Kargil - The Unique Land An Overview Ali Mohamad Rather*** Introduction Pansila in the South3. Present delimitation of Purig (Kargil) is Bodh Ladakh comprises Kharbu to Shamsha Kharbu (In many sub-divisions Drass) and Batalik, Sanjak and Dargo which are in many (Indus valley) to Ringdom ways different from (zanaskar). This may be also called each other. These are specially administrative limits. recognized due to their differentiation in anthropological and religious Kargil etymologically means aspects. Administratively Ladakh is center. There are various divided into Kargil and Leh districts. explanations associated to it. Kargil Kargil is the capital town of Kargil town is centrally located from district. It is traditionally called important places surrounding it like Purig1. Purig is the land from the Srinagar, Gilgit, Leh and Zanakar stream at Lamayur to wanlaand Indus and is more or less equidistant from river (at Khaltse) up to Zojila from one these places. Hence being direction and from Ringdom and equidistant has been given the name Lingshet to river Suru near Indus of Centre or karogil. It is also valley from another direction.2 It is narrated in a local folk lore of Kargil also referred to as, the region which that in ancient times a warrior shot is drained by the Suru and Drass an arrow in one direction. He rivers down to a little below the inquired about the arrow’s place of configuration of river Suru with river fall, saying “Garo Khyl,” i.e. where Indus. From west to east it is from did the arrow fell? The arrow had Drass to pass near Mulbekhchamba fallen in the vicinity of the present and from Kharman, Pakistan town Kargil. So it got the name Occupied Kashmir (POK) in North to karogyland and with usage it *Dr. Ali Mohamad Rather is a freelance Researcher based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir State. Journal of Peace Studies 6 Vol. 25, Iÿÿssue 1, & 2 January- June, 2018 KARGIL - THE UNIQUE LAND AN OVERVIEW became Kargil. It is also mentioned means off-springs of warriors and it that Kargil word comes from Khr and is claimed that the Kargil was the land Skil meaning the kingdom in of warriors6. The inhabitants of this between Kashmir and Tibet. Other land are called purig pas i.e. residents opinion is that it is from gar and khil of purig land. However, only purig meaning stopping place. The Kargil pas do not inhabit there. town has been a resting place for people coming from different Geography directions4. Kargil is a component of Ladakh In Tibetan language Kargil is called region of Jammu and Kashmir state. Purig. The word purig has many It lies in the North East of Kashmir versions of etymological meaning. valley, in the South west of Leh Some say that purig is from tube like district, in the south direction of structure of different valleys in Skardu (POK) and in the Northern Kargil. So it has been named as purig. direction of Himachel Pradesh . However, it is not only Kargil where According to Alexander such tube shaped valleys exist. There Cunningham the Western Himalayas, are many other regions in Himalayas in the mid-way separates the Ladakh and other mountains, where such district (of Rukechmzanaskar Purig valleys do exist. and Drass) from the region of Kashmir etc7. The Tibetan scholars opine that Purig is from Pot rigs, which means offshoot Kargil district comprises Purig, Suru, of Tibet. The others observe that the Drass and Zanaskar regions. piece of wood on which the wool is spun According to Alexander Cunningham has sphinx (tube like) shape. This Kargil (Purig) is the region comprising sphinx is called purig in Kargil. The the villages of Wakha and Phugal practice of spinning around that wood rivers from their sources in the is common traditional practice in Kargil, transverse range of singay La to so it is called Purig. Kargil below their junction. The principal places of Kargil (Purig) are There is a historic link of the purig Mulbekh, Pashkum and Sot. Drass is name as well. The people from the most westerly of these small Purang came with Nyathistan the districts8. The land of Kargil (purig) prince of Purang in 155BC. So their extends to 135.18 kms. from Baltistan descendants have been named as and Zanaskar and from Suru valley Purigs5. It is also said that Purig to Fatola at a distance of 80 kms. It is Journal of Peace Studies 7 Vol. 25, Iÿÿssue 1 & 2 January - June, 2018 KARGIL - THE UNIQUE LAND AN OVERVIEW also said that the region starts from 4. Harpa-la 12100 ft. The highest the confluence of Nallah Lama Yuru peak of Kargil as per Cunningham (wanla) to Indus river up to Zoojila is17000 ft. called Tiger Hill.9 and from Ringdom and Lingshet to the confluence of river Suru and The only route which traditionally Indus. The Ringdom is in Zanskar connected Kargil to the outside world part of Kargil. Zanaskar is an area of is Zoojila pass, which was made 14,036 Sq. Kms. and mean height of motor-able in 1960s. However, there the inhabited part is 11196 ft. The was another link through Panikhar region lies between the 33-35 degree in Suru valley which joined it to latitude N and 75.5 to 77 degrees Pahalgam side of Kashmir valley. longitude, E. The mountain ranges This path was rarely used except by enclosing the region are Naktul in the the dwellers of that valley. As per south atop the Pashkum (east of locals of Panikhar they used to fetch Kargil town) Kyontee in south. Near edible commodities from Kashmir Batalik in the north of Kargil on their backs from Kashmir via that bordering POK is Hambuting lar. route. Kargil since ancient times was Gyunkar is the highest peak of Kargil a passage to silk route which in its north east. Nun Kun is in the continued up to 1947. It was an Suru valley. important trade and cultural center. It is connected to vast Gilgit and Trans Himalayan range passes Baltistan on one side and on other through purig region. The range side to Kashmir and the Doda. extends through Zanaskar to the Presently, private trade between junction of Drass river with Indus, Kargil and Doda continues. The where it is again cut through by the present road via Zoojila is motor-able Drass river at a narrow gorge called but it is the most unpredictable route. the wolfs’leap .Beyond this point it Many accidents occur there during stretches in one unbroken chain to bad season. Now a by-pass has also the great southward sweep of the been constructed on Zoojila and it has Indus at the junction of Gilgit river. eased the travel to a great extent. Due In the South of Purig and Drass, it to heavy snow fall it remains blocked forms the natural boundary. The during winter, generally from peaks which fall in the western side November to ending May. of Zanaskar are: 1.Namyik 13000 ft. Kargil town has an average 2... Burgi pass on Deosai 15600 ft. elevation of 2,676 metres (8,780 feet), 3. Alampi la 15500 ft. Sir-i- kotul and is situated along the banks of the Journal of Peace Studies 8 Vol. 25, Iÿÿssue 1, & 2 January- June, 2018 KARGIL - THE UNIQUE LAND AN OVERVIEW Suru River (tributary of Indus).The The villages close to LOC are: River Suru is having source beyond 1. Hardas is situated on the bank of Rangdom in the north of the river Suru 7 kms. from Kargil town. Himalayas range in latitude 34.8 N A village of POK named Brolmo is and 76 E longitude. Its length is 160 about 10 kms. from this village. kms. (100 miles) and general direction is north-north west10. It 2. Village Hunderman13, the border passes through Kargil town via village which was taken over by Panikhar, Sanku, Trespone (Suru India from Pakistan Occupied Valley). Rivers Wakha Chu near Kashmir. Vinnge- la joins Suru in Kargil. Drass area of Kargil district is situated along 3. Village Karkit Burgamis is 20 kms river Drass. The Drass river and from Kargil town and is close to LOC, Shingu river, coming from POK, join which has the village Bresal (POK) the river Drass at Kaskasar. Then the on the other side at 10 kms. Gutari river Drass joins river Suru and the Babachan Fultuks village of POK is two waters leading to formation of 12 kms from this village. Harel is a greater Suru at Kharu flowing village-let of Burgam, which was towards POK and finally joining the completely vacated after 1971. river Indus in Skardu (POK) at 4. Latoo village which is 20 kms from Morul11. Kargil town, is 5 kms. from village Gultari – Babachen Fultuks in The town of Kargil is located 205 km POK. from Srinagar, facing the Northern Areas, across the LOC. Like other areas 5. Kaksar is 21 kms. from Kargil town in the Himalayas, Kargil has a and the nearest border of this village temperate climate. Summers are hot is Gultari – Babachen Fultuks which with cool nights, while winters are long is 8 Kms. from this place. and chilly with temperatures often 6... Village Kharbu which is 25 kms from 12 dropping to “48 °C (“54 °F). Kargil town and a border village near it is Kunar Buniyal at a distance of Kargil and Line of Control 20kms. Kargil is situated close to the Jammu 7. Drass is 30 Kms from Kargil town and Kashmir Line of control bordering and Bhimbat is more or less at the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).