Suru Valley
The Suru valley is a valley in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, which is drained by the Suru River (Indus), a tributary of the Indus River. It is at a height of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft). The towns of Kargil and Rangdum are here. The Penzella Pass at Panikhar, a hill resort in Zanskar, divides the Suru valley with Zanskar. Willow and poplar are grown in the Suru valley.
Suru valley has 25,000 by people of Dard and Tibetan descent. The majority of the people are followers of Shi'a Islam, having converted from Tibetan Buddhism in the 16th century under the direction of Thi-Namgyal. Buddhists in the Suru valley live throughout the valley, but are mainly in Rangdum.
Suru Valley Media
Giant Maitreya rock carving at Karpokhar near Kartse
Sketch of the Maitreya carving by Frederic Drew