Kargil

Kargil is a district in the Union Territory of Ladakh in India. It was formerly a district in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It derives its name from the town of the same name which in turn derived its name from two words Khar and Kil. Khar means castle and Kil means center thus a place between castles as the place lay between many kingdoms. In the views of many critics, the word Kargil has been derived from the words Gar and Khil. Gar in local language mean ‘Any where’ and 'Khil' means a central place where people could stay. With the passage of time Khar Kil or Gar Khil came to be known as Kargil. One historian Parvez Dewan in his contribution to the book “Kargil Blunder” reveals that a pioneer namely Kargeel cleared the forests in Poyen and Shilikchay area before the advent of Thatha Khan to dwell in the area and later the place assumed its name.

Kargil is also called the land of Agas due to the fact that Kargil is mostly inhabited by Shia Muslims and Agas are the religious head and preachers.

Kargil with a population of 1.25 lakhs is scattered over an area of 14,086 Sq. Km. It is situated between 30 to 35 degree North latitude and 75 to 77 degree East West longitude. It is surrounded by Baramullah, Srinagar and Doda Districts in the South-West, Leh District in the East, Himachal Pradesh in the South and Pakistan in the North-West. The District is divided into four high level natural Valleys namely the Suru Valley, the Drass Valley, the Indus Valley and the Upper Sindh Valley of Kanji Nallah Valley.

It is in fact a mountainous desert. The whole District is of high rocky mountains, desert arid, snow bound and devoid of natural vegetation. It occupies unique position because of its high altitude area in the country which ranges from 8000 to 23000 ft. above the sea level.

The topography of the region is mountainous with little or no vegetation. The mountains are of sedimentary rocks and are in process of disintegration due to weathering.

Kargil district comprises of Kargil town and 127 inhabited villages and 2 un-inhabited villages. The district is divided in two tehsils named Kargil and Zanskar. There are seven administrative Blocks - Kargil, Drass, Shakar-Chiktan, Sankoo, Zanskar, Taisuru and Shargole.

History

Gasho Tha Tha Khan is said to be the first renowned crusader who established a dynasty in the area. Tha Tha Khan was a scion of the royal family of Gilgit who captured Kargil in early 8th century. His dynasty ruled the Sod area of Kargil in early period and later permanently settled in Shakar Chiktan area where the dynasty is till in existence.

Kacho’s of Kargil are believed to be the off-shoots of Tha Tha Khan.

Purik Sulatan believed to be a renowned builder of Kargil who established his domain in Suru area and ruled from Karchay Khar near Sankoo. Kunchok Sherabtan of Fokar, Kalon of Mulback and many Kachos, Sultans and Maqpons of Sod, Pashkum, Wakha, Chiktan, Karchey ruled the area of Kargil and expanded their principalities to be merged with the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

In ancient time, the major part of present Kargil was named as Purik. This name has been given by the Tibetan scholars as the people living in this part of the land have the features of Tibetans. Drass is inhabited by the people of the Dard race and Zanskar has Ladakhi – Tibeto stock.

Islam came to Kargil in 15th century. Mir Shams-ud-Din Iraqi, a scholar of Shia school of central Asia visited Baltistan and Kargil with his missionaries to preach Islam. The chief of Baltistan embraced Islam first and it was later followed by the Chiefs of Kargil. Prior to Mir Shams-ud-Din Iraqi Khawaja Noorbaksh visited Kargil and done a lot of Islamic preaching. Thus Buddhism remained sequeezed in Kargil to the places like Sapi, Phokar, Mulback, Wakha Bodh-Kharboo areas a Darchik Garkon and Zanskar.

Kargil became a separate district in the Ladakh region during the year 1979 when it was bifurcated from the earstwhile Leh ditrict.

Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil was commissioned in July 2003 in the district. The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council has 30 Councilors out of which 26 Councilors are elected while the remaining 4 are nominated.

Human life

The racial stocks of Kargilis are Aryans, Dard, Tibetans and Mongoloids. People of multi- ethnic, multi-languish, multi-cultural live here. The types of people are Brogpas, Baltis, Purik, Shinas and Ladakhi. The languages spoken are Shina, Balti, Purig , Ladakhi ec. As the Balti and Shina languages are written in Urdu script, Urdu is a common language in the area.

Politics

Assembly constituencies and their areas after delimitation order of 2008
The above Order for the State of Jammu and Kashmir is as per the details given in Order No. 1 of the Delimitation Commission, Jammu and Kashmir notified in the Central and the State Gazettes on 27th April, 1995.

49 Kargil Vidhan Sabha Constituency - All PCs of tehsil Kargil except following PCs :- 16-Barsoo, 14-Lankarchay, 17-Panikhar.

50 Zanskar Vidhan Sabha Constituency - All PCs of tehsil Zanskar and following PCs of tehsil Kargil :- 16-Barsoo, 14-Lankarchary, 17-Panikhar.

Places of interes

Zanskar, Sani, Rangdum Monastery, Zongkhul, Karsha Monastery, Stongday, Phugthal Monastery, Padum, Zangla, Mulbekh Chamba and Monastery, Shargole Monastery, Phoker