KARGIL
Kargil, located 8,780 feet above the sea level is the second largest town of Ladakh after Leh, situated on the banks of Indus (Suru) river. This town has a population of around 10,657 where most of them are a mix of Dard and Tibetan descent. A major chunk of the population is the follower of Buddhism. It is a transit hub with roads leading to Leh, Padum (Zanskar) and Srinagar. There had been an armed conflict between Indian and Pakistani armies in July 2009, which was known as Kargil war. There a number of monasteries here which even play host to several annual festivals.

Location
Spanned across 15,000 kilometers of area, Kargil is situated on the banks of the Indus river. It is located 60 kilometers from Drass and 204 kilometers from Srinagar respectively.It can be reached through 4 wheel drive vehicles and through regular bus services from Srinagar to Leh.

Best Time to Visit
The summer season between May to July is the best time to visit Kargil as the temperature is cool with frigid nights.

Drass
Valley also acts as the base for many long treks including Suru Valley and Amarnath Cave. A paradise for hikers, the quaint town also favors some of the shorter hikes and treks to the upland villages. Ardent hikers and trekkers can satiate their quest in just no time.
Positioned on the foot of ‘Zoji La’, the destination spellbinds with scenic beauty. The town has something for every kind of traveler and people of Drass are realy amicable. Holidaymakers throng the town for adventure, serenity, wildlife hunt and spiritual enlightenment.
Dras War Memorial – The memorial commemorates the officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1999 war between Indian Army and Pakistani troops.

LAMAYURU
Located in the western region of Ladakh, amidst mountain backed badlands, is one of the most popular villages and an ideal stopover between the Kargil-Leh route. It is situated around 127 kilometers from the town of Leh. Tourists who visit Ladakh halts in Lamayuru as a rule to visit Lamayuru monastery in this region. Dating back to the 11th century, Lamayuru monastery was founded by Mahasiddhacharya Naropa and belongs to Red-Hat sect of Buddhism.

Location
In order to reach Lamayuru, one has to travel 107 kilometers west from Leh. Either you can take a short bypass from the nearby Srinagar-Leh road or set off on a trail to the Prikiti-La pass- the gateway to Zanskar.

Best Time to Visit
June to September is the best time to visit Lamayuru as the roads are clear and bereft of snow.

History
The history of Lamayuru monastery dates back to the 10th century, when the Indian scholar Mahasiddhacharya Naropa caused a lake to dry up, which fed up the entire valley, and laid the foundation stone of Lamayuru monastery. There is an oldest surviving temple in Lamayuru called Seng-ge-sgang, located at the southern end of the monastery.

Tourist Attractions of Lamayuru
Besides the monastery itself, Lamayuru is quite well known for Yuru Kabgyat. It is a two-day festival and one of the biggest in Ladakh's cultural calendar. During the festival, masked dancers perform the essential teachings of Tibetan Buddhism through traditional dance performances. The prime attraction of these dance dramas includes the demolition of a statue suggesting the enemy inside every individual. The natives of the village turn up in ethnic garments and make the festival more and more colorful.

How to Reach
Lamayuru is located 107 kilometers west of Leh, which is quite far. There is a regular bus service from Leh and Kargil, which departs at 10 am in the morning and 12 pm in the afternoon.