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Often called the “Gateway to Ladakh”, Dras is more than a frozen town. It is an evidence of human endurance. Its residents adapt to life in bone-chilling conditions, while visitors discover unparalleled Himalayan beauty, adventure and a window into a world where survival is a daily triumph.

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Perched at 3,300 metres (10,800 feet) above sea level, Dras sits in the Kargil district of Ladakh. The town lies along National Highway 1, between Zoji La Pass and Kargil town, offering both strategic importance and breathtaking scenic stops for travellers heading toward Leh.

(Photo: X/All India Radio) 3 / 7

Dras is the second coldest inhabited place on earth, after Oymyakon in Siberia. Average winter temperatures hover between −20°C and −25°C, and records have plunged as low as

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