Kargil

2021-07-05T02:41:01Z

47.15.4.123: /* Religion */

{{Short description|Town in Ladakh, India}}
{{About|the municipality in Ladakh, India|its namesake district|Kargil district|the film|Kargil (film)}}
{{Distinguish|Cargill}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kargil
| official_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Kargil_Town_Panorama.jpg
| image_caption = Kargil
| nickname =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Ladakh#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|34|33|N|76|08|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|Union Territory]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of Ladakh|District]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[List of tehsils in India|Tehsil]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Ladakh Government Banner.png}} [[Ladakh]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kargil district|Kargil]]
| subdivision_name3 = Kargil
| established_title = 
| established_date = 1 July 1979
| government_type = [[Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil]]
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 = 2.14
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 2676
| population_total = 16,338
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes = <ref name=census/>
| population_density_km2 =
| demographics_type1 = Others
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [Indian Standard Time|<nowiki>IST]]</nowiki>
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 194103
| registration_plate = LA 02
| website = {{URL|https://kargil.nic.in/}}
| blank1_name_sec2 = {{nowrap|[[Official languages]]}}
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[Purgi language|Purgi]], [[Ladakhi language|Ladakhi]], [[Urdu]], [[English language|English]]<ref name=langoff50>{{cite web|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 50th report (July 2012 to June 2013) |publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |page=49 |access-date=14 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date= 8 July 2016 }}</ref>
| blank2_name_sec2 = Other spoken
| blank2_info_sec2 = [[Shina language|Shina]], [[Balti language|Balti]]
}}

'''Kargil''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɑr|ɡ|ɪ|l}} is a [[City]] in [[Kargil district]] and the joint capital of the union territory of [[Ladakh]].<ref>[https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/ladakh-to-have-headquarters-both-at-leh-and-kargil/ Ladakh to have headquarters both at Leh and Kargil], Greater Kashmir, 16 February 2019.</ref> Kargil is the second largest town in [[Ladakh]] after [[Leh]].<ref>Osada et al (2000), p. 298.</ref> It is located 204 km to the east of [[Srinagar]] and 234 km west of [[Leh]] to the east. Kargil is the centre of the [[Suru River (Indus)|Suru River]] valley, historically known as [[Purig]].

==Etymology==
The name ''Kargil'' is said{{by whom|date=March 2021}} to derive from the words ''Khar'', meaning castle, and ''rKil''{{which lang|date=March 2021}} meaning "centre". "Kargil denotes a place between many forts, a central place where people could stay". It appears to be a fitting description for a place that is equidistant from [[Srinagar]], [[Leh]] and [[Skardu]] {{sfnp|Radhika Gupta, Allegiance and Alienation|2013|p=49}}

Historically, the region around Kargil was called Purig.{{sfn|Grist, Urbanisation in Kargil|2008|p=80}} A major study of the history of Purig is included in the 1987 book ''Qadeem Ladakh'' by [[Kacho Sikander Khan]], which includes genealogies of various dynasties that ruled the region.<ref name="Kalla1997">{{cite book |last=Kalla |first=Krishan Lal |title=Kashmir Panorama |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G3JuAAAAMAAJ |year=1997 |publisher=Raj Publications |isbn=978-81-86208-07-6}}</ref>

==History==
Kargil is the main town in the historical region of [[Purig]], which consists of the [[Suru River (Indus)|Suru]] river basin. It was not the historical capital of the region. Earlier, Purig consisted of a number of small but independent kingdoms, which included Pashkum, Chiktan, Fokar, Soth and the [[Suru Valley|Suru]] Valley. These tiny principalities would often fight among themselves over petty issues. Gasho “Thatha Khan”, an exiled prince in the AD 9th century, is perhaps the first ruler who brought together all the territories under a united administration.
Another sultan of Purig extended his kingdom to include [[Zanskar]], Sot, Barsoo, Sankoo pretty much the territory of the present [[Kargil district]]. He is referred to as “The Purig Sultan”. His capital was based at Karpokhar in the Suru Valley. The other famous kings of Kargil were Boti Khan, Abdal Khan, Amrood Choo, Tsering Malik, Kunchok Sherab Stan and Thi Sultan.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

It is said that it was the period of [[Ali Sher Khan Anchan]], the famous ruler of [[Skardu]], in the late 16th and early 17th centuries which had a great influence on the area. This prince from [[Baltistan]] conquered most of the principalities of Purig and introduced Balti culture in the Kargil district. Subsequently, it was the Dogras who united Baltistan, Purig, Zanskar and present-day [[Leh district]] in the first half of the 19th century under a single administrative unit, which lasted until 1947 when a new line of control was demarcated between India and Pakistan separating Skardu and Kargil.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ismail Khan |title=A peaceful Kargil |url=http://archives.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/050904/dmag6.htm |newspaper=Dawn |date=4 September 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013140325/http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/050904/dmag6.htm |archive-date=13 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=Scholarly source needed for history|date=November 2016}}

[[File:Kargil.map.gif|thumb|right|Location of Kargil with respect to the [[Line of Control]]]]
[[File:Kargil war.jpg|thumb|left|Indian soldiers after winning a battle during the [[Kargil War]]]]
Before the [[Partition of India]] in 1947, Kargil was part of the ''wazarat'' (district) of [[Ladakh]], a sparsely populated region with diverse linguistic, ethnic and religious groups, living in isolated valleys separated by some of the world's highest mountains. The Ladakh ''wazarat'' had three ''tehsils'' (sub-districts), named after the cities of their headquarters: [[Leh district|Leh]], [[Baltistan|Skardu]] and [[Kargil district|Kargil]]. The district headquarters shifted between the three locations each year.{{sfn|Aggarwal, Beyond Lines of Control|2004|p=35}}

The [[First Kashmir War]] (1947–48) concluded with a ceasefire line that divided the Ladakh ''wazarat'', putting roughly the Kargil and Leh ''tehsils'' on the Indian side, and the Skardu ''tehsil'' on the Pakistan side. The two Indian ''tehsils'' were soon promoted to districts and Ladakh was named a Division, on par with the [[Jammu Division|Jammu]] and [[Kashmir Division|Kashmir]] Divisions in the Indian state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. Pakistan renamed the Skardu ''tehsil'' [[Baltistan]] and divided it into further districts.

At the end of [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], the two nations signed the [[Simla Agreement]], converting the former ceasefire line with some adjustments into a [[Line of Control]], and promising not to engage in armed conflict with respect to that boundary.<ref>{{cite book | first=Pervaiz Iqbal |last=Cheema | title=The Armed Forces of Pakistan | publisher=Allen & Unwin | year=2003 |isbn=1-86508-119-1}} Pg 4</ref>

In 1999 the area saw infiltration by Pakistani forces, leading to the [[Kargil War]]. Fighting occurred along a 160 km long stretch of [[ridge]]s overlooking the only road linking Srinagar and Leh.<ref name = "Globalsecurity">{{cite web| url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/kargil-99.htm|title=1999 Kargil Conflict|work=GlobalSecurity.org| access-date=2009-05-20}}</ref> The military outposts on the ridges above the highway were generally around 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) high, with a few as high as 5,485 metres (18,000 ft). After several months of fighting and diplomatic activity, the Pakistani forces were forced to withdraw to their side of the Line of Control by their Prime minister Nawaz Sharif after his visit to the USA.<ref name="Summary">{{cite web|url=http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/research/kargil/war_in_kargil.pdf |format=PDF |title=War in Kargil - The CCC's summary on the war |access-date=2009-05-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327120658/http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/research/kargil/war_in_kargil.pdf |archive-date=27 March 2009 }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Suru River.jpg|thumb|left|Suru river near Kargil]]
[[File:KargilWarMemorial2.JPG|thumb|Kargil War Memorial]]
Kargil has an average elevation of 2,676  metres (8,780 feet), and is situated along the banks of the [[Suru River (Indus)]].
The town of Kargil is located {{convert|205|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Srinagar]],<ref>[http://kargil.nic.in/profile/profile.htm Profile of Kargil District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518031923/http://kargil.nic.in/profile/profile.htm |date=18 May 2009 }} Official website of Kargil District</ref> facing the [[Northern Areas]] across the [[Line of Control|LOC]]. Like other areas in the [[Himalayas]], Kargil has a temperate climate. Summers are hot with cool nights, while winters are long and chilly with temperatures often dropping below −20 °C (−4 °F).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://kargil.nic.in/profile/climate.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410042319/http://kargil.nic.in/profile/climate.htm | archive-date=10 April 2009|title=Climate & Soil conditions|work=Official website of Kargil District| access-date=2009-05-20}}</ref>

==Demographics==
During the 2011 census, the population of Kargil town was recorded at 16,338. A majority of the population (11,496) is classified as [[Scheduled Tribes]]. The literacy rate is 75%.<ref name=census>[https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s341ae36ecb9b3eee609d05b90c14222fb/uploads/2018/09/2018091067.pdf District Census Handbook: Kargil], Directorate of Census Operations, 2011, pp. 22–23</ref>

===Religion===
Islam is the largest religion in Kargil City, followed by over 77% of people. Hinduism is the second-largest religion with 19.21% adherents. Buddhism and Sikhism form 0.54% and 2.2% of the population respectively.<ref name="Kargil Population">{{cite web|url=https://www.censusindia2011.com/jammu-kashmir/kargil/kargil/kargil-mc-population.html|title=Kargil City Population|work=Census India|access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref>

{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Kargil City (2011)<ref name="Kargil Population"/>
|label1 = [[Islam]]
|value1 = 77.56
|color1 = Green
|label2 = [[Hinduism]]
|value2 = 19.21
|color2 = Orange
|label3 = [[Sikhism]]
|value3 = 2.20
|color3 = Yellow
|label4 = [[Christianity]]
|value4 = 0.39
|color4 = Blue
|label5 = [[Buddhism]]
|value5 = 0.54
|color5 = Gold
|label6 = [[Jainism]]
|value6 = 0.01
|color6 = Maroon
|label7 = Others
|value7 = 0.01
|color7 = Grey
|label8 = Not Stated
|value8 = 0.09
|color8 = Black
}}

==Media and communications==
[[All India Radio]]'s channel ''AIR Kargil AM 684'' is broadcast from a radio station at Kargil town.<ref>{{cite web | title=How one Ladakhi Woman Kept Kargil's AIR Station Running, Despite Enemy Shelling! | website=The Better India | date=2020-07-26 | url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/233771/ladakh-kargil-diwas-hero-all-india-radio-tsering-angmo-shunu-bravery-india-nor41/ | access-date=2020-10-07}}</ref>

==Transport==
===Air===
[[Kargil Airport]] is a non-operational airport located 8 kilometres from the town. The airport is included in [[UDAN]] scheme and is proposed to be operational in the near future. The nearest operational airport is the Srinagar International Airport.

===Rail===
There is no rail-connectivity to Kargil yet. The Srinagar-Kargil-Leh railway line is proposed which will connect Srinagar and Leh via Kargil. The nearest major railway station to Kargil is [[Jammu Tawi railway station]] located at a distance of 472 kilometres.

===Road===
An Indian [[Indian highways|national highway]] ([[National Highway 1 (India)|NH 1]]) connecting Srinagar to [[Leh]] cuts through Kargil.

==Kargil-Skardu Road==
A famous all-weather road, the [[Skardu–Kargil Road|Kargil-Skardu road]] linked Kargil with [[Skardu]], a city in Gilgit-Baltistan. Since the 1948 Kashmir War, the road has been closed. Whilst the Indian Government has been interested in opening the road as a humanitarian gesture, this has been refused by the Pakistani Government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/moving-on-the-kargilskardu-road/29212 |title=Moving on the Kargil-Skardu road |publisher=Indian Express |date=2007-04-24 |access-date=2013-04-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipcs.org/article/india/the-kargil-skardu-route-implications-of-its-opening-3614.html |title=The Kargil-Skardu Route: Implications of its Opening by Zainab Akhter |publisher=Ipcs.org |access-date=2013-04-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idsa.in/resources/parliament/PresentstatusofKargiltoSkarduRoad |title=Q. 368 Present status of Kargil to Skardu Road | Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses |publisher=Idsa.in |date=2012-03-29 |access-date=2013-04-22}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Kargil War]]
* [[Ladakh]]
* [[Leh]]
* [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)]]
* [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)]]
* [[1988 Gilgit massacre]]

{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{citation |last=Aggarwal |first=Ravina |title=Beyond Lines of Control: Performance and Politics on the Disputed Borders of Ladakh, India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2k3mgWCitj0C |year=2004 |publisher=Duke University Press |ISBN=0-8223-3414-3 |ref={{sfnref|Aggarwal, Beyond Lines of Control|2004}}}}
* {{cite book |first=Radhika |last=Gupta |chapter=Allegiance and Alienation: Border Dynamics in Kargil |editor=David N. Gellner |title=Borderland Lives in Northern South Asia |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I5raAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA47 |year=2013 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-7730-6 |pages=47–71 |ref={{sfnref|Radhika Gupta, Allegiance and Alienation|2013}}}}
* {{citation |last=Huttenback |first=Robert A. |title=Gulab Singh and the Creation of the Dogra State of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=20 |number=4 |year=1961 |pp=477–488 |DOI=10.2307/2049956 |url=https://pahar.in/mountains/Books%20and%20Articles/Indian%20Subcontinent/1961%20Gulab%20Singh%20and%20Creation%20of%20Dogra%20State%20of%20Jammu%20Kashmir%20and%20Ladakh%20by%20Huttenback%20from%20J%20Asian%20Studies%20v20%20s.pdf |ref={{sfnref|Huttenback, Gulab Singh and the Creation of the Dogra State|1961}}}}
* {{citation |last=Karim |first=Maj Gen Afsir |title=Kashmir The Troubled Frontiers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lf2jAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT30 |date=2013 |publisher=Lancer Publishers LLC |ISBN=978-1-935501-76-3 |pages=30– |ref={{sfnref|Karim, Kashmir The Troubled Frontiers|2013}}}}
* {{citation |title=Gulab Singh |first=K. M. |last=Panikkar |author-link=K. M. Panikkar |publisher=Martin Hopkinson Ltd |year=1930 |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/gulabsingh179218031570mbp |ref={{sfnref|Panikkar, Gulab Singh|1930}}}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2006/10/21/ed.htm#4 |first=Javed |last=Hussain |title=Kargil: what might have happened |work=Dawn |date=2006-10-21 |access-date=2009-05-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202060619/http://www.dawn.com/2006/10/21/ed.htm |archive-date=2 December 2008}}
* {{citation |author1=Yukiyasu Osada |author2=Gavin Allwright |author3=Atsushi Kanamaru |year=2000 |title=Mapping the Tibetan World |publication-date=2004 |publisher=Kotan Publishing |location=Tokyo |ISBN=0-9701716-0-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780970171603 }}
* {{citation|author=Paul Beersmans |title=Jammu and Kashmir State 1998 |publisher=Belgian Association for Solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir |date=13 June 1998 |url=http://www.basjak.org/JKS1998.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006202146/http://www.basjak.org/JKS1998.htm |archive-date= 6 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Kargil}}
* [https://kargil.nic.in/ Kargil Kargil Official Website]

{{Ladakh}}
{{Kargil district}}
{{Municipalities of Ladakh}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kargil| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Kargil district]]
[[Category:Hill stations in Ladakh]]
[[Category:Ladakh]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Ladakh]]
[[Category:Indian union territory capitals]]
[[Category:Geography of Ladakh]]

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