AsliKhan99 at 18:28, 10 June 2025

2025-06-10T18:28:03Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kargyak
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name = Kargiakh
| nickname =
| settlement_type = village
| image_skyline = Kargyak South Lungnak Zanskar India Oct22 A7C 03612-13 Pano.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Kargyak from the south
| pushpin_map = India Ladakh
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|33.0636558|N|77.2268041|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Ladakh]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 1.764
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 4,120
| population_total = 429
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 =
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| registration_plate =
| website = https://kargil.nic.in/
| footnotes =
}}

'''Kargyak ''' (also '''Kargiakh''', '''Kurgiakh''') is a small village in the Lungnak valley in [[Zanskar|Zanskar tehsil]], [[Kargil district]], [[Ladakh]], [[India]]. The village is situated on the right bank of the Kargiakh Chu (river) about {{Convert|77|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of [[Padum]] on the [[Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road#Padum_to_Shingo_La_pass|Padum-Darcha highway (NPD road)]]. The economy is largely agrarian and the main religion is Buddhism.

==Description==
Kargyak (elevation {{cvt|4,120|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2024 |title=Node: Kargyak |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/11758878940 |access-date=7 September 2024 |website=[[OpenStreetMap]]}}</ref>) is a small village in the Lungnak valley on the right bank of the Kargiakh Chu (river). It is located at a distance of {{Convert|77|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Padum on the Padum-Darcha road.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 July 2024 |title=Padum - Kargyak route |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=fossgis_osrm_car&route=33.4691%2C76.8782%3B33.0636%2C77.2267#map=10/33.2668/77.0533&layers=C |access-date=7 September 2024 |website=[[OpenStreetMap]]}}</ref> The distance from [[Darcha]] in [[Lahaul]] is {{Convert|63.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}, the road climbing over the {{Convert|5,091|m|ft|abbr=on}} [[Shinko La]] pass. Kargyak village has an area of {{Convert|176.40|ha|acre}}.<ref name="CensusKargilB" />{{rp|page=80}}

== Demographics ==
[[File:House Kargyak Lungnak Zanskar Oct22 A7C 04595.jpg|left|thumb|Traditional house]]
[[File:Chortens Kargyak Zanskar Oct22 A7C 03616.jpg|left|thumb|Buddhist chortens near Kargyak]]
As per the 2011 Census, Kargyak had 74 households with a population of 429. Females comprised 49.4% of the population. The literacy rate was 40.6%. 98.8% of the population belonged to [[scheduled tribes]].<ref name="CensusKargilB">{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=District Census Handbook: Kargil, Jammu & Kashmir -- Village and Town Wise Primary Census Abstract (PCA)|publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India|year=2011|isbn=|series=3 Part XII B|location=}}</ref>{{rp|pages=80-81}} The pre-dominant religion is Buddhism.<ref name="CensusKargilA" />{{rp|page=48}}

== Governance ==
Kargyak village comes under the '''[[Testa, Zanskar#Governance|Testa Gram Panchayat]]''' [[Panchayati raj in India|local self-government]] body.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Government Directory: LGD - Panchayat - Kargil - Jul24.xls |url=https://lgdirectory.gov.in |access-date=30 August 2024 |website=[[Ministry of Panchayati Raj]]}}</ref>

==Amenities==
Kargyak has a pre-primary and primary school. There is mobile phone service and electricity supply. Piped water supply is provided from springs through canals.<ref name="CensusKargilA">{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=District Census Handbook: Kargil, Jammu & Kashmir -- Village and Town Directory|publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India|year=2011|isbn=|series=2 Part XII A|location=}}</ref>{{rp|pages=147,148,151}}

==Fauna and flora==
W.N. Koelz trekked through Kargyak in July 1933. He found herds of yak and a few horses. He reported that there were few birds. He sighted many [[Horned lark|horned larks]] and Tibetan pigeons. Other birds included [[Snow pigeon|snow pigeons]], [[Bearded vulture|lammergeiers]], red-capped [[Common linnet|linnets]] and black and white [[Finch|finches]]. Wild flowers included [[geranium]], [[Columbine (plant)|columbine]], [[Ranunculus|buttercup]], two species of [[pedicularis]] among others.<ref name="Koelz33"/>{{rp|page=83}}

==Economy==
[[File:Kargyak.jpg|thumb|Fields ready for harvest in September]]
The economy is largely agrarian. On a trek in July 1933, W.N. Koelz reported that [[barley]] was being cultivated. He found the valley was green with rich plant growth due to several springs and streams.<ref name="Koelz33">{{Cite book |last=Sinopoli |first=C.M. |title=The Himalayan Journey of Walter N. Koelz: The University of Michigan Himalayan Expedition, 1932–1934 |publisher=[[List_of_museums_and_collections_at_the_University_of_Michigan#Museum_of_Anthropology|Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan]] |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-915703-80-7 |location=Ann Arbor, Michigan}}</ref>{{rp|page=83}} With low annual precipitation, irrigation through channels from streams fed by snow-melt is used.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2024 |title=Kargil - Ladakh: The climate and soil condition of the district |url=https://kargil.nic.in/about-district/ |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=LAHDCK – Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil}}</ref> In 2011, 35.8% of the cultivated land was irrigated.<ref name="CensusKargilA" />{{rp|page=152}}

==Transport==
The village is served by public/private buses.<ref name="CensusKargilA"/>{{rp|page=149}}

== Tourism ==
[[File:Gonbo Rangjon North View Road Zanskar Oct22 A7C 03604.jpg|thumb|NPD road from Kargyak towards Gumbok Rangan]]
Kargyak is a popular way point on the Darcha - Padum trekking route as it is the first village in Zanskar after crossing Shinko La.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} The spectacular [[Gumbok Rangan]] peak is located {{Convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Kargyak. Several tent campsites cater to trekkers, bikers and motorists.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

==See also==
* [[Gumbok Rangan]]

==References==
{{Commons category|Kargyak}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Villages in Zanskar tehsil]]

Kargyak - Revision history

AsliKhan99 at 18:28, 10 June 2025