Turtuk village

Turtuk is a small village in the Indian union territory of Ladakh. Turtuk is one of the nothermost village of India, second only to Murgo Village, the northernmost village of India. Turtuk is situated in the Leh district of the Nubra Valley. It is 205 km from Leh, the district headquarters, and 2.5 km from the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. Turtuk is also the headquarters of the eponymous community development block.

Turtuk is located on the banks of the Shyok River. Geographically, the village is in the Baltistan region, which is administered by Pakistan except for four villages which are part of India, one of which is Turtuk. These villages form the only region in India populated by Balti people.

Turtuk was under Pakistani control until the war of 1971, when the Indian Army captured the village.Turtuk is the last outpost of India's Ladakh(Indian Sentinel in the North), after which Pakistan-controlled Gilgit-Baltistan begins. The village is one of the gateways to the Siachen Glacier. Turtuk is known for its varieties of fruits, especially apricots

The area came under India after disloyal Bengali major of Pakistan Army deployed in Turtuk sector fled the area, Allowing the Indians to enter village without any resistance. Pakistani authorities later sent letters to the villagers inviting them to settle in Gilgit Baltistan, some moved to Pakistan while others remained in India

Turtuk has only been opened to tourists since 2010 and is therefore a hidden gem. To write about it is almost like exposing a secret, for to go there is like a journey of discovery that one has been privileged to gain access to, a mystical world that one might otherwise never know existed; yet the place leaves an indelible impact that needs to be shared.

 It is quite a trek to get to Turtuk, as it is far from the town of Leh. You might be able to hop onto a shared taxi or rent a car, by far the best option, but it is completely worth the arduous journey. It takes about eight to nine hours to get to Turtuk, and it is advisable to stop at Hunder, Nubra Valley overnight if one wants to see both places. Foreign nationals have to obtain permits to enter Turtuk, and these can be obtained through a travel agent beforehand in Leh. Indians can enter showing a government-approved it.