DRAS - The Gateway Town To LADAKH

If you think that the most beautiful places on this earth are Switzerland, Alaska, New Zealand, Russia, etc then you might have never visited DRAS. A valley situated in Jammu & Kashmir at an altitude of 3300m approx.

It is a famous place now, all credit to the Kargil War in 1999 between Indian Armed Forces and the Pakistan Army. The fight to win back the Indian Tiger Hill Post at Drass. When you plan a trip to Drass valley: LEH via Srinagar, on the way 142 km's from Srinagar you encounter the small this tiny town of Drass. A Natures paradise, I must say.

Small water streams are what you pass through as you are approaching this town from Srinagar. After Sonmarg, Dras is the next highlight station on the way to Leh. River flowing by your side, short bridges made by the Indian Army are some passing by rare experience you will encounter. Breath taking Mountain terrains and Views, extraordinary and most pleasant climate and if it’s June-July then greenery all around.

Dras has also become famous as the second largest coldest inhabited place in the world, with temperatures falling down to -40 degrees. It's is an ideal place for a 3-day good long trek to the enchanting Suru Valley. Flower sprinkled meadows and dripping rains are a highlight of this trek. Zojila pass is the base of Dras Valley, people who trek pass through this Zojila pass, also known as the gateway to Ladhak. A trek to Holy Amaranth also takes about three days from here, it lies at an altitude of 5200m.

After the Famous Kargil War, just a few km's away, there was setup a War Memorial in the memory of the soldiers who laid down their lives in the defense of our country. There is a museum that is dedicated to the late Captain Saurabh Singh Kalia. Capt Kalia was a prisoner of War by Pakistani Soldiers in 1999. The main highlight of the War Memorial is the Sandstone wall, that has names of all the brave soldiers who laid down their lives for the love of their country and patriotism.

HOTELS:

Drass is very affordable since it’s advisable that while you are on your way to Leh from Srinagar, the midpoint to take an overnight nap is Drass. We did that break while we visited Leh in 2011. The most affordable is the Jammu & Kasmir’s Tourism house located right in the small market of this town. It's Rs.100 to Rs.300. per night there. You can get home like cooked food at this Guest House.

Hotels are easily available from 200 to 1000 Rs. The markets are good for basic shopping, necessities and nick knack. Adventurous people like to do fire on hill tops and cook their own meals when they are groups.

HOW TO REACH: Srinagar to Drass Distance is 145kms approx. It takes approximately 3hrs if there are no jams. From Dras to Kargil is 65 km approx.

BEST TIME TO GO: April ends to June Via Jammu Srinagar.

ATTRACTIONS:

THE KARGIL WAR MEMORIAL

LOCAL MOSQUE

DRAUPADI KUND: 18KMS FROM DRAS.

TIGER HILL

SANDO TOP: IS A POINT FROM WHERE YOU CAN VIEW INDIAN ARMY AND PAKISTAN ARMY POSTS

DRAS LOCAL MARKET

J&K Tourism Guest house.

Population: 1500 approx.

Language: Urdu, Hindi

Local Drink: Kashmiri Kava

“Dras is blessed with a stupendous scenic beauty which can captivate heart and soul of every traveler in just a few minutes”.