Destination Jammu & Kashmir - Kargil

Kargil
district carved out of erstwhile district Ladakh came into existence in July
1979.It lies in the North-east Of Kashmir Valley at a distance of 205 Kms. from
Srinagar with a geographical area of 14,036 Sq.Kms.
The whole area is of high rocky mounatins which is devoid of any natural vegetation.
The population of the district is above one lakh having density of 7 persons
per Sq.Kms. against the average of 59 persons per Sq.Kms.at State level.99%
of population is schedule tribe. The district has high altitude area in the
Country ranging from 8,000 fts.to 18,000fts.above sea level.
There are 7 rural development blocks comprising of 129 villages and 461 habitations
as per 1981 Census which comprise a number of households settled near available
irrigation facilities.District has two tehsils and on Sub-division at Zanskar.
The district remains cut off from the rest of country from November to May in
view of heavy snow fall on National Highway at Zojila pass.People mostly live
in rural areas and only 5.3 percent reside in the town.
The majority of population is Muslim.The Budhists come next with their concerntration
in Zanskar tehsil and Shargol block.A few families of Sikhs and Hindus also
live in the district.The cultivated area in the district is 10,000 hectares
as against19,437 hectares of reporting area.The soil is generally coarse, mixed
with stones and gravels.

It
is alkine in reaction and organic matter content is very low.The fertility of
the soil varies from place to place and the growing season is short.The avearge
rainfall in Kargil is 26 cms only. The district gets snowfall varying from 2ft.to
5ft.
The Kargil town,Suru Valley and the villages around the Wakha and Kanji Nallah
record a snowfall upto 3ft while in Drass and some parts of Zanskar it is 5ft.Drass
is the second coldest inhabited place in the world after Siberia in Russia.
The areas of Karkitcho,Kargil town,Hardass to Saliskot and the villages from
Silmo to Garkone get a double crop of barley, wheat,peas,bajrah and vegetables
while other areas of the district get only single crop of wheat,barley,peas
and some varieties of vegetables.
The barley is the staple crop of the district. The district presents a composite
culture of Balti, Ladakhi, Purki, Dardi,Zanskari and Shia cultures. Irrespective
of ethenic identities,all speak the Kargali language with ease.
Destination Jammu & Kashmir - Kargil,
North India Destinations
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