Suru Valley

Located along the north-eastern foothills of the great Himalayan Wall, Suru Valley is formed by the catchments of the Suru River, which rises from the Panzila glacier. The average elevation of the Suru valley is 3000 m, and it is relatively more fertile than other valleys of the region.

Counted as one of the prettiest areas of Ladakh, Suru Valley witnesses very harsh winters. The winter season begins around mid-November and continues till May. During this period, the valley is covered under a thick layer of snow. The lower region is nurtured by the Indus River, Drass River and several other tributaries. The valley extends from the Panzila glacier to south of Kargil town. The people of Dard and Tibetan descent inhabit Suru, and the majority are Shiites.

The local people can be seen busy with their agricultural activities as it is the only source of livelihood. A major portion of the valley is used for growing crops like wheat, barley and millets, and vegetables like turnip, radish, peas and black peas. Apart from this, fruits like grapes, apricots and melons are produced in large quantities along the lower region (near Indus river). The summer season begins in May and lasts relatively longer than other parts of Ladakh.

Sankoo, Panikhar and Parachik are quite close to the Suru Valley and well connected with Kargil. Buses are operated on a regular basis (even twice a day in summer). Cars and jeeps can also be hired from Kargil for visiting the nearby areas, including Rangdum and Panzila.