Drass Valley - Ladakh

Drass is a small town situated in the Kargil district of Jammu & Kashmir. It is often called as the gateway to Ladakh. The enchanting valley of Drass is formed by the Drass River which is 60 km short of Kargil on the Srinagar- Leh highway. Drass is reputed to be the second coldest inhabited place in the world which is situated at the height of 3230 m above the sea level. Drass offers a convenient base for a 3 day long trek to Suru Valley that passes through some of the amazing upland villages and flower sprinkled meadows on both the sides. The Drass Valley starts from the base of the Zoji La Pass, the Himalayan gateway to Ladakh and is thus described as the Guardian's of Ladakh's Gateway. The other prime attraction at Drass is Puga Valley which is famous for its hot water springs. Every year thousands of travelers come to this valley for a bath in these springs as these are known to help people suffering from rheumatism and skin disorders. The trek to the holy caves of Amarnath in neighboring Kashmir which takes 3 days involves crossing of 5,200 m high pass. Drass also offers a base for the numerous treks and hikes.

Drass is an ideal place for trekking and visitors here can enjoy various adventurous sports like Horse polo, mountaineering etc. Winters are extremely harsh with the average temperature falls below -22 0C which lasts from mid October to mid May. Summer months from June to September are the best time to visit Drass.