Kargil Vijay Diwas, or Kargil Diwas, is being celebrated in India to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the Kargil War in 1999. Kargil is located in the Ladakh region of Jammu & Kashmir.
On this day, functions and army events are held in various parts of the country. Including Kargil and Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in Delhi. Celebrities and politicians also take part in these events to pay tribute to the soldiers whose lives were sacrificed during Kargil War which was fought between India and Pakistan.
The Kargil War Memorial
Photo Courtesy: Extra999
Dras in Kargil district is a significant place related to Kargil War. To commemorate the martyrs of Kargil War, a war memorial has been installed by the Indian Army in Dras. The war memorial, also known as Vijaypath, is located around 5km from the Tiger Hill in Kargil.
Every year since the Kargil War, on this day, the Prime Minister visits Dras to pay a homage to the martyrs of the Kargil War.
Remembering the martyrs!
Photo Courtesy: Patit Pawan
March past by the Indian Armed forces, performances by naval officers, the laying of wreath, etc. are some of the highlights of the ceremonies held on Kargil Diwas across the nation. Around 400 soldiers had been martyred during the war that continued for around 2 months.
At the Kargil Memorial site
Photo Courtesy: Patit Pawan
The Dras War Memorial is one of the major attractions in Kargil. The huge epitaph at the memorial has the names of the martyred soldiers written on it. The Manoj Pandey Gallery installed there has the photos of the soldiers who fought the Kargil War. You can also see the weapons recovered from the Pakistani forces kept for display.
A sight from the memorial site of Kargil
Photo Courtesy: Patit Pawan
The gallery is named after Manoj Kumar Pandey, an officer of the Indian Army who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his audacious courage during the Kargil attack that led to his martyrdom in 1999 having fought one of the greatest wars for his homeland.
Other Attractions in Kargil
Other places of interest in Kargil include the Mulbekh monastery, Karsha monastery, Padum and Zanskar Valley among the rest.
Hotels in Kargil
Some of the major hotels are The Hotel Royal Gasho, Barula Hotel, Hotel Dzojila, Hotel Siachen and Hotel International Residency.
To know how to reach Kargil, click here.
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