In summer the tracts around Dras present a pleasant pastoral sight, offering a complete contrast to the savage face worn by it during the winter months. The cold season is very harsh and the mercury may drop to 40 C below freezing point. There is very heavy snowfall in winter and snow often accumulates as high as the roofs of small huts, thereby cutting off communication between them.

The fields around Dras are cultivated for both cereals and cash crops. Dras has a number of monasteries and a small bazar. It is connected to other parts of Ladakh by road.

Zojila Pass (3465m above sea level)
This is a famous pass over the main Himalayan range on the Srinagar-Leh highway. As a matter of fact, this pass has often been termed as the gateway to Ladakh. On one side of this pass is the Kashmir valley, while on the other side it leads to the Dras valley of Ladakh. There is a panoramic view of snow clad peaks from the top of this pass.

The Zoji La pass is closed due to heavy snowfall at the beginning of the cold season. It is opened in late spring. It is one of the most dangerous passes in the Himalayas. After being closed by snow for half the year and being impassable in winter, ten meters of snow (33 ft) have to be cleared each year entirely by human effort to allow traffic to pass.

Puga Valley
The Puga Valley is famous for its hot water springs. Hundreds of visitors go to this valley for a bath in these springs as this is known to help people suffering from rheumatism and skin diseases.