Ladakh is a land like no other. Bounded by two of
the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the
Karakoram, it lies athwart two other, the Ladakh range and the Zanskar
range. Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet (2750m)
at Drass to 25,170 feet (7,672m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram.
Drass (3230 m), 60 km west of Kargil on the road to Srinagar, is a small township
lying in the centre of the valley of the same name. It has become famous as
the second coldest inhabited place in the world by virtue of the intense cold
that descends upon the valley along with repeated snowfalls during winters.
Winter temperature is sometimes known to plummet to less than minus 40 degrees.
The Drass valley starts from the base of the Zojila pass, the Himalayan gateway
to Ladakh. For centuries its inhabitants are known to have negotiated this formidable
pass even during the most risky period in the late autumn or early spring, when
the whole sector remains snow-bound and is subject to frequent snow storms,
to transport trader's merchandise across and to help stranded travellers to
traverse it.
By virtue of their mastery over the pass they had established a monopoly over
the carrying trade during the heydays of the Pan-Asian trade. A hardly people
enduring with fortitude and harshness of the valley's winter, the inhabitants
of drass can well be described as the guardian's of Ladakh's gateway.
Drass is a convenient base for a 3-day long trek to Suru valley across the
sub-range separating the two valleys. This trek passes through some of the
most beautiful upland villages and flower sprinkled meadows on both sides
of the 4500 mts high Umbala pass, which falls enroute. The trek to the holy
cave of Amarnath in neighbouring Kashmir, which stars from Minamarg below
Zojila, takes 3 days and involves crossing of 5200 mts high pass. Drass also
offers numerous shorter treks and hikes to the upland villages.
How to reach ?
Buses plying between Srinagar and Kargil/Leh touch Drass. Local buses leave
Kargil in the morning and afternoon for drass. srinagar is connected with rest
of the country via Air and Road through National Highway NHIA.
Where To Stay ?
The Tourist Complex here provides furnished rooms and suites. Advance reservation
can be done through the tourist office at Kargil or its branch at Drass. Some
private hotels also provide rooms equipped with basic necessities.
