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.
Places to
See: Kargil mainly serves as
an ideal base station for adventure activities like trekking,
mountaineering, camping, river rafting etc. In high Himalayan Valleys. It is
also a base for taking shorter excursions to Mulbek where the chief
attraction is a 9-m high rock sculpture depicting the future Buddha. Kargil
also offers some interesting walks along the river bank and up the hillside.
The best among these is the one leading to Goma Kargil along a 2-km long
winding road which, passing through some of the most picturesque parts of
the town, presents breathtaking views of the mountain stream. A stroll in
the bazaar might lead to a shop selling flint and tobacco pouches,
travelling hookahs and brass kettles - handcrafted items of everyday use
which find their way into the mart as curios. Most shops deals in common
consumer goods, but some specialize in trekking provisions. The showroom of
the Government Industries Centre near the riverbank displays and sell
Pashmina Shawls, local carpets and other woolen handicrafts. The apricot jam
produced here serves as a rare delicacy. Kargil's dry apricot has now become
a souvenir item, which can be purchased freely in the bazaar.
