Dras (Shina: , Humas دراس) is a town in the Kargil District of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is at a height of 3230 m or 10990 ft. The mountain ridgeshowever range from 16000 feet to 21000 feet.The Dras valley starts from the base of theZojilapass, the Himalayan gateway toLadakh. For centuries its inhabitants are known to have negotiated this formidablepass even during the most risky period inthe l
ate autumn or early spring, when the whole sector remains snow-bound and issubject to frequent snow storms, to transport trader's merchandise across and to help stranded travellers to traverse it. By virtue of their mastery overthe pass they had established a monopoly over the carrying trade during the heyday of the Pan-Asian trade. A hardly people enduring with fortitude andharshness of the valley's winter, the inhabitants of Dras can well be describedas the guardians of Ladakh's gateway. The Dards of Dras are A***n in build (Now mixed Kashmiri-A***n) and are known for their courage, bravery and straight-forwardness. Most of the Muslims of Dras are Sunnis.The town shot into prominence in the summer of 1999 following Pakistani army intrusions into Ladakh region. The Kargil War saw the town being shelled by the Pakistani army and the war ended with theIndian Armyrecapturing the areas surrounding the town and the Kargil district.
