Drass

Drass (often spelled Dras), in Kargil district of Ladakh, has a history deeply linked to mountain passes, trade, and war. Located just beyond Zoji La Pass on the old Srinagar–Leh route, it has long served as a halt and staging point for caravans, soldiers, and pilgrims moving between the Kashmir Valley and the high plateau of Ladakh. For centuries, hardy local communities survived here through a mix of small-scale farming, livestock rearing, and providing shelter, porters, and supplies to travellers braving snow, landslides, and extreme cold.

Under the Dogra rulers of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir in the 19th century, Drass gained importance as a frontier outpost guarding the crucial pass and monitoring movement along this strategic corridor. After Independence, when this road became the only land link between Ladakh and the rest of India for much of the year, Drass remained central to logistics and defence.

In 1999, Drass entered modern Indian history during the Kargil War, when nearby peaks like Tololing and Tiger Hill saw fierce fighting between Indian and Pakistani forces. The Kargil War Memorial near Drass now commemorates those battles. Today, the town’s identity combines its old role as a tough high-altitude transit camp with its newer image as a place of remembrance, extreme climate, and stark Himalayan beauty.