Turtuk is the northernmost village and gram panchayat of India in Nubra valley of Leh district of Ladakh, about 205km from Leh town and is on the bank of Shyok River.
Turtuk opened for tourists in 2009 and it was under control of Pakistan since Independence till 1971. India took control over Turtuk during Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. India and Pakistan had again a war around Turtuk during Kargil War of 1999.
Now Turtuk is one of the major tourist destinations (sightseeing places) in Ladakh. Besides Turtuk, Thang (last village near LOC) and Tyakshi have also become tourist attractions.
A few memorials built in the memory of soldiers can be seen on the road leading to zero point of India-Pakistan Line of Control (LOC). Many tourists visit Turtuk village between May and October. Turtuk is a Muslim village having population of about 3,500 residents and its residents speak Baltistani, Ladakhi and Urdu languages.
Siachen Glacier is also accessible from Turtuk side. Turtuk village offers beautiful views of Shyok valley. Turtuk is said to be the only place in India where one can witness Balti culture. Tourist movement is allowed till Tyakshi, another Balti village beyond Turtuk. However, Thang is the last and northernmost village of India, about 4km from Turtuk just before LOC, but tourists are not allowed to visit the village. Thang is clearly visible from Tyakshi on the other side of Shyok river.
Turtuk is basically divided in three sections — main market (small market of the village) area on the Hunder-Tyakshi road and upper main village area is divided into two by a small nullah, a tributary of Shyok river. A beautiful bridge on the nullah, joining both parts o the village, is a famous tourist point where everyone wants to get clicked.
A large number of tourists are visiting Turtuk village of Ladakh out of curiosity due to its connection with Pakistan and to experience the rich Balti culture. The lifestyle of the residents is similar to people of upper Himachal and Uttarakhand to a large extent.
The residents are honest, innocent, tourist-friendly and helpful. Most of people are engaged in farming while many are government employees and in business as well. With tourism growing rapidly in Turtuk, some youth have benefitted from the opportunity and have generated self-employment.
Being located at low altitude area compared to Leh, Diskit and Hunder, almost all vegetables grow here. Apple, apricot, grapes and many other fruits also grow here. Farmers rear cattle. Many youths have moved to Jammu, Srinagar, Leh and other places for higher studies. A large number of people from the village are highly educated.
Turtuk has now a large number of guesthouses, homestays and camping sites. The village also has some good restaurants.
How to reach Turtuk village
Turtuk is comfortably reachable from Leh in one day. Turtuk village is about 205km from Leh and is about full day’s trip after traversing Khardungla pass, Diskit and Hunder. Most tourists travel from Leh to Hunder or Diskit or Sumur on first day and visit Turtuk on the second day.
Things to see/do in Turtuk village
- Meet the local people
- Visit the museum maintained by Kacho family (Royal Yagbo House) to understand the history of Turtuk
- Visit Tyakshi and zero-point close to LoC
- Visit the Turtuk monastery
- See the water mill (gharat) where villagers grind grain
- See the natural fridge (semi-underground cold rooms) where perishable items are preserved
- Ancient Mosk of Turtuk
- Enjoy traditional Balti cuisines at Balti Kitchen
- Buy original Shilajit from the villagers
Do’s and Don’ts while visiting Turtuk village
- Respect the culture, traditions, faith and belief of the local residents
- Do not photograph local residents without seeking their permission
- Do not touch the residents until they are comfortable with this
- Do not photograph military establishments, posts and bridges
- Help locals earn livelihood; buy local apricot, shilajit, handicrafts and meal
- Do not litter the place
Is Inner Line Permit required to visit Turtuk Village
Yes, inner line permit is required to visit Turtuk village. The permit is valid till Tyakshi.
How to plan a Turtuk Village Tour
If you are visiting Ladakh and if Nubra valley (Hunder and Diskit) are in your itinerary, then you need not to put extra effort in planning the Turtuk Village tour. All you need is one extra day. You can easily visit Turtuk from Hunder (2.5 to 3 hours drive). Either You can stay overnight at Turtuk or come back to Hunder, Diskit, Sumur or Leh.
Best time to visit Turtuk Village
Turtuk can be visited any time of the year, depending on the opening of the Khardungla pass, but the best time to visit this village is May to October.
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Sole collector of original shilajit in Ladakh faces odds
September 26, 2016
While most of the Balti people of Turtuk village of Ladakh, which was captured by Indian Army from Pakistan in 1971, have changed their hereditary professions, Mohammad Hassan, who claims to be the only seller of original shilajit in entire Ladakh, is facing odds to continue with the business.
Baltistan is famous for collection of high-quality shilajit, a herb extracted from high altitude steep rocks. Turtuk, a Balti village, was captured by Indian Army in 1971 and it was opened for outsiders in 2009. Turtuk is the northernmost gram panchayat of India. According to villagers, over a dozen families used to search and collect shilajit until recent and the local shilajit was in high demand across the nation. As fake shilajit prepared at houses by boiling jaggery is available at comparatively less prices and searching original shilajit has become a hard job, hunt for real shilajit came to an end and now only one family is continuing with the job.
“Now we are the part of Ladakh in India. I am the only person in Ladakh to search, bring and prepare original shilajit. I can extract maximum of 5kg shilajit in a year and I can earn maximum of Rs 50 thousand by selling it,” said Mohammad Hassan, while showing the raw shiljit rocks which were not for sale but only to confirm that his product is genuine. “Merchants from Leh and other places buy my product and sell it for very high prices. Now tourists also visit my house to buy it. Foreigners take very much interest in shilajit as original product is not available easily. I live in one of the remotest villages of India and I’ve no idea about marketing and reaching the original market of shilajit to get better prices. Army people also buy my product to gift it to their family and friends.”
According to Hassan, 99.9% shilajit available in the country is fake which is prepared by boiling and burning the sugar or jaggery. “Identifying original product is very difficult for common people. Fake shilajit is available in all markets of the country at very cheap prices. It has impacted our business. Most people, who were into the business of collection of shilajit, are now working as labourer for BRO and Indian Army,” he added.
Indian Army keeps a close watch on all activities in the region which is close to the Pakistan controlled Baltistan. Turtuk has about 400 households and a population of about 3,500. Agriculture and tourism are the main sources of income for villagers besides working for Indian Army. Hassan is the last man of the valley to collect and sell original shilajit. His sons Amir Khan and Saif Ali Khan are studying in a government school and prefer government job or tourism-related business in the future.
Hassan’s 70-year-old father also spent his life in search and collection of shilajit with his friends from the village. “I have to camp in the middle of the steep mountain ranges for weeks. I bring home the raw rocks and boil them in water to extract and filter the original shilajit. I usually sell it in packets of 50gm each. This is a very difficult job. Young generation cannot adopt it,” Hassan added.
Surgical strikes: India’s northernmost village didn’t feel the heat
Updated on September 30, 2023
Settled close to POK, Turtuk, the northernmost village of India which was recaptured from Pakistan in 1971 war, has not felt the heat of surgical strikes carried out by Indian Army in POK. Turtuk is one of the villages which is very close to the border and has witnessed fury of war many times in past.
The village has population of 3,371 and D2H dishes are peeping out of roofs of few of the houses. Most houses listen to the news on radio. Almost every person in Turtuk got to know about surgical strikes in POK by late evening on Thursday. The village is also on an alert and military movement is already tight in the area. But, unlike other villages close to border which were evacuated, residents of Turtuk are spending a normal life without any fear of attack from Pakistan.
The Muslim population of Turtuk has seen the regime of both Pakistan and India. The elderly people of the village took some time to understand that they are now under the control of Indian government. As Indian Army is helping villagers in improving their lifestyle, the villagers have become loyal to India. As they have spent 24 years before 1971 as Pakistani nationals, they do not fear from military attack from behind the border.
“We are busy in routine work. We can see Pakistani post from the village and there is not special activity. Nobody asked us to evacuate or be alert. Army keeps surveillance in the region day and night,” said Mohammad Baqir, a resident of Turtuk, who teaches in a government school. “It is obvious to worry about war between India and Pakistan as we live very close to LOC. Thankfully, everything is okay so far.”
Yagbo Md Khan Kacho, scion of erstwhile royal family of Turtuk, said the region has experienced many disturbances in past and Pakistani Army had made the royal house of Turtuk their base for two years. “Our family was given rent of Rs 5 per month by Pakistani Army. After Kargil war of 1999, the area has witnessed a pleasant peace. So far the heat of surgical strikes is away from Turtuk,” he said.
According to Kacho, people of Turtuk have suffered a lot since 1947. “Our relatives are in Pakistan. India is our country. We never wish for war between both the countries.”
Agriculture is the main business of people in Turtuk. Apricot, walnut, buckwheat and vegetable production is the source of income for most of the families. Now, many people are in government services and others work as labourer for Indian Army. Everybody in the village was busy in routine work.
Turtuk, formerly part of Baltistan, was captured by Indian Army under leadership of Colonel Chewang Rinchin in 1971 war. Outsiders were not allowed to visit the village until 2009. Hassanabad Chorbat, Haldi and Skardu of Pakistan controlled Gilgit-Baltistan are very close to Turtuk. Civilian vehicles are not allowed to go beyond Turtuk by Indian Army.
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