Shia Muslims of Kargil The Kargil region has a dominant population of Muslims of which the Shia community form the majority. They are believed to have migrated to Kargil from other parts of Kashmir or they may have been converted to Islam.

Dard inhabitant of Ladakh Credit: KOA

Occupations
The Shia Muslims of Kargil are primarily agriculturists. Both the land owners as well as hired help till the land. The land in Kargil is not very fertile except in some parts. Land holdings are small, though the average agricultural family owns enough land to produce food grains to meet their requirements. Those who are not able to earn enough by tilling the land supplement their income by other means such as animal husbandry. Others sources of livelihood include daily wage labor, government service, work in the tourism industry, and business -- mainly as shopkeepers, cobblers, artisans and weavers.