Drsuruchipuri at 14:03, 2 May 2026

2026-05-02T14:03:46Z

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{{Infobox settlement
| name = Drass district
| settlement_type = [[List of districts of Ladakh|District]] of [[Ladakh]]
| image_skyline = Drass and Tololing Range.jpg
| image_caption = View of Drass from High Mountains
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{Flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|}}[[Ladakh]]
| subdivision_type2 = Region
| subdivision_name2 = [[Ladakh]]
| seat_type = Headquarters
| parts_type = Administrative divisions
| leader_title = [[District magistrate (India)|District collector and magistrate]]
| leader_title1 = [[Superintendent of Police]]
}}

'''Drass district''' (called '''Gateway to Ladakh'''), with headquarter at [[Drass]]-[[Rambir Por]], is one of the [[List_of_districts_of_Ladakh#List|district]] in the [[Union Territory]] of [[Ladakh]] in [[India]].<ref name=newd1>[https://ladakh.gov.in/historic-milestone-for-ladakh-five-new-districts-notified-in-ladakh-taking-total-districts-to-seven/ Historic milestone for Ladakh: Five new districts notified in Ladakh; taking total districts to seven], 27 Apr 2026.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-08-26 |title=MHA announces five new districts in Ladakh |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mha-announces-five-new-districts-in-ladakh/articleshow/112797243.cms |access-date=2024-08-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> It is also one of the smallest districts in the country.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Gillani |first=Syed Shadab Ali |date=2024-08-26 |title=Will Ladakh's New Districts Have Autonomous Hill Councils Too, Congress Asks |url=https://kashmirlife.net/will-ladakhs-new-districts-have-autonomous-hill-councils-too-congress-asks-364550/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=Kashmir Life |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== History ==

On 27th April 2026, 5 new districts were notified in the [[government gazette]] for boosting the service delivery and infrastructure, including Drass district with 19 revenue villages which was carved out of western part of [[Kargil district]] , and Zanskar with 26 revenue villages.<ref name=newd1/> Earlier announced on 26th August 2024 as a new district was awaiting the formal notification for the creation.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Ladakh Gets 5 New Districts: Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra And Changthang |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ladakh-gets-5-new-districts-zanskar-drass-sham-nubra-and-changthang-6419637 |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> In January 2024, hundreds of people from various villages in the region took part in a peaceful protest march, demanding that Drass be recognized as a district.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 Jan 2024 |title=Residents seek district tag for Drass |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/residents-seek-district-tag-for-drass-581118/amp |access-date=26 Aug 2024 |work=Tribune India}}</ref>

The district was the key site of [[Kargil war]].

==Geography==

Dras in high-altitude [[Great Himalayas]] range at roughly 3,300 meters (10,800 feet) near the [[Zoji La]] Pass. A narrow, high-altitude valley (approx. 10,800 ft) surrounded by towering, rocky, and often barren Himalayan peaks. Dras acts as a critical link between Kashmir and Ladakh, featuring significant military presence near the India-Pakistan [[Line of Control]].

==Climate==

Dras district has harsh continental climate conditions, including temperatures dropping below -40°C in winter. The severe winters last from late autumn to spring (mid-October to mid-May) and receives significant snowfall (often over 550 mm water equivalent). [[Dras River]] flows through the region.

==Ecology==

Dras is often called the "Indian Siberia" due to its frigid, icy conditions, similar to Siberia or Alaska. Vegetation is largely confined to river valleys at lower elevations, consisting mainly of hardy grasses and shrubs, as high-altitude areas are barren and rocky.

==Administration==

'''Sub-Divisions (1):''' [[Dras]]s

'''Tehsils (1):''' [[Dras]]s

'''Blocks (2):''' [[Dras]]s and [[Bhimbat]], each block consists of a number of [[Panchayati raj in India|panchayat]]s.

'''Villages (19)''': [[Matayen]], [[Meenamarg]] (just east of Zoji La), etc.

== Tourism ==

Drass now serves as a key stopping point for travelers journeying to Leh and Kargil.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drass|url=https://kargil.nic.in/tourist-place/drass/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Road===
[[File:National Highway 1D India.JPG|thumb|[[National highways of India|National highway]] [[National Highway 1 (India)|NH 1]] connects Srinagar and Leh via Kargil]]

Dras is situated along National Highway 1 (NH-1), about 60 km west of Kargil town and 140 km from Srinagar, serving as the gateway from the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh. [[National highways of India|National highway]] [[National Highway 1 (India)|NH 1]] runs through the district and connects Srinagar to Leh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dorth.gov.in/writereaddata/linkimages/9-6774713323.pdf|title=Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways|work=[[Department of Road Transport and Highways]], [[Government of India]]|access-date=2 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816023220/http://dorth.gov.in/writereaddata/linkimages/9-6774713323.pdf|archive-date=16 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Government operated buses provide local connectivity.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/bus-service-from-kargil-to-jammu-started-by-j-k-govt/story-URDlhxMsHhLA5IytF8M3rN.html|title=Bus service from Kargil to Jammu started by J&K govt|date=4 July 2013|access-date=1 June 2025|newspaper=[[The Hindustan Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/renewables/first-batch-of-4-e-buses-flagged-off-in-kargil/articleshow/101453924.cms?from=mdr|title=First batch of e-buses rolled out in Kargil|date=3 July 2023|access-date=1 June 2025|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref><ref name="Kargil">{{cite web|url=https://kargil.nic.in/how-to-reach/|title=How to reach|work=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> The [[Skardu–Kargil Road|Kargil-Skardu road]] earlier linked Kargil to Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It has been closed since the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/moving-on-the-kargilskardu-road/29212|title=Moving on the Kargil-Skardu road|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=24 April 2007|access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipcs.org/article/india/the-kargil-skardu-route-implications-of-its-opening-3614.html|title=The Kargil-Skardu Route: Implications of its Opening by Zainab Akhter|work=IPCS|access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idsa.in/resources/parliament/PresentstatusofKargiltoSkarduRoad|title= Present status of Kargil to Skardu Road|work= Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses|date=29 March 2012|access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref>

===Air===
[[File:Kargil airport overview.jpg|thumb|View of Kargil airport from Choskore La.]]

[[Kargil Airport]] was built in 1996 for civilian operations.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Kargil Airport To Be Expanded|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=107082|work=[[Press Information Bureau]]|date= 21 July 2014|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Regulator asks SpiceJet to start flights to Kargil|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/R3AuwRTD08VXFJywxVoVvJ/Regulator-asks-SpiceJet-to-start-flights-to-Kargil.html|work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Live Mint]]|date= 27 September 2012|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> The operational control was later transferred to the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Kargil to be a major Indian Air Force base|url= http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/kargil-to-be-a-major-indian-air-force-base_734785.html |work=[[Zee News]]|date= 29 January 2018|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ministry of defence to run Kargil airport|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/75094/ministry-of-defence-to-run-kargil-airport|newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]|date= 29 December 2002|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> The air force operates seasonal flights that carry cargo and transport civilians during the winter.<ref>{{cite news|title= J&K starts air courier service for Kargil|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/packaging/jk-starts-air-courier-service-for-kargil/articleshow/2637165.cms|work=[[The Economic Times]] |date=20 December 2007|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> The nearest major airports are the [[Leh Airport]] with regular domestic flights and the [[Srinagar International Airport]].<ref name="Kargil" />

===Rail===

[[Srinagar railway station]] is the nearest railway station from the town, and has limited railway services. The nearest major railhead is the [[Jammu Tawi railway station]] located about {{cvt|440|km}} from the town.<ref name="Kargil" />

== See also ==

* [[List of districts of Ladakh]]
* [[Geography of Ladakh]]
* [[Tourism in Ladakh]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|India}}

[[Category:Minority concentrated districts in India]]
[[Category:Districts of Ladakh]]

Drass district - Revision history

Drsuruchipuri at 14:03, 2 May 2026