Shyok (village)
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Shyok village
| other_name = Shayok
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
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| etymology =
| pushpin_map = India Ladakh#India
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ladakh
| coordinates = {{coord|34.1781|78.1399|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = Union Territory
| subdivision_name1 = Ladakh
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Leh
| subdivision_type3 = Tehsil
| subdivision_name3 = Durbuk{{Cite web|url=https://leh.nic.in/about-district/administrative-setup/village/|title=Villages | District Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh | India}}
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| seat_type = Panchayat
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| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_m = 3700
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_total =
| population_density_km2 = auto
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| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
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}}
Shyok or Shayok is a village on the bank of the Shyok River in Durbuk tehsil of Leh district in Ladakh, India. It is located at the southern tip of the V-shaped course of the Shyok River, where the Tangtse river joins it from the left. Historically, the winter caravan route from Leh to Yarkand passed through the village. In modern times, India's strategic road to its border post at Daulat Beg Oldi uses the same route.
Geography
Shyok is connected to Durbuk, 16 km to the south, and Agham, 47 km to the north, via the Agam-Shyok-Durbuk Road,[https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/11896019#map=11/34.2254/78.0581 Agam-Shyok-Durbuk Road mapped on OpenStreetMap], retrieved 15 November 2020. Durbuk is further connected to both Leh and Pangong via the Kharu-Pangong Road.
A northwest road connects it beyond Agham to Khalsar 73 km, Diskit 93 km, Panamik 120 km and Sasoma 133 km, along the Shyok River valley.
Caravan route
Till 1937, between Ladakh and Kashgar (in Xinjiang) on Shyok-DBO route via Karakoram Pass there were frequent trade caravans.
Strategic role
Shyok has geostrategic importance as it is the last Indian village on the 235 km long Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road in the north which connects it to Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) military post 225 km away on the China border. Shyok to BDO area is also called Sub-Sector North (SSN) by the Indian Military, and civilians are not allowed to travel from Shyok to DBO.[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/india-completes-vital-ladakh-road-762332 India completes vital Ladakh road], The Tribune, 23 April 2019.[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-working-on-two-roads-in-ladakh-amid-border-row/story-lAh4LPrp20Z1wxX4AU9EON.html India working on two roads in Ladakh amid border row], Hindustan Times, 9 July 2020. Sasoma–Saser La Road will provide alternative connectivity to DBO.{{Cite web|last1=Singh|first1=Rahul|last2=Choudhury|first2=Sunetra|date=9 June 2020|title=India working on two roads in Ladakh amid border row|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-working-on-two-roads-in-ladakh-amid-border-row/story-lAh4LPrp20Z1wxX4AU9EON.html|access-date=2020-06-09|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=18 November 2018|title=World's First Galciated Motorable Road Being Laid in Ladakh by BRO Amid Extreme Weather Conditions|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/worlds-first-galciated-motorable-road-being-laid-in-ladakh-amid-extreme-weather-conditions-by-bro-1942829.html|access-date=2020-06-09|website=CNN-News18|publisher=PTI}}{{Cite web|date=2018-11-18|title=World's 'first' glaciated road coming up in Ladakh region of Kashmir|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/ladakh/worlds-first-glaciated-road-coming-up-in-ladakh-region-of-kashmir/|access-date=2020-06-09|website=Greater Kashmir|language=en-US}}