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Kargil district is one of the two districts comprising Ladakh, India. It is bounded by the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the west, Pakistani-administered Gilgit–Baltistan in the north, Ladakh's Leh district in the east, and the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh in the south. Encompassing three historical regions known as Purig ,himbabs and Zanskar, the district lies to the northwest of the Great Himalayas and encompasses the majority of the Zanskar Range. Its population inhabits the river valleys of the Dras, Suru, Kartse, Wakha, and Zanskar.

Kargil district
District of Ladakh
View of Kargil Town
Kargil district in Ladakh
Country	India
Union Territory	Ladakh
Capital	Kargil
Established	July 1979
Headquarters	Kargil
Tehsils	Drass, Kargil, Shargole, Shakar-Chiktan, Sankoo, Taisuru and Zanskar
Government
• Lok Sabha constituencies	Ladakh
• MP	Jamyang Tsering Namgyal[1]
• Chief Executive Councillor	Feroz Ahmed Khan, JKNC
• Deputy Commissioner	Sh. Santosh Sukhadeve, IAS
Area
• Total	14,086 km2 (5,439 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	140,802
• Density	10.0/km2 (26/sq mi)
• Urban	16,338
Demographics
• Literacy	71.34%
• Sex ratio	810 ♀/ 1000 ♂
Languages
• Official	Hindi, Urdu, English
• Spoken	Purgi, Balti, Shina, Zanskari,Brokskat
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	LA-01
Website	http://kargil.nic.in/

The district was created in 1979, after being carved out of the Leh district in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.[2] In 2003, Kargil was granted a Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).

Per the 2011 Census of India, 77 percent of the Kargil district's population is Muslim, with Shia Muslims comprising the majority at approximately 65 percent of this figure. Buddhists are the largest minority, representing 14.5 percent of the population followed by Hindus at 8 percent.[3]

The town of Kargil serves as the district's headquarters and is also the joint capital of Ladakh alongside the neighbouring district's headquarters of Leh.

Etymology

The name Kargil is said to derive from the words Khar, meaning castle, and rKil meaning "centre". "Kargil denotes a place between many forts, a central place where people could stay". It appears to be a fitting description for a place that is equidistant from Srinagar, Leh and Skardu.[4]

Historically, the region around Kargil was called Purig.[5] A major study of the history of Purig is included in the 1987 book Qadeem Ladakh by Kacho Sikander Khan, which includes genealogies of various dynasties that ruled the region.[6]

The southern part of the Kargil district, Zanskar was historically a separate Buddhist kingdom. It was integrated with Kargil during the rule of the Purig sultan Khree Sultan Chu, who integrated and united the other Purig kingdoms.^{[citation needed]}

History

Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir

In 1822, Raja Gulab Singh of the Dogra dynasty was anointed as the Raja of Jammu by the Sikh emperor Ranjit Singh. In 1834, Gulab Singh sent his general Zorawar Singh Kahluria to conquer the territory between Jammu and the Tibetan border. Marching from Kishtwar, Zorawar Singh reached Purig and defeated the Bhotia leader Mangal at Sankoo in August. Kartse, the then capital of Purig, fell into Zorawar Singh's hands, who 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 offered submission subsequently.[7][8]

The Purigis rebelled repeatedly, instigated by the 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.[9][10]

Following the First Anglo-Sikh War and the Treaty of Amritsar (1846), Gulab Singh was made an independent Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.[11] The princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, as it eventually came to be called, was organised into two large provinces, Jammu and Kashmir, and two frontier ilaqas, Ladakh and Gilgit Baltistan[12]

Ladakh was a wazarat (district) with a governor called wazir-e-wazarat. It had three tehsils: Leh, Kargil and Skardu. Initially, the Wazir used to spend four months each at Leh, Kargil and Skardu. But shifting the entire staff so often proved too exhausting and, so, the shifting was eventually limited to Leh and Skardu. The city of Kargil always had a tehsil headquarters. It was a key centre, being equidistant from Srinagar, Leh and Skardu. Zanskar, which was once part of the Kishtwar district was merged into the Kargil tehsil.[13]

Post 1947

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, there were pitched battles fought around Kargil, which saw the entire area including Drass and Zoji La Pass initially coming under Pakistan control before most of it being reclaimed by Indian troops by November 1948.[14] It remained with India after the ceasefire. It again saw some action in the Second Kashmir War with India managing to wrest back the remainder of the Kargil area twice. The first capture was 17 May 1965, when skirmishes broke out in Rann of Kutch, and India retaliated in the Kashmir sector.[14]

However, this had to be returned as per UNMOGIP treatise. On 15 August, the same year Kargil fell to Indian forces, though it was once again returned as part of the Tashkent Agreement.[14] However, in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 the entire Kargil region including key posts was captured by Indian troops under leadership of Col. Chewang Rinchen.[15]

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.[16] After Pakistan forces lost the war and agreed to the Shimla Agreement, Kargil and other strategic areas nearby remained with India.[17] Kargil became a separate district in the Ladakh region during the year 1979 when it was bifurcated from the Leh district.

In the spring of 1999, under a covert plan of the then Army Chief Pervez Musharraf, armed infiltrators from Pakistan, aided by the Pakistani army, occupied vacant high posts in the Kargil and Drass regions. The result was a limited scale conflict (Kargil War) between the two nuclear equipped nations that ended with India regaining the Kargil region through military power and diplomatic pressure.

In August 2019 the Parliament of India passed an act that contains provisions to make Kargil a district of the new union territory of Ladakh, which was to be formed 31 October 2019.[18]

Geography

Kargil district is situated in 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 −15 °C (5 °F) with recorded temperatures of −60 °C (−76 °F) in the tiny town of Dras, situated 56 km (35 mi) from the Kargil town. The Zanskar Valley is colder. Kargil district is spread over 14,086 km² (5,439 sq mi). The Suru River flows through the district.

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 204 km (127 mi) from the capital city of Srinagar. There is a partially paved road leading from Kargil south to Zanskar. Total distance to Zanskar is nearly 220 km (140 mi), which is again open only from June to September. Both India and Pakistan have considered linking the Pakistani town of Skardu to Kargil via a bus route to reunite the separated families of Ladakh throughout borders since 1972.[19]

Climate

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.[20]

Administration

The Kargil district was formed in July 1979, by separating it from Leh. Kargil has five (5) Sub-Divisions,[22] eight tehsils,[23] and 14 Blocks.[22]

It is divided into five (5) Sub-Divisions, based at Drass, Kargil, Shakar-Chiktan, Sankoo, and Zanskar.[22] Another form of division in terms of tehsils, of which there are eight. In addition to the above towns, they are based at Shargole, Taisuru and Trespone (called TSG tehsil).[23]

The subdivisions are further divided into 14 Blocks: Drass, Kargil, Shargole, Shakar, Chiktan, Sankoo, Trespone, Saliskote, Gund Mangalpore, Taisuru, Zanskar (Padum), Zangla, Lungnaq, Cha.[24]

Each block consists of a number of panchayats.

Politics

Kargil district had two assembly constituencies, Zanskar and Kargil under Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.[25] 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 Jamyang Tsering Namgyal of BJP.

Ladakh, being a union territory without legislature, does not have a legislative assembly but is represented in the Parliament.[26]

Santosh Sukhadeve, (IAS) is the current District Development Commissioner Kargil.[27]

Autonomous Hill Council

Kargil District is administered by an elected body known as the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil. The LAHDC-K was established in 2003.[28]

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Kargil district has a population of 140,802.[29] This gives it a ranking of 603rd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 10 inhabitants per square kilometre (26/sq mi). 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%.[30]

Religion

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. Remaining 8% of the population follow Hinduism and Sikhism, though as much as 95% of them are male.

Much of Kargil population is inhabited by the Purigpa and Balti people of Tibetan origin (converted from Buddhism to Islam in the 14th Century) and have intermingled with other Aryan people.[32] Muslims mainly inhabit the valley of Drass and speak Shina, a small number community, known as Brokpa, inhabit the Dha-Hanu region along Garkone village and the Indus River. Some Arghons and Shina are also settled in Kargil Town.

Kargil district: religion, gender ratio, and % urban of population, according to the 2011 Census.[31]
	Hindu	Muslim	Christian	Sikh	Buddhist	Jain	Other	Not stated	Total
Total	10,341	108,239	604	1,171	20,126	28	4	289	140,802
	7.34%	76.87%	0.43%	0.83%	14.29%	0.02%	0.00%	0.21%	100.00%
Male	9,985	55,762	532	1,101	10,188	16	3	198	77,785
Female	356	52,477	72	70	9,938	12	1	91	63,017
Gender ratio (% female)	3.4%	48.5%	11.9%	6.0%	49.4%	42.9%	25.0%	31.5%	44.8%
Sex ratio (no. of females per 1,000 males)	36	941	135	64	975	–	–	–	810
Urban	3,139	12,671	63	360	88	2	1	14	16,338
Rural	7,202	95,568	541	811	20,038	26	3	275	124,464
% Urban	30.4%	11.7%	10.4%	30.7%	0.4%	7.1%	25.0%	4.8%	11.6%

Languages

The Purgi dialect of Balti is spoken by 65% while 10 percent speak Shina language in regions like Drass and Batalikis.[34] Urdu is also spoke and understood in kargil.[3]

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.[35]

Culture

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 came under heavy influence of Persian culture. This is apparent by the rigorous use of Persian words and phrases in the popular religious as well as other 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) were sent to Iraq for their education.[36] 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,[37] Sheikh Hussain Zakiri and Sheikh Anwar.[38]

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. The J&K tourism ministry annually organises festivals in which various programmes are organised to highlight the culture so as to boost the tourism industry in the district. However, the tourism industry is still undeveloped despite attractive natural as well as rich cultural resources due to bad infrastructure and severe accommodation problems.

Wildlife

Kargil is home to many endangered wildlife species like 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. Besides mammals, reptiles are also an important part of Kargil biodiversity. Some of the reptiles found in Kargil district are Platyceps ladacensis(ladakh cliff racer),[39] Phrynocephalus theobaldi (toad head agama), Altiphylax stoliczkai (balti gecko), Paralaudakia himalayana (Himalayan agama) and 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."[40][41][42] Besides these endangered form of life various species of birds including the black necked magpie, house sparrow, hoopoe,[43] rosefinches, red-billed choughs, eastern chiffchaff, common sandpiper, common pegion and European goldfinches are a common sight in the summer.[44] The Indian Army rears horses, donkeys and mares for transportation purposes.

• 
  The Eurassian Magpie, a common sight in Kargil
• 
  A Marmot, Found in wild in Ladakh
• 
  Ladakh toad head agama (Phrynocephalus theobaldi), at Kargil campus University of Ladakh
• 
  An adult Himalayan Agama (Paralaudakia himalayana), at Ringmospang Kargil
• 
  An adult ladakh cliff racer (Platyceps ladacensis), from Gongma Minji Kargil
• 
  European Goldfinch(Carduelis carduelis) at Ringmospang Kargil

Transportation

Road

Kargil is connected to the rest of India by one high-altitude road which is subject to landslides and is not passable in winter when covered by 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.[45]

• Nimmu–Padam–Darcha road

This is the third road axis to Leh through Zanskar in Kargil district. It is currently under construction.

Air

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.[46][47] The nearest operational airport is Leh's Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport which is located 215 kilometres from Kargil.

Rail

There is no railway service currently in Ladakh, however, 2 railway routes are proposed- the Bilaspur–Leh line and Srinagar–Kargil–Leh line.[48]

See also

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

References

Bibliography

• District Census Handbook: Kargil (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Jammu and Kashmir, 2011
• Aggarwal, Ravina (2004), Beyond Lines of Control: Performance and Politics on the Disputed Borders of Ladakh, India, Duke University Press, ISBN 0-8223-3414-3
• Grist, Nicola (2008). "Urbanisation in Kargil and its Effects in the Suru Valley". In Martijn van Beek; Fernanda Pirie (eds.). Modern Ladakh: Anthropological Perspectives on Continuity and Change. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-474-4334-6.
• Gupta, Radhika (2013). "Allegiance and Alienation: Border Dynamics in Kargil". In David N. Gellner (ed.). Borderland Lives in Northern South Asia. Duke University Press. pp. 47–71. ISBN 978-0-8223-7730-6.
• Huttenback, Robert A. (1961), "Gulab Singh and the Creation of the Dogra State of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh" (PDF), The Journal of Asian Studies, 20 (4): 477–488, doi:10.2307/2049956, JSTOR 2049956
• Karim, Maj Gen Afsir (2013), Kashmir The Troubled Frontiers, Lancer Publishers LLC, pp. 30–, ISBN 978-1-935501-76-3
• Panikkar, K. M. (1930), Gulab Singh, London: Martin Hopkinson Ltd
• Ghulam Mohiuddin Dar. Kargil: Its social, culture, and economic history.
• Kargil : The Important Trade Transit of Yesteryears, 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

External links

• Official website
• Rivers of Kargil district on OpenStreetMap: Dras, Suru and Kartse, Wakha, Zanskar
• Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil
• Kargil Tehsil Map, MapsofIndia.com
• "Pakistan's Northern Areas dilemma", BBC
• Kargil War 1999, Rediff

На других языках

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[de] Kargil (Distrikt)

Der Distrikt Kargil ist ein Verwaltungsdistrikt im indischen Unionsterritorium Ladakh.

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- [en] Kargil district

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[ru] Каргил (округ)

Каргил (хинди कारगील; англ. Kargil) — округ в союзной территории Ладакх в составе Индии.

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