Places to Visit around Kargil

About Kargil
A small town of great historical importance, Kargil is located in the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is famous for the Kargil War, which was fought between India and Pakistan in 1999. Nestled at an altitude of 2,676 metres on the banks of Indus River, the town enjoys close proximity with Srinagar, Leh, and Drass. In Kargil, you will enjoy hot summer with cool nights and chilly and long winters during which temperature drops below minus 48 degrees Celsius.

Once known as Purig, Kargil was the home to several small kingdoms including Chiktan, Fokar, Sot and the Suru Valley. It was an exiled Buddhist prince named Gasho Thatha Khan who brought all kingdoms together in the 9th century, which earned him the title of Purig Sultan. Over the next few decades, several rulers brought more and more principalities under Purig to give us the present-day Kargil.

Locals of Kargil are either of Dard and Tibetan descent. They were Tibetan Buddhism followers until the 15th century after which many Muslim invaders infiltrated the region and forced them to accept Islam. Majority of the ancient monuments in Kargil portray a combination of Tibetan and Iranian styles, while the more recent ones are a confluence of Arabian and Iranian styles.

Sightseeing around Kargil

Mulbek Monastery
is 45 kilometres away from Kargil. It is a small monastery that was built in the 8th century and has artwork very different than that done by Tibetan missionaries of that time.

Mulbek chamba (rang-Jon) statue is the very Popular, a striking tremendous  figure carved into the rock face . It present amazing  pictures a standing Maitreya Buddha. Some people believe it dates to the Kushan period in the early centuries CE. Modern scholars date it as being from around the eighth century. the lower part of the statue is partly inbuilt with Mulbek Monastery  built in 1975.

Drass War Memorail 
Drass is one of the  most coldest places in world in winter  , No visit to the town is complete without paying your tributes to the brave lives lost in the war. The Kargil War Memorial in Drass was built in 2014 to honor India’s victory and her soldiers. It has a a lot of monasteries for you to visit but there are two known for their beautiful architecture, which you can’t miss.
Enroute sightseeing from both Side Srinagar to leh and Leh to Srinagar  
 

Places to stay in Kargil
Go2ladakh guide and offer best deals to stay in Kargil offers a all kind  of budget and luxury hotels at staying options but if you truly want to experience the town, you need to spend at least one night at a camp. Most of them are located on Nagchun Road and Kurbathang and are surrounded by pure greenery. They are complete with all basic amenities including bathroom, washroom, lights, and delicious food.
If you want to stay in a hotel, you can find many in the city center. They are located at a close proximity to the market, cafes and restaurants, and public transportation. If you are ready to leave your comfort zone, you can stay in highway hotels located on the Batalik-Kargil Road, where you will get a chance to interact with the locals.

You can go apricot picking with them every morning and have them for breakfast. Kargil has a number of homestays as well but they fill up almost immediately.

Plan your itinerary well in advance and enjoy every bit of memorable trip to Kargil.