Ladakh himalayas General Info · Villages · Valleys and plateaus · Dras Valley · Dras Suru Valley · Kargil · Nubra Valley · People · Siser La · Tulimpati La · Shyok Valley · Murgo · Burtsa · Daulat beg Oldi · Digar La · Karakoram Pass · Khardong La · Indus Valley · Chanthang Plateau · Rupshu · Salt Lake Valley · Puga Valley · Lakes · Passes · Glaciers · Rivers · People · Religion · Fairs and festivals · Other places of interest | |||||
The general topography is as rugged and mountainous as most ofLadakh. However, the Suru Valley is relatively more fertile. Itextends from the Panzella glacier to south of Kargil town,where the Suru River merges with the Botkul River rising fromthe Botkul glacier.
As the snow melts, the water becomes muddy, often attaining adarkish hue which is quite a contrast with its normal bluish-green shade. The color becomes normal in early September whenthe melting of the snow in the uplands slows down considerably.The summer season begins in May and it becomes warm fairlyquickly. Vegetation growth picks up rapidly. The summer seasonlasts relatively longer than in other parts of Ladakh. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the people ofthis valley. In many parts of the Suru Valley, two crops can beharvested each year whereas in many parts of Ladakh raisingeven one crop a year may not always be possible when summerstarts late or there is early snowfall. The main crops raised by the people of Suru Valley are wheat,barley and millets. Improved varieties of wheat have recentlybeen introduced. This has helped to increase the production ofcereals. Some of the vegetables grown here are turnip, radish,peas and black peas. Grapes, apricots and melons are producedin fairly large quantities at Darchik and Garkoon along thelower course of the Indus through Ladakh. These find a readymarket in Kargil. Liquor is made from grapes. The summer season begins to end in mid-September as the sun'swarmth decreases. The autumn season is short and the hours ofsunlight become shorter. As the sun goes down below thesurrounding high hills, it seems as if mid-afternoon has turnedinto dusk. Winter is severe and snowfall is frequent. Thetemperatures quickly drop down to below freezing point.
Kargil | |||||
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