You can also find a few  Tandoori or Mughlai dishes, though mostly non-vegetarian.

Climate

Kargil is covered with a thick blanket of snow from November to April. The temperature goes down upto -40 degree celcius in winter. The summer days are relatively warm and dry, even so, woolens are required.

Getting There

There are regular and frequent bus/taxi services to and from Srinagar and Leh.

Kargil has enough accomodation options for the volume of tourists it receives. For longer trips, you may opt for tourist bungalows and circuit houses. Kargil, undoubtedly, gives you an out of the world holiday experience amidst snow clad peaks and chilly  winds.