Tourism
- Kargil is one of the two Districts of Ladakh region and is the second largest town of Ladakh and is situated roughly at equal distance(200KM) from Srinagar, Leh , Padum Zanskar and Skardo Baltistan. Kargil has always been an important trade centre in the past. Traders from China, Central Asia and different parts of India used to trade in Tea, Wool, Carpets, Silk and precious stones in olden days and Kargil was known as a historical meeting point.
- Kargil regained its importance when the area was thrown open for Tourists in the year 1974 with other parts of Ladakh and considerable number of tourists, trekkers and mountaineers started visiting Kargil.
- The District again came in lime light during the Indo- Pak conflict in 1999 as it remained in the headlines of National and International media and some sites such as Tiger Hill, Tololing, Mushku valley and Batalik have become very popular since then.
- Besides historical importance unique landscape and number of Heritage sites, Budha Statues, Forts Palaces, ancient Rock carvings (Petroglyphs), Mosques, Monasteries, Pilgrim places , war memorials are found all over the District.
- Kargil has also been bestowed with great potential of Adventure Tourism and winter sports such as Mountaineering (as Kargil is the seat of world famous Nun-Kun peaks) Trekking, River Rafting, Snow skiing,
- Tourist Office Kargil was Established in 1975 a year after the area was thrown open for Tourists and at the initial stage emphasis was laid on developing basic infrastructures at few touristically important places of the District such as Drass, Kargil, Mulbek, Panikhar, Rangdum and Padum Zanskar and presently the Department is having Accommodation Units with Catering Facilities at almost all important Tourist Spots of the District, apart from this sufficient accommodation is also available in private hotels / guest houses / home stays .
The State Government’s Tourism Department and LAHDC Kargil and District administration is striving hard to promote tourism in the District and a number of Foreign and Domestic Tourists , trekkers & mountaineers are visiting Kargil every year.
Last Ten Years Tourist Arrival to Kargil District
| Year |
Domestic |
Foreign |
Total |
| 2008 |
13543 |
3648 |
17191 |
| 2009 |
16968 |
3179 |
20147 |
| 2010 |
25772 |
2984 |
28756 |
| 2011 |
54397 |
2692 |
57089 |
| 2012 |
57603 |
3155 |
60758 |
| 2013 |
46614 |
1634 |
48248 |
| 2014 |
47174 |
2204 |
49378 |
| 2015 |
59790 |
2393 |
62183 |
| 2016 |
62168 |
1760 |
63928 |
| 2017 |
97312 |
4612 |
1,01,924 |
| June 2018 |
40780 |
2160 |
42,940 |
EXPEDITIONS APPROVED BY THE INDIAN MOUNTAINEERING FOUNDATION FOR DIFFERENT PEAKS OF KARGIL DISTRICT.
| Year |
Expeditions |
| 2012 |
11 Teams |
| 2013 |
11 Teams |
| 2014 |
16 Teams |
| 2015 |
20 Teams |
| 2016 |
17 Teams |
| 2017 |
18 Teams |
| June, 2018 |
05 Teams |
