Dras: The Home to the World’s second coldest Inhabited Place

India is a place endowed with a plethora of fascinating and beautiful experiences that may leave visitors intrigued and in awe of the natural grandeur. Those who believe they know everything there is to know about this nation will be pleasantly surprised by the sheer quantity of facts, places, and tales that have still to be found.

From Majestic Himalayas to lush green plateaus, and crystal clear ocean waters with captivating beaches, India has to offer everything you wish as a tourist. But most foreign travelers had a common misconception regarding India’s climate as a hot & humid place whereas if you visit north India you can experience freezing cold & while making a trip to southern India you can experience a blissfully sunny day. So before planning your trip to India with last minute flights, always pack your bags according to the season & place.

Dras, located near Kargil city in Ladakh, India, is one such spot to feel the most frigid cold on the earth after Oymyakon, Russia.

Introduction to Dras, Ladakh

Dras is located 60 kilometers from Kargil on the way to Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, which was recently restructured as an Indian Union Territory. It is also known as the Ladakh Gateway for foreign travel enthusiasts coming by international flight tickets booking online. What makes this location unique is that it is located at a height of approximately 3,230m. As the world’s second coldest location, it even registered minus 60 degrees Celsius in 1995.

Dras has become green. Summer has arrived in what is undoubtedly India’s coldest inhabited region. Summer is when the 15,500 people recover their grins. They enjoy the immense pleasure of going for a walk. Children run about in the open. Farmers are driving tractors through the fields. The high mountains that surround this little village in Kashmir are still covered in snow, yet there is warmth in the air. Nobody appreciates the delights of summer quite like the residents of Drass, who are stretching their legs after being cooped up in their houses for a long, cold winter.

Dras boasts spellbinding beauty to keep you captivated and explore more of the valley’s stunning sights. Furthermore, Tiger Hill may be seen from Dras. What’s very intriguing is that this hamlet is regarded as a famous trekking base, with people from India & American NRI traveling from Minamarg to Amarnath through Zojila Pass by boarding cheap flights to India from USA.

History & Culture:

Dras was once known as Hem-Bas. Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state in India from 1846 to 1947, and Dras was part of the Kargil Tehsil of Ladakh Wazarat. Following it, the area underwent the British Era.

Pakistani Gilgit Scout attempted but failed to seize the Kargil region in 1947-48. It was brought back into the spotlight during the Kargil Conflict in 1999 when the Pakistan Army’s assault triggered a full-fledged war with India.

The Dards and Baltis inhabit Dras and live in solitary huts. The township’s population is estimated to be approximately 1,021. The town has a modest Muslim majority, with a few Buddhists thrown in for good measure. The people of Dras are well knowledgeable about the area. The Zoji La pass, which marks the entrance of the Dras Valley, is covered with snow during the fall and spring seasons. The area also experiences snow storms on a regular basis, making life even more difficult. Locals, on the other hand, have long been able to cope with the region’s harsh environment.

Places to visit in Dras:

Dras Valley has several natural splendors; some of its characteristics gained prominence and were heavily publicized during the Kargil conflict in 1999. The wartime topographies of Tololing, Tiger Hill, and Mushko Valley are popular tourist destinations for travelers all around the world, particularly Americans booking cheap flights to India from USA who love Indian culture & landscapes.

• Manman Top, 10 kilometers from Dras, with views of the Dras Valley and the LOC [Line of Control – see also LOC Kargil])
• Gomchan Valley is located 5 kilometers from Dras (a highland valley with glaciers and steam running through)
• Ningoor Masjid, Bhimbet, 7 kilometers from Dras (a mosque said to have Allah’s particular blessings). One of which was said to have spontaneously risen during construction. Muslim pilgrims visit this Masjid.)
• Tiger Hill is another name for Point 5065. It is one of the area’s tallest peaks. During the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan, the Indian Army reclaimed it.
• Amarnath Walk – The trek to the Holy Cave of Amarnath begins at Dras and lasts around four to five days, including a pass of 15,060 feet.
• The Kargil War Memorial, also known as the Dras War Memorial, is a war memorial constructed by the Indian Army in Kargil city in the Kargil region of Ladakh, India, to commemorate the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan. The memorial lies around 5 kilometers from the city center, over Tiger Hill in Kargil, on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway 1D.

How to Reach Dras:

If you are planning to make a visit by air then Shaikh ul-Alam Airport in Srinagar is the nearest airport to Dras with the best international flight tickets booking online services. Dras is around 103 kilometers from Jammu and Kashmir’s capital city. To get to Dras, travelers can take a taxi or a state-run bus from the airport. Flights link Srinagar airport with key cities around the country. Regular flights into and out of the capital city are operated by both commercial and public carriers.

Best time to visit Dras:

Drass is famed for being India’s coldest spot, with temperatures as low as -30 °C throughout the winter. Because of the high altitude, there is little rain during the monsoon. Summer is a popular time for travelers who are booking last minute flights to India to visit Drass since the roads are open and the weather is good.

Drass is best visited during the summer season, which runs from June through September. This time of year is neither too hot nor too cold; the weather is really comfortable and ideal for touring.

Experience the love, beauty & vibrancy of this beautiful gateway & hill station with the gift of Indian hospitality, mouth-watering cuisines & best staycations.