THE SURU VALLEY

Location: West Of Leh, Ladakh Region, J&K
Altitude: 3,000m
Main Occupation Of The Region: Agriculture
Main Settlement: Kargil

J&K Guide

The Suru Valley is formed by the catchment are of the SuruRiver, which rises from the Panzella glacier. On its way to the confluence with the Indus River at Nurla, it is joined by numerous tributaries, including the Dras (also spelt as Drass) River, which flows into the Suru River at Kharul.

The general topography is as rugged and mountainous as most of Ladakh . However, the Suru Valley is relatively more fertile. It extends from the Panzella glacier to south of Kargil town, where the Suru River merges with the Botkul River rising from the Botkul glacier.

A Rough Weather
The average elevation of the Suru valley is 3,000 m. Winters are very severe and heavy and frequent snowfalls occur, though the Suru Valley does not become as inhospitable as the Drass Valley. The cold season begins around mid-November and usually continues till May. During this period, most of the valley is covered with a thick layer of snow.

As the snow melts, the water becomes muddy, often attaining a darkish hue, which is quite a contrast with its normal bluish-green shade. The color becomes normal in early September when the melting of the snow in the uplands slows down considerably. The summer season begins in May and it becomes warm fairly quickly. Vegetation growth picks up rapidly. The summer season lasts relatively longer than in other parts of Ladakh .

Occupation
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the people of this valley. In many parts of the Suru Valley, two crops can be harvested each year whereas in many parts of Ladakh raising even one crop a year may not always be possible when summer starts late or there is early snowfall.

The main crops raised by the people of Suru Valley are wheat, barley and millets. Improved varieties of wheat have recently been introduced. This has helped to increase the production of cereals. Some of the vegetables grown here are turnip, radish, peas and black peas. Grapes, apricots and melons are produced in fairly large quantities at Darchik and Garkoon along thelower course of the Indus through Ladakh. These find a readymarket in Kargil. Liquor is made from grapes.

Seasons In The Sun
The summer season begins to end in mid-September as the sun's warmth decreases. The autumn season is short and the hours of sunlight become shorter. As the sun goes down below the surrounding high hills, it seems as if mid-afternoon has turned into dusk. Winter is severe and snowfall is frequent. The temperatures quickly drop down to below freezing point.

The people living in the Suru Valley are the Baltis. They are a mixture of the Dards from Dardistan and the Mongoloids from Tibet.

Kargil
Kargil is the most important town in the Suru Valley. It is the headquarters of Kargil District and has the most modern amenities, although not of the level of those found in the plains of India.

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