INTRODUCTION

Kargil, the western part of Ladakh, is one of the coldest inhabited places on the globe. Earlier it was part of Jammu and Kashmir state and currtly it is second largest district of the Union Territory of Ladakh.It lies in the northeast of Kashmir at an altitude of 9,000 feet, with a population of approximately 2.50 lakh. Despite its rich cultural heritage, the region remains underdeveloped, primarily due to poor accessibility. The Srinagar-Kargil highway, the only means of connectivity with the rest of the world, remains cut off for six months during winter due to heavy snowfall.