Kargil district#Languages

File:Kargil district river valleys.jpg

The pre-2024 Kargil district lies between the crest of the Great Himalaya Range and the Indus River of Ladakh. It consists of two river valleys: the Suru River and its tributaries in the north, and the Zanskar River and its tributaries in the south. The Penzi La pass separates the two. The Suru flows north into Baltistan and joins the Indus River near Marol. The Zanskar River flows east and debouches into the Indus River in Leh district near a location called "Sangam".

The Suru River has two significant tributaries: Wakha Rong,{{efn|Alternatively, Wakha Chu, Wakka Chu or Wakkha Chu}} which flows northwest from Namika La to join the Suru River near Kargil, and the Dras River, which originates near the Zoji La pass and joins the Suru River a short distance north of Kargil.{{Efn|Technically, the Suru River is considered a tributary of the Dras River since the latter comes with a greater volume. But the combined river flows north essentially through the channel of the Suru River.}} Wakha Rong, also called the "Purik river", contains the main travel route between Kargil and Leh, and lent its name to the Kargil region itself as "Purig".{{sfnp|Grist, Urbanisation in Kargil|2008|p=80}} The Dras River valley has historically been a subdivision called Drass.

Zanskar was a traditional Buddhist kingdom formed in the 10th century, which became subject to the Ladakhi kings.

Per the 2011 census, the Kargil tehsil, which includes the Drass and Wakha Rong valleys, contains 61% of the population of the district. The Sankoo tehsil, representing the upper Suru valley, contains 10% of the population and the Zanskar tehsil contains 29% of the population.{{sfnp|District Census Handbook|2011|loc=Maps preamble}}

The Kargil district is particularly vulnerable to landslides, cloudbursts, and flash floods. The main highways connecting Kargil with adjacent regions (NH-1D and NH-301) are prone to landslides. Recurring flash floods were observed in the surroundings of the Kargil town in 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018. These flash floods caused massive damages to roads, buildings, and agricultural area.{{Cite report |url=https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU23/EGU23-2663.html |title=Urban Landscape Change in the Trans-Himalayan Town of Kargil, Ladakh, India |last1=Altaf Hussain |first1= |last2=Susanne Schmidt |first2= |date=2023 |publisher=Copernicus Meetings |issue=EGU23-2663 |language=en |last3=Marcus Nüsser |first3=}}

File:The Territorial Extent of Ladakh during the period of King Nyimagon about 975 A. D.- 1000 A.D. as depicted in A History of Western Tibet by A.H. Francke, 1907.jpg, based in Leh.]]

Purig is believed to have been conquered, along with Ladakh proper (modern Leh district), by Lhachen Palgyigon, the son of the West Tibetan King Kyide Nyimagon, in {{circa|900}} AD. After his father's death, Palgyigon controlled the vast territory called Maryul, which stretched from the Zoji La pass to the basin of the Sengge Zangbo river (upper Indus river in Tibet).{{sfnp|Francke, A History of Western Tibet|1907|pp=60–63}}{{harvp|Petech, The Kingdom of Ladakh|1977|pp=17}}: "The first-born, usually called dPal-gyi-mgon, took Ladakh; it seems that his father bequeathed him a theoretical right of sovereignty, but the actual conquest was effected by dPal-gyi-mgon himself." The third son, Detsukgon, inherited Zanskar along with Lahul and Spiti.{{harvp|Fisher, Rose & Huttenback, Himalayan Battleground|1963}}: "The Ladakhi chronicles state that the eldest son, Pal-gyi-gön (Dpal-gyi-mgon), received Ladakh and the Rudok area; the second son, Tra-shi-gön (Bkra-shis-mgon), Guge and Purang; while the third son, De-tsuk-gön (Lde-gtsug-mgon), was given Zanskar, Spiti and Lahul." From this time onwards, Purig was attached to Ladakh. Zanskar had an independent existencence even though it was occasionally conquered and made a tributary to Ladakh.

The Suru Valley was historically ruled from Kartse ({{coord|34.2672|76.0018|name=Kartse Khar}}), a fort in a branch valley near Sankoo. An inscription names its ruler as Tri-gyal ({{bo|w=k'ri rgyal}}). Tibetologist A. H. Francke believes that the dynasty of Tri-gyals might have been in existence prior to the formation of the Maryul kingdom.{{sfnp|Francke, A History of Western Tibet|1907|p=48}} However, there is no mention of it in Ladakh Chronicles.{{sfnp|Francke, A History of Western Tibet|1907|p=63}}{{citation |last=Ahmad |first=Zahiruddin |title=The Ancient Frontier of Ladakh |journal=The World Today |date=July 1960 |volume=16 |number=7 |pages=313–318 |jstor=40393242}}{{efn|This might imply that Wakha Rong and Dras valleys (on the route between Zoji La and upper Ladakh) were under Ladakhi control, but Suru, being a side valley of the main route, might have remained independent, outside the domain of "Purig" until modern period.}}

The principality of Kartse apparently controlled the entire western Ladakh, from Mulbekh and Wanla in the east to Dras in the west, even though the extent of territory would have varied with time. The Tri-gyals were Buddhist and adopted the religion from Kashmir in ancient times. They commissioned a giant Maitreya rock carving in the vicinity of Kartse, and others at Mulbekh and possibly Apati.{{sfnp|Francke, A History of Western Tibet|1907|pp=273–274}}

Islam arrived in the Kashmir Valley around 1320, a new force to be reckoned with. During the rule of Sultan Sikandar ({{reign|1394|1416}}), his general Rai Madari crossed the Zoji La pass and conquered Purig and Baltistan. This paved the way for the conversion of the two regions to Islam.{{sfnp|Petech, The Kingdom of Ladakh|1977|p=22}} Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin ran an expedition to Tibet, conquering Ladakh along the way. The Tri-gyal of Kartse is said to have become his vassal and assisted in the invasions.{{sfnp|Francke, A History of Western Tibet|1907|p=273}} The first dynasty of Ladakh did not last much longer after this.{{sfnp|Petech, The Kingdom of Ladakh|1977|p=23}} A second "Namgyal" dynasty was established around 1460 AD.{{sfnp|Petech, The Kingdom of Ladakh|1977|p=28}}

Some time after this, a Muslim chieftaincy connected to Skardu appeared in Purig, first at Sod northeast of Kargil, then with a branch at Chiktan northeast of Namika La.{{sfnp|Devers, Buddhism before First Diffusion?|2020|loc=paragraphs 31–32, note 17}}

During the invasion of Ladakh by Mirza Haidar Dughlat in 1532, Sod and Chiktan appear to have submitted, but not Kartse. Joint raids were conducted on Kartse but they failed. The chief or commander of Suru, named "Baghan", is also said to have been killed during one of the raids.{{sfnp|Petech, The Kingdom of Ladakh|1977|p=26}}{{sfnp|Howard, What happened between 1450 and 1550 AD?|1997|pp=130–131}}{{sfnp|Devers, Buddhism before First Diffusion?|2020|loc=note 17}}{{efn|Baghan is described as "a Chui of the provinces of Tibet", which is taken to mean "headman" by Petech.}}

Tashi Namgyal ({{reign|1555|1575}}) reestablished the old borders by conquering Purig as well as west Tibet.{{sfnp|Petech, The Kingdom of Ladakh|1977|p=28}} His successors Tsewang Namgyal I and Jamyang Namgyal were equally energetic. However, Jamyang Namgal suffered a reverse, having been captured by the chief of Skardu, Ali Mir, better known as Ali Sher Khan Anchan ({{reign|1590|1625}}). Jamyang Namgyal married Ali Mir's daughter Gyal Khatun and got reinstated as the ruler. Their son Sengge Namgyal again rejuvenated Ladakh to old glory and in fact went further by annexing the kingdom of Guge in west Tibet.

In 1586, Kashmir became a Mughal province. Purig and Baltistan were Islamic, and Mughal involvement in the affairs of the region became endemic. In 1638, emperor Shah Jahan sent a force to intervene in Baltistan and installed Ali Mir's son Adam Khan as the ruler. The joint forces of Mughal Kashmir and Adam Khan blocked Sengge Namgyal's efforts to regain Purig, forcing him to sue for peace. When Sengge Namgyal reneged on his tribute, the emperor imposed economic sanctions against Ladakh barring all trade, which impoverished Ladakh.{{sfnp|Petech, The Kingdom of Ladakh|1977|pp=49–51}}

Under his son Deldan Namgyal (Bde-ldan-rnam-rgyal) between 1640 and 1675, Purig returned to the control of Ladakh. Zanskar and other parts of the modern Ladakh Division were also conquered.{{sfnp|Huttenback, Gulab Singh and the Creation of the Dogra State|1961|p=477}}

In 1834, the Dogra ruler Gulab Singh of Jammu, acting under the suzeraity of the Sikh Empire, sent the governor of Kishtwar, general Zorawar Singh, to conquer the territory between Jammu and Tibet. Marching from Kishtwar, Zorawar Singh reached Purig and defeated the Bhotia leader Mangal at Sankoo in August 1834. Kartse, the then capital of Purig, fell into Zorawar Singh's hands. He built a fort there before advancing towards Leh. Tshed-Pal, the Gyalpo of Leh, was defeated and reinstalled as a subsidiary of the Dogras. Meanwhile, the chief of Sod rebelled and Zorawar Singh returned to reassert his authority. Zanskar subsequently offered submission.{{sfnp|Huttenback, Gulab Singh and the Creation of the Dogra State|1961|p=480}}{{sfnp|Panikkar, Gulab Singh|1930|pp=77–78}}

The Purigis rebelled repeatedly, instigated by Sikh governor Mihan Singh of Kashmir. They also received support from Ahmed Shah of Baltistan. Zorawar Singh returned in 1839 to quell the rebellion and conquered Baltistan as well.{{sfnp|Huttenback, Gulab Singh and the Creation of the Dogra State|1961|pp=481–482}}{{sfnp|Panikkar, Gulab Singh|1930|pp=78–80}}

After the conquest, the region of the present Kargil district was organised into three ilaqas of the Kishtwar wazarat,{{efn|The term "ilaqa" has the rather generic meaning of "area". It was the smallest unit of administration at that time, comparable to the present day community development blocks.}} based at Kargil, Dras and Zanskar respectively. They were headed by civil officers called Thanadars.{{sfnp|Cunningham, Ladak|1854|p=274}} Later, Suru was made into a separate ilaqa.{{sfnp|Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladak|1890|p=804}}

Following the First Anglo-Sikh War and the Treaty of Amritsar (1846), Gulab Singh was made the Maharaja of the newly carved-out princely state of Jammu and Kashmir under British suzerainty.{{sfnp|Panikkar, Gulab Singh|1930|p=112}} The princely state was organised into two large provinces, Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh and Skardu were set up as districts in the Jammu province, called wazarats. The three Purig ilaqas were included in the Skardu wazarat.{{sfnp|Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladak|1890|p=194}} Zanskar continued to be attached to Kishtwar.

In 1901, a major reorganisation of the frontier districts took place. A new Ladakh wazarat was created, being one of the two wazarats of the Frontier Districts province. Kargil was made a new tehsil under the Ladakh wazarat, with the three Purig ilaqas (Drass, Kargil and Suru), the Zanskar ilaqa from the Kishtwar district, and the Kharmang ilaqa from the erstwhile Skardu district. Kargil, Leh and Skardu became the three tehsils of the Ladakh wazarat.{{sfnp|Aggarwal, Beyond Lines of Control|2004|p=35}} Initially, the administration of the wazarat used to spend four months each at Leh, Kargil and Skardu. But shifting the entire staff so often proved onerous, and so the shifting was eventually limited to Leh and Skardu.

File:Txu-pclmaps-oclc-181831961-52-b-kargil-1946.jpg

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, pitched battles were fought around Kargil, and the entire area including Drass and Zoji La Pass initially coming under the control of Gilgit Scouts. By November 1948, the Indian troops reclaimed all of Kargil and Leh tehsils and some portions of the Kharamang ilaqa bordering the Dras river.[http://www.dawn.com/2006/10/21/ed.htm Kargil: what might have happened By Javed Hussain] 21 October 2006, Dawn They remained with India after the ceasefire, forming the Ladakh district of the Jammu and Kashmir state of India.

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 the entire Kargil region including key posts was captured by Indian troops under leadership of Col. Chewang Rinchen.{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/1971/Dec08/Art01.htm |title=Assault on Enemy OPs in Kargil |work=The Liberation Times |date=8 December 1971 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061105025357/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/1971/Dec08/Art01.htm |archive-date=5 November 2006 }} A dramatised account of India's assault on Kargil during the 1971 war. (a commemorative online newspaper){{better source needed|date=February 2023}} To straighten 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.{{cite web|url-status=dead |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1971War/Palit.html |title=The Lightning Concept |author=Major General D.K. Palit (Retd.) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060502104702/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1971War/Palit.html |archive-date=2 May 2006}} After Pakistan forces lost the war and agreed to the Shimla Agreement, the strategic areas near Kargil remained with India.The Armed Forces of Pakistan By Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, Pg 4

In 1979, Ladakh was divided into Kargil and Leh districts within the Jammu and Kashmir state.

{{Main|Kargil War}}

In the spring of 1999, under a covert plan of then Pakistan Army chief Pervez Musharraf, armed infiltrators from Baltistan, aided by the Pakistani Army, occupied vacant high-altitude posts in the Kargil and Drass regions. The result was a limited-scale conflict (Kargil War) between the two nuclear-equipped nations, which ended with India regaining the Kargil region through military action and diplomatic pressure. However, there remains the controversy of the mountain peak, knows as Point 5353 or the Marpo La Peak, which is still believed to be under Pakistan's control.

In August 2019 the Parliament of India passed an act that separated Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir into an independent union territory of India. Kargl and Leh continue to be the two districts of Ladakh, with the Kargil town designated as a joint capital of the union territory.{{Cite web |title=Article 370 revoked Updates: Jammu & Kashmir is now a Union Territory, Lok Sabha passes bifurcation bill |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/jammu-and-kashmir-crisis-live-updates-governor-reviews-security-situation-in-state/story/370856.html |website=www.businesstoday.in|date=6 August 2019 }}

File:Gonbo Rangjon Shinko La Zanskar Jun24 A7CR 00332.jpg near the southern edge of Kargil, ca. June 2024]]

Kargil district is situated in the deep south-western part of the Himalayas, giving it a cool, temperate climate. Summers are warm with cool nights, while winters are long and cold with temperatures often dropping to {{convert|−15|C|abbr=on}} with recorded temperatures of {{convert|−60|C|abbr=on}} in the tiny town of Dras, situated {{convert|56|km|abbr=on}} from Kargil town. The Zanskar Valley is colder. Kargil district is spread over {{convert|14086|km2|abbr=on}}. The Suru River flows through the district.

The climate is cold and temperate. The average annual temperature in Kargil is 8.6 °C. About 318 mm of precipitation falls annually. The driest month is November with 6 mm. Most precipitation falls in March, with an average of 82 mm. The warmest month of the year is July with an average temperature of 23.3 °C. In January, the average temperature is −8.8 °C. It is the lowest average temperature of the whole year. The difference in precipitation between the driest month and the wettest month is 76 mm. The average temperatures vary during the year by 32.1 °C.[http://en.climate-data.org/location/24807/ Climate: Kargil - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table]

{{Weather box/concise_C|width=auto

| location = Kargil, India

| source = Climate-Data.org

"Climatological Information for Kargil, Ladakh",

Hong Kong Observatory, 2003. Web: [http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/africa/mor_al/marrakech_e.htm HKO-Marrakech].

| −4.3 |1.6 |4.3 |13.5|20.9|25.7|29.2|28.6|24.2|17.8|9.8|0.9

| −13.2 |−11.9|−4.9 |3.3|9|13.3|17.4|17|12|4.9|−1.6|−8.1

| 46|51|82|35|26|11|7|10|10|8|6|26

}}

File:Padum Zanskar View From Karsha Oct22 A7C 03984.jpg in the central valley of Zanskar]]

The Kargil district was formed in July 1979, by separating it from Leh. Kargil has 5 Sub-Divisions, 8 tehsils, and 14 Blocks.

Sub-Divisions (5): Drass, Kargil, Shakar-Chiktan, Sankoo, Zanskar (Padum)

Tehsils (8): Drass, Kargil, Shakar-Chiktan, Shargole, Sankoo, Trespone (Trespone), Taisuru, Zanskar (Padum)

Blocks (14): Drass, Kargil, Shakar, Chiktan, Shargole, Sankoo, Trespone, Saliskote, Gund Mangalpore, Taisuru, Padum, Lungnaq, Cha, Zangla

Each block consists of a number of panchayats.

Kargil district had two assembly constituencies, Zanskar and Kargil under Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.{{cite web|url=http://ceojammukashmir.nic.in/ERos_AERos.html |title=ERO's and AERO's |publisher=Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir |access-date=28 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022185235/http://ceojammukashmir.nic.in/eros_aeros.html |archive-date=22 October 2008 }} It forms part of the Ladakh parliamentary constituency. Major political parties in the region include National Conference, Congress, PDP, BJP, LUTF (now merged with the BJP) and the erstwhile Kargil Alliance. The present Member of Parliament (MP) for Ladakh is Mohmad Haneefa.

Ladakh, a union territory without a legislature, does not have a legislative assembly but is represented in the Parliament.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/j-k-ladakh-union-territory-with-without-legislature-difference-1577432-2019-08-05|title=J&K to be a union territory with legislature, Ladakh to be without|work=India Today|date=5 August 2019 |access-date=5 August 2019}}

Shrikant Balasaheb Suse (IAS) is the current District Development Commissioner Kargil.{{cite web |url=http://kargil.nic.in/others/dcprofile-pg.htm |title=Profile of Deputy Ccommissioners |publisher=Kargil.nic.in |access-date=16 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727122757/http://kargil.nic.in/others/dcprofile-pg.htm |archive-date=27 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}

Kargil District is administered by an elected body known as the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil. The LAHDC-K was established in 2003.{{Cite web|url=https://indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/4912/1/ladakh_autonomous_hill_development_council_act%2C_1997.pdf|title=Ladakh Autonomous Hill development Council act 1997|access-date=26 January 2021}}

File:Girls in Kargil.jpg

According to the 2011 census Kargil district has a population of 140,802.{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/01/0104_PART_A_DCHB_KARGIL.pdf|title=Kargil district census data 2011|archive-date=20 February 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220010101/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/01/0104_PART_A_DCHB_KARGIL.pdf|access-date=20 February 2019}} This gives it a ranking of 603rd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of {{convert|10|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}. Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 20.18%. Kargil has a sex ratio of 810 females per every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 71.34%.{{cite web |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=1145 |title=Census of India: Search Details - Kargil district|access-date= 31 October 2021}}{{update after|2022}}

{{bar box

|title=Sex Ratio in Kargil District in 2011 Census.
(no. females per 1,000 males)

|float=right

|width=360px

|left1=Religion (and population)

|right1=Sex Ratio

|bars=

{{bar pixel|Muslim (pop 108,239)|green|94.109||941 }}

{{bar pixel|Buddhist (pop 20,126)|gold|97.546||975 }}

{{bar pixel|Hindu (pop 10,341)|orange|93.565||936 }}

{{bar pixel|Other (pop 2,096)|grey|13.297||133 }}

{{bar pixel|Total (pop 140,802)|black|81.014||810 }}

}}

{{bar box

|title=Religion in Kargil district (2011)

|titlebar=#FCD116

|left1=Religion

|right1=Percent(%)

|float=left

|bars=

{{bar percent|Islam|green|76.87}}

{{bar percent|Buddhism|Gold|14.29}}

{{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|7.34}}

{{bar percent|Sikhism|darkkhaki|0.83}}

{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.67}}

}}Of the total population, 77% are Muslims, of which 63% follow Shia Islam. Most of the district's Muslims are found in the north (Kargil town, Drass, and the lower Suru valley). Of the remainder, 17% of the total population practises Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, mostly found in Zanskar with small populations in the upper Suru valley (Rangdum) and around Shergol, Mulbekh and Garkhone. The remaining 8% of the population follows Hinduism and Sikhism, though as many as 95% of them are male.

Much of Kargil population is inhabited by the Purigpa and Balti people of Tibetan origin. They converted from Buddhism to Islam in the 14th century and intermingled with other Aryan people.{{Cite book|last=Gellner|first=David N.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I5raAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA49|title=Borderland Lives in Northern South Asia|publisher=Duke University Press|year=2013|isbn=978-0-8223-7730-6|pages=49–51}} Muslims mainly inhabit the valley of Drass and speak Shina, a small number community, known as Brokpa, inhabit the Dha-Hanu region and Garkone village along the Indus River. Some Arghons and Shina have also settled in Kargil town.

{{Pie chart

|thumb = left

|caption = Languages of Kargil district (2011){{cite report |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue – Jammu & Kashmir |url = https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0100.XLSX |publisher = Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=18 July 2020}}

|label1 = Purgi |value1 = 65.35 |color1 = teal

|label2 = Shina |value2 = 9.83 |color2 = deeppink

|label3 = Ladakhi |value3 = 7.02 |color3 = seagreen

|label4 = Urdu |value4 = 5.32 |color4 = Green

|label5 = Balti |value5 = 3.23 |color5 = lightseagreen

|label6 = Tibetan |value6 = 1.26 |color6 = royalblue

|label7 = Punjabi |value7 = 1.00 |color7 = tomato

|label8 = Others |value8 =6.99 |color8 = grey

}}

File:Dardi shina group performing in 72 independant day of india .jpg

The Purgi dialect of Balti is spoken by 65% while 10 per cent speak Shina language in regions like Drass and Batalikis.{{citation|last=Rather|first=Ali Mohammad|title=Kargil: The Post-War Scenario|date=September 1999|url=http://www.icpsnet.org/description.php?ID=138|journal=Journal of Peace Studies|volume=6|number=5–6|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141201063036/http://www.icpsnet.org/description.php?ID=138|publisher=International Center for Peace Studies|archive-date=1 December 2014|url-status=dead}} Urdu is also spoke and understood in Kargil.{{Cite web |title=District Profile |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/Basic_Data_Sheet.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113144353/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/Basic_Data_Sheet.aspx |archive-date=13 November 2013 |access-date=19 September 2011 |publisher=Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner }}

Balti language has four variants/dialects and Purgi is the southern dialect of Balti language. Balti, is a branch of Archaic Western Tibetan language, is also spoken by the inhabitants of the four districts of (Baltistan) in Pakistan and Turtuk in the Nubra valley of the Leh district as well. The Buddhists of Zanskar speak Zanskari language of the Ladakhi-Balti language group.{{citation|last=Rather |first=Ali Mohammad |title=Kargil: The Post-War Scenario |journal=Journal of Peace Studies |publisher=International Center for Peace Studies |volume=6 |number=5–6 |date=September 1999 |url=http://www.icpsnet.org/description.php?ID=138 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141201063036/http://www.icpsnet.org/description.php?ID=138 |archive-date= 1 December 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Though earlier Tibetan contact has left a profound influence upon the people of both Kargil and Leh, after the spread of Shia Islam the people of Kargil were heavily influenced by Persian culture. This is apparent by the use of Persian words and phrases as well as in songs called marsias and qasidas. At least until recently, some Kargilis, especially those of the Agha families (descendants of Syed preachers who were in a direct line descent from the Islamic prophet, Muhammad) went to Iraq for their education.Janet Rizvi. (1996). Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia. Second Edition, pp. 210-211. Oxford University Press, Delhi. {{ISBN|0-19-564546-4}}. Native Ladakhis go for higher Islamic studies in seminaries in Najaf, Iraq and Qom in Iran. These non-Agah scholars are popularly called as "Sheikh". Some among the most prominent religious scholars include Imam-e-Jummah, Sheikh Mussa Shariefi, Sheikh Ahmed Mohammadi,[http://youthwingisk.blogspot.in/ Anjuman Jamiatul Ulama Houzai Elmiya Madrasa Asna Asharia Islamia School Kargil] Sheikh Hussain Zakiri and Sheikh Anwar.[http://www.ikmtkargil.org/suborgans.html IKMT Kargil]

Social ceremonies such as marriages still carry many customs and rituals that are common to both the Muslims and Buddhists. Among the two districts of Ladakh, Kargil has a more mixed ethnic population and thus there are more regional dialects spoken in Kargil as compared to Leh. Local folk songs, which are called rgya-glu and balti ghazals, are still quite popular and are performed enthusiastically at social gatherings.

Kargil is home to many endangered wildlife species:

• Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)
• Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus langier)
• Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus)
• Asiatic ibex (Capra ibex)
• Ladakh urial (Ovis vignei vignei)
• musk deer (Moschus spp.)
• pikas
• marmots and hares.

Some of the reptiles found in Kargil district are

• Platyceps ladacensis (Ladakh cliff racer){{Cite journal|last1=Hussain|first1=Amjad|last2=Tantarpale|first2=V. T.|date=13 May 2021|title=First locality record for the Ladakh Cliff Racer, Platyceps ladacensis (Anderson 1871) from Kargil, Ladakh, India|url=https://journals.ku.edu/reptilesandamphibians/article/view/15311|journal=Reptiles & Amphibians|language=en|volume=28|issue=1|pages=54–55|doi=10.17161/randa.v28i1.15311|s2cid=238052440|issn=2332-4961|doi-access=free}}
• Phrynocephalus theobaldi (toad head agama)
• Altiphylax stoliczkai (Balti gecko)
• Paralaudakia himalayana (Himalayan agama)
• Asymblepharus ladacensis (Ladakh ground skink).

Aishwarya Maheshwari of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is quoted as saying, "It is here in Kargil that one of world's most elusive creatures, the snow leopard, roams wild and free. During my research I have learnt about the tremendous decline in wildlife sightings since the 1999 Kargil war, so much so that even the common resident birds had disappeared."{{cite web|url=http://kafila.org/2012/01/28/india-pakistan-and-the-snow-leopard-javed-naqi/ |title=India, Pakistan and the Snow Leopard: Javed Naqi |publisher=Kafila |date=28 January 2012 |access-date=16 August 2013}}{{cite web |author=Voices from Frozen Land |url=http://javed-naqi.blogspot.in/2012/01/human-wildlife-conflict-in-kargil.html |title=Javed Naqi: Human-Wildlife Conflict in Kargil: Precipitation of India-Pakistan Rivalry? |publisher=Javed-naqi.blogspot.in |date=24 January 2012 |access-date=16 August 2013 |archive-date=10 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810220301/http://javed-naqi.blogspot.in/2012/01/human-wildlife-conflict-in-kargil.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://bargad.org/2012/02/01/wildlife-kargil-india-pakistan-rivalry/ |title=Human-Wildlife Conflict in Kargil: Precipitation of India-Pakistan Rivalry? | Bargad... बरगद |publisher=Bargad.org |date=1 February 2012 |access-date=16 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050008/http://bargad.org/2012/02/01/wildlife-kargil-india-pakistan-rivalry/ |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=usurped }}

Besides the endangered species, various birds are commonly seen in summer:

• Black-necked Eurasian magpie
• house sparrow
• hoopoe{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Bt6WTrErH0C&pg=PA7296 |title=The Indian Encyclopaedia |via=Google Books |isbn=9788177552577 |access-date=16 August 2013|last1=Kapoor |first1=Subodh |year=2002 |publisher=Cosmo Publications }}
• rosefinches
• red-billed choughs
• eastern chiffchaff
• common sandpiper
• European goldfinches.{{cite web|author=Alok Bhave |url=http://alokbhave.blogspot.in/2011/10/trip-to-cold-desert-ladakh-part2.html |title=Nature watch: Trip to Cold Desert - Ladakh Part2 |publisher=Alokbhave.blogspot.in |date=6 October 2011 |access-date=16 August 2013}}

File:The Eurassian Magpie - A common sight in Kargil.jpg|The Eurasian magpie, a common sight in Kargil

File:Marmot - Found in wild in Ladakh.jpg|A marmot, found in the wild in Ladakh

File:Phrynocephalus theobaldi.jpg|Ladakh toad head agama (Phrynocephalus theobaldi) at Kargil campus of the University of Ladakh

File:Adult Paralaudakia himalayana.jpg|An adult Himalayan Agama (Paralaudakia himalayana) at Ringmospang, Kargil

File:Platyceps ladacensis.jpg|An adult Ladakh cliff racer (Platyceps ladacensis), from Gongma Minji, Kargil

File:Carduelis caniceps, Kargil, Ladakh, India.jpg|Grey-crowned goldfinch (Carduelis caniceps) at Ringmospang, Kargil

File:NPD_Road_South_Zangla_Zanskar_Jun24_A7CR_00970.jpg]]

National Highway 1D, connecting Srinagar to Leh, passes through Kargil. This highway is typically open for traffic only from May to December due to heavy snowfall at the Zoji La. Kargil is {{convert|204|km|abbr=on}} from the capital city of Srinagar. There is a partially paved road leading from Kargil south to Zanskar, which is also only open only from June to September. The total distance to Zanskar is nearly {{convert|220|km|abbr=on}}. India and Pakistan have both considered linking the Pakistani town of Skardu to Kargil with a bus route to reunite the Ladakh families separated by the line of control since 1972.[http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?fromtimeline=true&id=102160&callid=1&template=indopakfaceoff Pak considers Kargil-Skardu bus] 15 March 2007 NDTV

Kargil is connected to the rest of India by high-altitude roads which are subject to landslides and are impassable in winter due to deep snows. The National Highway 1D connects Kargil to Srinagar. The NH 301 connects Kargil with the remote Zanskar region. Upgradation of this road is going on to reduce the time travel between Kargil and Padum, tehsil headquarters of Zanskar region.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbmcw.com/news/centre-clears-780-cr-for-kargil-zanskar-road-upgrade.html|title=Centre clears ₹780-cr for Kargil-Zanskar road upgrade|work=NBMCW|date=7 April 2021 |access-date=7 April 2021}}

The Nimmu–Padam–Darcha road is a major axis through Zanskar in Kargil district, connecting Lahaul in Himachal with Leh. The construction of this road was completed in March 2024.{{Cite news |title=BRO connects 298-km long Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road to Ladakh region |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/bro-connects-298-km-long-nimmu-padam-darcha-road-to-ladakh-region/article67995218.ece |work=Business Line |date=26 March 2024 |access-date=4 April 2024}}{{Cite news |title=High road at Chilling: India builds Himalayan bridges and highways to match China |first=Devjyot |last=Ghoshal |date=29 September 2020 |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-china-road-idUSKBN26K1F7 |access-date=14 April 2024}}

Kargil Airport is a non-operational airport used only for defence purposes by the Indian Air Force. Kargil Airport has been included under Central Govt.'s UDAN scheme for commercial operations.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/operationalisation-of-civilian-flights-to-kargil-airport-reviewed/|title=Operationalisation of civilian flights to Kargil Airport reviewed|work=Daily Excelsior|date=9 July 2021 |access-date=9 July 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ladakh-l-g-discusses-air-connectivity-possibilities-for-kargil-with-centre/article34856905.ece|title=Ladakh L-G discusses air connectivity possibilities for Kargil with Centre|work=The Hindu|date=19 June 2021 |access-date=19 June 2021}} The nearest operational airport is Leh's Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport which is located 215 kilometres from Kargil.

There is no railway service currently in Ladakh, however, 2 railway routes are proposed- the Bhanupli–Leh line and Srinagar–Kargil–Leh line.{{cite news|title=Himachal CM meets Union railway minister, seeks 100% Centre funding for Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Leh rail line|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/himachal-cm-meets-union-rly-minister-seeks-100-centre-funding-for-bhanupali-bilaspur-leh-rail-line/story-AGkPR9GCAei32BM6X0WhLJ.html|access-date=9 November 2020|newspaper=Hindustan Times}}

• List of districts of Ladakh
• List of villages in Kargil district
• Geography of Ladakh
• Tourism in Ladakh
• Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{citation |title=District Census Handbook: Kargil |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Jammu and Kashmir |year=2011 |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/01/0104_PART_A_DCHB_KARGIL.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121205644/https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/01/0104_PART_A_DCHB_KARGIL.pdf |archive-date=21 November 2017 |url-status=dead |ref={{sfnref|District Census Handbook|2011}}}}
• {{citation |last=Aggarwal |first=Ravina |title=Beyond Lines of Control: Performance and Politics on the Disputed Borders of Ladakh, India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2k3mgWCitj0C |year=2004 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=0-8223-3414-3 |ref={{sfnref|Aggarwal, Beyond Lines of Control|2004}}}}
• {{citation |last=Cunningham |first=Alexander |title=Ladak: Physical, Statistical, Historical |publisher=Wm. H. Allen and Co |location=London |year=1854 |url=https://archive.org/details/ladakphysicalsta00cunnrich |via=Internet Archive |ref={{sfnref|Cunningham, Ladak|1854|p=274}}}}
• {{citation |first=Quentin |last=Devers |title=Buddhism before the First Diffusion? The case of Tangol, Dras, Phikhar and Sani-Tarungtse in Purig and Zanskar (Ladakh) |journal=Études Mongoles & Sibériennes, Centrasiatiques & Tibétaines |volume=51 |year=2020 |issue=51 |doi=10.4000/emscat.4226 |s2cid=230579183 |url=https://journals.openedition.org/emscat/4226 |ref={{sfnref|Devers, Buddhism before First Diffusion?|2020}} |doi-access=free}}
• {{citation |last1=Fisher |first1=Margaret W. |last2=Rose |first2=Leo E. |last3=Huttenback |first3=Robert A. |title=Himalayan Battleground: Sino-Indian Rivalry in Ladakh |date=1963 |publisher=Praeger |url=https://archive.org/details/himalayanbattleg0000unse/mode/2up |via=archive.org |ref={{sfnref|Fisher, Rose & Huttenback, Himalayan Battleground|1963}}}}
• {{citation |last=Francke |first=Rev. A. H. |author-link=A. H. Francke |title=A History of Western Tibet |publisher=S. W. Partridge & Co |date=1907 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofwestern00ahfr/page/n6 |via=archive.org |ref={{sfnref|Francke, A History of Western Tibet|1907}}}}
• {{citation |title=Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladak |publisher=Superintendent of Government Printing |location=Calcutta |year=1890 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.43256/page/n7 |via=Internet Archive |ref={{sfnref|Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladak|1890}}}}
• {{cite book |first=Nicola |last=Grist |chapter=Urbanisation in Kargil and its Effects in the Suru Valley |editor1=Martijn van Beek |editor2=Fernanda Pirie |title=Modern Ladakh: Anthropological Perspectives on Continuity and Change |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZO95DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA80 |year=2008 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-474-4334-6 |ref={{sfnref|Grist, Urbanisation in Kargil|2008}}}}
• {{cite book |first=Radhika |last=Gupta |chapter=Allegiance and Alienation: Border Dynamics in Kargil |editor=David N. Gellner |title=Borderland Lives in Northern South Asia |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I5raAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA47 |year=2013 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-7730-6 |pages=47–71 |ref={{sfnref|Radhika Gupta, Allegiance and Alienation|2013}}}}
• {{citation |first=Neil |last=Howard |chapter=What happened between 1450 and 1550 AD? and other questions from the history of Ladakh |editor1=Henry Osmaston |editor2=Nawang Tsering |editor3=International Association for Ladakh Studies |title=Recent Research on Ladakh 6: Proceedings of the Sixth International Colloquium on Ladakh, Leh 1993 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4jX552GiSmYC&pg=PA130 |year=1997 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1432-5 |pages=121–138 |ref={{sfnref|Howard, What happened between 1450 and 1550 AD?|1997}}}}
• {{citation |last=Huttenback |first=Robert A. |title=Gulab Singh and the Creation of the Dogra State of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=20 |number=4 |year=1961 |pages=477–488 |doi=10.2307/2049956 |jstor=2049956 |s2cid=162144034 |url=https://pahar.in/mountains/Books%20and%20Articles/Indian%20Subcontinent/1961%20Gulab%20Singh%20and%20Creation%20of%20Dogra%20State%20of%20Jammu%20Kashmir%20and%20Ladakh%20by%20Huttenback%20from%20J%20Asian%20Studies%20v20%20s.pdf |ref={{sfnref|Huttenback, Gulab Singh and the Creation of the Dogra State|1961}} |access-date=23 November 2016 |archive-date=23 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123065805/http://pahar.in/mountains/Books%20and%20Articles/Indian%20Subcontinent/1961%20Gulab%20Singh%20and%20Creation%20of%20Dogra%20State%20of%20Jammu%20Kashmir%20and%20Ladakh%20by%20Huttenback%20from%20J%20Asian%20Studies%20v20%20s.pdf |url-status=dead }}
• {{citation |last=Karim |first=Maj Gen Afsir |title=Kashmir The Troubled Frontiers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lf2jAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT30 |date=2013 |publisher=Lancer Publishers LLC |isbn=978-1-935501-76-3 |pages=30– |ref={{sfnref|Karim, Kashmir The Troubled Frontiers|2013}}}}
• {{citation |last=Petech |first=Luciano |author-link=Luciano Petech |title=The Kingdom of Ladakh, c. 950–1842 A.D. |publisher=Instituto Italiano Per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente |year=1977 |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.pahar.3498 |via=archive.org |ref={{sfnref|Petech, The Kingdom of Ladakh|1977}}}}
• {{citation |title=Gulab Singh |first=K. M. |last=Panikkar |author-link=K. M. Panikkar |publisher=Martin Hopkinson Ltd |year=1930 |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/gulabsingh179218031570mbp |ref={{sfnref|Panikkar, Gulab Singh|1930}}}}
• Ghulam Mohiuddin Dar. Kargil: Its social, culture, and economic history.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060111201823/http://www.t2india.com/place-info.php?place=164-Kargil Kargil : The Important Trade Transit of Yesteryears], [http://www.journeymart.com/Dexplorer/AsiaIS/India/Jammu&Kashmir/?SubLink=DExplorer%2FAsiaIS%2FIndia%2FJammu%26Kashmir%2FciPeople_Inc.htm People & Society]
• Shireen M. Mazari, The Kargil Conflict, 1999: Separating Fact from Fiction, The Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (2003) {{ISBN|969-8772-00-6}}

{{commons}}

• {{official website|http://kargil.nic.in/}}
• Rivers of Kargil district on OpenStreetMap: [https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/1159554#map=9/34.0095/76.2872&layers=C Dras, Suru and Kartse], [https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/29845817#map=9/34.0095/76.2872&layers=C Wakha], [https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/1159504#map=9/34.0095/76.2872&layers=C Zanskar]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100715103005/http://kargil.nic.in/lahdck/lahdck.htm Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil] (archived 15 July 2010)
• [http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/jammuandkashmir/tehsil/kargil.html Kargil Tehsil Map], MapsofIndia.com
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1491179.stm "Pakistan's Northern Areas dilemma"], BBC
• [https://www.rediff.com/news/kargwk1.htm Kargil War 1999], Rediff

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Kargil district

| North = Gilgit-Baltistan

| Northeast =

| East = Leh district

| Southeast =

| South = Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh

| Southwest = Kishtwar district

| West =

| Northwest = Bandipore district
Ganderbal district
Anantnag district

}}

{{Ladakh}}

{{Kargil district}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Autonomous regions of India

Category:1979 establishments in Jammu and Kashmir

Category:States and territories established in 1995

Category:Geography of Ladakh

Category:Districts of Ladakh