[7] The Ladakh Chronicles spell the name of Kargil as Wylie: dkar skyil, THL: kar kyil.

The Kargil basin does give the feel of an expanse surrounded by low-pitched mountains, with the low Khurbathang plateau at the southeastern corner.

[13] Radhika Gupta has opined that it is a fitting description for a place that is equidistant from Srinagar, Leh and Skardu.

Scholar Janet Rizvi states that the Indus Valley between Marol and Dah is a narrow gorge and was not easily traversable in the pre-modern period.

So the normal trade route between Baltistan and Leh also ran via Kargil, using the Suru valley and Wakha Rong.

Peak 13620 overlooking Kargil town and the Srinagar–Leh Highway remained in Pakistani control at the end of this conflict.

During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, Indian forces pushed the Line of Control north of the ridgeline, ensuring Kargil's security.

[16][17] By the 18th or 19h century, it also had a sub-branch at Pashkum[a] (Wylie: pas kyum) southeast of Kargil town in the Wakha Rong valley.

[22] On the way to Baltistan, he made a detour to Sod, routed the rebels and, according to the Dogra narrative, "annexed" the whole of Purig.

But Dogras sent fresh forces under Wazir Lakhpat, who beat back the Tibetans and reestablished status quo ante.

[24] Alexander Cunningham described the Kargil fort as a square of about sixty yards on the left bank of the Suru River immediately above its junction with Wakha Rong.

[27] In historical times, Ladakh was a busy entrepôt for Silk Route trade between Central and South Asia.

During the colonial period, the significance of this trade route in Kargil town manifested in the form of a serai, a rest-house, and post and telegraph offices.

Fighting occurred along a 160 km long stretch of ridges overlooking the only road linking Srinagar and Leh.

[30] Kargil has an average elevation of 2,676 metres (8,780 feet), and is situated along the banks of the Suru River (Indus).

The town of Kargil is located 205 km (127 mi) from Srinagar,[31] facing the Northern Areas across the LOC.

[34] Greater Ladakh is the largest circulated bi-lingual newspaper in the Union Territory that publishes once in a week.