OVERVIEW

Turtuk Travel Guide

Turtuk is a wonderland located in the northernmost part of India. It is situated in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh district and is a notable town separated by the Shyok River.

This town is 205 km from Leh and lies on the shores of the Shyok River. Turtuk, an obscure little village, is surrounded by Nubra on one side and Baltistan on the other. A mystery in itself, this inquisitive little settlement of approximately four thousand individuals is the last northernmost town before Pakistan – Occupied Kashmir.

While time has not affected the uniqueness of this beautiful place, the kind, friendly nature of its occupants is challenging to miss. Turtuk has a background as bright and exciting as the apricot cultivations one sees all over the area. Along these lines, it is a combination of the relative multitude of societies and their cultures that have lived here. The people here speak Urdu, Balti, Ladakhi, and Hindi. It is known to be the only place in India where one can experience the Balti culture. The geography, culture, language, attire, and surprisingly the essential features of people change drastically entering Turtuk, in fact entering Baltistan.

Pakistan controlled Turtuk until 1971; however, then it went under the control of India. The district has an exceptionally fascinating history, and individuals venture outright to Turtuk to appreciate these accounts from local people. This is military-ruled and a very sensitive region as it is located near the line of control between India and Pakistan, the line of control being merely 10 km from the village. Thus, one can look at the fortifications of Pakistan's barricades and line of control of India and Pakistan from Turtuk as it is the last significant town near the border where travellers are permitted. The ethereal excellence of this place cannot be described in words, and the perspectives on the Line of Control from here are past any depiction. It has only been opened for tourists since 2010, hence, making one feel privileged enough to have gained access to a mystical land that one might otherwise never even know existed.

Turtuk is comprised of several towns, one of the principal ones being Pharol, which sits on a slope. A few little camps and guesthouses have sprung up in this little village, which can be found while strolling around its many narrow pathways. Turtuk is one of the mainstream traveller spots in Ladakh at the edge of the Indian Territory, and the best attractions to visit here are Nubra Valley, Siachen Glacier, Siachen Base Camp, Shyok Valley, and some more. You can likewise appreciate the common magnificence, natural life, and encounter Himalayan experience here.

However, every one of the tourists must have Protected Area Permit (PAP) before entering the Turtuk area. The license is valid for as long as three weeks for Indian residents, and for foreigners, it is valid for one week.

Turtuk is accessible by road, and vehicles with a higher ground clearance are preferable. It takes roughly 6 to 8 hours to arrive at Turtuk Village from Leh. There is no railway station close by. The nearest air terminal is in Leh, Ladakh, 204 km from Turtuk. One can take a cab from Leh or from Nubra Valley to Turtuk. For night stays, Turtuk offers numerous choices for homestays, visitor houses, and camps to browse. Sightseers can pick according to their requirements. These spots are equipped with all advanced conveniences.