The Mushkoh Valley is a
valley
A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains and typically containing a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over ...
situated in
Dras. It is also known as valley of wild tulips, which are a major attraction for tourists. Located within
Kargil district in the
Indian-administered
union territory
Among the states and union territories of India, a Union Territory (UT) is a region that is directly governed by the Government of India, central government of India, as opposed to the states, which have their own State governments of India, s ...
of
Ladakh
Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory and constitutes an eastern portion of the larger Kashmir region that has been the subject of a Kashmir#Kashmir dispute, dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947 and India an ...
. Widely considered to be
glaciated and unsuitable for human habitation, it came into prominence during the
Kargil War in 1999, when
Pakistani
Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...
forces crossed the
Line of Control
The Line of Control (LoC) is a military control line between the Indian and Pakistanicontrolled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—a line which does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary, but ser ...
and took up positions in the region. The Mushkoh Valley is situated at the westernmost extremity of Ladakh, to the west of which lies the northern reaches of the
Kashmir Valley, located in the Indian-administered union territory of
Jammu and Kashmir.
Geography
The valley is nestled within Dras—the second-coldest inhabited place in the world. Dras, which is located approximately from
Srinagar
Srinagar (; ) is a city in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the tertiary ...
, is also called 'The Gateway to Ladakh'.
The Mushkoh Valley is situated at an elevation of around , and is located just eight kilometres west from the main market in Dras. It has a population settled in a highland village surrounded by the mountains and meadow on all sides. The villagers are mostly involved in farming and sheep rearing.
Transport and connectivity
The 130-kilometer road connecting the
Gurez Valley to Mushkoh Valley in
Kargil
Kargil or Kargyil is a City in Indian-administered Ladakh in the disputed Kashmir region. The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the WP:TERTIARY, tert ...
’s
Drass Sector, connected by Kaobal Gali (4,166.9 metres, between Abdullum and Batokul), the highest pass in Gurez, is now open for off-roading tourists, offering a glimpse into the historic landscape of the Kargil War. These areas, once battlegrounds, hold significant importance in the Kargil conflict.
In early 2025, high-speed public 4G/5G mobile and internet connectivity was made available by India.
[
लद्दाख में सैनिकों को ऊंचाई वाली चौकियों पर मिली 4जी/5जी कनेक्टिविटी, सियाचिन ग्लेशियर तक सिग्नल]
navbharattimes, 19 Apr 2025.
See also
*
Geography of Ladakh
*
Tourism in Ladakh
*
Transport in Ladakh
References
Kargil War
Valleys of Ladakh
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