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Kargil district

Kargil
District
Kargil
Kargil
Location in Jammu and Kashmir
Location in Jammu and Kashmir
Coordinates: 34°01′N 76°24′E / 34.017°N 76.400°E / 34.017; 76.400Coordinates: 34°01′N 76°24′E / 34.017°N 76.400°E / 34.017; 76.400
Country  India
State  Jammu and Kashmir
District Kargil
Established 1 July 1979
Headquarters Kargil
Area
 • Total 14,086 km2 (5,439 sq mi)
Elevation 2,676 m (8,780 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 143,388
 • Density 10/km2 (26/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Urdu
 • Spoken Purik, Hindi/Urdu, Shina, Balti
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN Code 194103
Vehicle registration JK07
Website www.kargil.nic.in
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil
Type
Type
Leadership
Chief Executive Councillor
Structure
Seats 30 Councillors
Political groups
Indian National Congress
Political groups
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference
Elections
26 plurality voting
4 nominated
Meeting place
Kargil

Kargil is a district of Ladakh division in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Kargil lies near the Line of Control facing the Pakistan-administered region of Gilgit–Baltistan to the north, the Kashmir and Jammu divisions to the west, and the Leh district of the Ladakh division to the east. Zanskar is part of Kargil district along with Suru, Wakha and Dras valleys.

As of 2011, it is the least populous district of the 22 districts in Jammu and Kashmir. Of total population, 77% are Muslims, of which 65% follow Shia Islam. Buddhism and Hinduism represent 14.5% and 8% of the local population respectively.

The name Kargil is said to be derived from the words Khar and rKil. Khar means castle and rKil means centre thus a place between castles as the place lay between many kingdoms. The competing theory is that Kargil has been derived from the words "Gar" and "Khil". Gar in local language mean ‘Anywhere’ and Khil means a central place where people could stay. Earlier it was called Purig. A major study of the history of Purig is included in the book Qadeem Ladakh by Kacho Sikander Khan which includes genealogy of various dynasties that ruled the region.

Starting in 1590, Sen-ge-rnam-rgyal, the Gyalpo of Leh extended his control over Western Tibet. Between 1640–1675, Purig came under the control of his grandson Bde-ldan-rnam-rgyal, along with Zanskar and other parts of the modern Ladakh Division.


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