Kargil is in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India. It's an important transit hub of Ladakh, with roads leading from here to Leh, Srinagar, and Padum in Zangskar. The unofficial capital of Muslim Ladakh, and capital of the Kargil district, it is still a small town. While interesting in many ways due to its historic position on the caravan routes, nothing of this is visible to the casual visitor. It is notorious with travellers as a necessary stop between Central Ladakh, Zangskar and the Kashmir Valley.
It is now famous due to the Kargil Conflict, when the town and surrounding areas were shelled by Pakistan-based militants.
There is little of tourist interest in the town.
- The Jameh Mosque in the main street is open for visitors. Although it is a Shiite mosque, it lacks the ornaments found in Iranian mosques.
The Jameh Mosque in the main street is open for visitors. Although it is a Shiite mosque, it lacks the ornaments found in Iranian mosques.
The general area around Kargil has pleasant scenery and would make for nice walks.
Kargil has no souvenir shops, although you might visit one of the music shops selling locally produced folk music.
There are a plenty of decent restaurants of the Dhaba variety around the Main Bazaar. The Tibetan restaurant on the third floor of a building in the main street offers pleasant and inexpensive Tibetan dishes, such as Momo and Thugpka.
Kargil is a good place to stock up on trekking food, better than Padum for dry fruit and fresh veggies. Don't miss the dried apricots, and fragrant tandoori naan.
As a conservative Muslim town, there are no bars. Tea is available in any of the Dhabas.
Remember this is a conservative Muslim area, and it would be inappropriate for men or women to wear shorts. Women should particularly avoid tight or revealing clothes.
Also, visitors should avoid any raising a political discussions in public on issues like Hindu-Muslim riots; whether Kashmir should be a part of India, Pakistan or a separate state; or any other topic that might hurt the sentiments of either Hindus or Muslims.