Drass Tourism

Drass (3230 m), is situated about 60 kms. west of Kargil on the road to Srinagar. Drass is a small township lying in the centre of the valley of the same name. Drass is the first village after the Zoji La pass. It has become famous as the second coldest inhabited place in the world due to the intense cold and snowfall that descends upon the valley during winters. In winters, the temperature sometimes go down to minus 50 degrees and heavy snow and strong winds cut off the town.

The Drass valley starts from the base of the Zojila pass, the Himalayan gateway to Ladakh. For centuries its inhabitants are known to have negotiated this formidable pass even during the most risky period in the late autumn or early spring, when the whole sector remains snow-bound and is subject to frequent snow storms, to transport trader's merchandise across and to help stranded travellers to traverse it. By virtue of their mastery over the pass they had established a monopoly over the carrying trade during the heydays of the Pan-Asian trade. A hardly people enduring with fortitude and harshness of the valley's winter, the inhabitants of Drass can well be described as the guardian's of Ladakh's gateway. The inhabitants here are Dard and Muslims. There is a bank and tourist bungalow in Drass.

One the most popular activities which travellers can enjoy is trekking. Drass also offers soft and moderate treks; the famous trekking in Drass is Suru Valley trek. The people of drass are of Dard Descent and Indo – Aryan race believed to have originally migrated to Ladakh from central Asia. The language of Drass is Shina which is an Indo – Aryan Language. Camping and hiking are very pleasurable. Picnicking is popular in summer in Drass. Drass has extensive Willow Grove along the river. The Altitude of Drass is 3300 mtr. It also snows in Drass. Drass has other tourist attractions like Dropati Kund (a sacred pond for hindus), Bhimbath or the Bhim’s Stone, Rock Carving at Stiaqbo. There are some war sites also. The Famous Tiger Hill is also visible from Drass.