Traditional Home in Turtuk Village

Turtuk Photo Blog – Memories From The Last Frontier Of North India

On our recent expedition to Ladakh, we happened to drop by at this village called Turtuk. Often referred to as the last frontier of North India, Turtuk was into Pakistani Occupation till the Indo Pak war of 1971. The consequences of this war changed the lives of the people in Turtuk overnight. The entire territory along with its people following the culture of Baltistan became Indians.

Also Check Out: The Villages of Spiti Valley (Part 1)

Before we go on to start the Turtuk Village photo blog, here are a few basics that you should know before you decide to land here:

Where is Turtuk Village?

Turtuk is around 205 km from Leh and is a part of the Leh district. Located in the Nubra Tehsil, it is nurtured by the waters of Shyok river. The village is among the 4 villages (Tyakshi, Chalunkha, and Thang) in Indian occupation which once belonged to the Baltistan Region of Pakistan post-1947 fiasco. The Pakistan border is just 7 km from Turtuk and is one of the gateways to the Siachen Glacier.

How to reach Turtuk?

Well, it’s not that easy to be very honest. Limited amenities and its location make it a little tricky to commute till here if you are not a local. The locals, however, use Diskit as the junction. Turtuk is 90 km from Diskit and a butter-smooth road would bring you here if you are driving on your own.

  • Public Transport from Leh to Turtuk Village: A Bus for Turtuk leaves Leh every Saturday at 6 AM. Fare per person is Rs. 316. This bus will pass through Khardung La, Khardung, Khalsar, Diskit, Hunder and Thoise.

Note: This bus runs only on Saturdays and hence it might not fit your itinerary.

  • Public Transport from Diskit to Turtuk: Turtuk has got only one bus that plies daily between Diskit and Turtuk. The bus leaves Diskit Bus Stand near the market at 2:30 pm and would drop you at Turtuk by 6:30 in the evening. The bus fare is INR 110 for a one-sided trip. Private taxi from Diskit would cost you around INR 3000.

To summarise, you would have to reach Leh and then plan accordingly as per your choices and conveniences.

Let us know start with our TURTUK VILLAGE PHOTO BLOG

Entry into the Turtuk Village

Best time to visit Turtuk is between the Summer months of May and October. The village blossoms and goes fluorescent green by the end of May. July is when the village is full of Apricots season. The color of the village changes with every passing month and if you were here in September, you would find the autumn colors turning this entire region into a fairyland oozing golden colors.

Stay Options In Turtuk

Map of Turtuk

Turtuk was opened for tourists only in 2010 – around 41 years after it became an Indian occupation. With tourism flowing in, the locals have opened their homes and hearts for the travelers. There are a handful of homestays around but we would recommend staying at Asadulla Bhaijaan’s Homestay (also a Bawray Banjaray Home) located by the famous Friends Cafe of Turtuk.

Culture Of Turtuk

Women of Turtuk

While most of the Leh district follow Buddhism as its main religion, the folks in Turtuk have Islam as their main religion – owing to their origins from Baltistan.
The people would speak Balti, Urdu, and Hindi while they still reminisce of their Balti days. The people love to play polo from the yesteryears – no wonder why there are so many polo grounds around in the region.

Mosque in Turtuk Village

Interestingly, as is known that the entire region of Ladakh is predominantly Buddhists, even Baltistan had its share of Buddhist days until an Iranian poet and prominent Islam scholar – Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani propagated the cultural changes in the region. With the post-war amalgamation and the history, you would get to see an interesting mix of Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic heritage & architecture.

The Balti Museum of Turtuk

People, here in Turtuk, would receive you with the warmth of any traditional village in the Indian subcontinent.

People of Turtuk

And, now scroll down to take a look into the lives of the villagers who have come far from the usual politics of borders and divisions.

The Entry into the Turtuk Village

The entry bridge in to Turtuk Village of Leh

Friends Cafe, This is where the Bawray Banjaray Home Is

bawray Banjaray HOmestay is near this board of Friends Cafe in Turtuk Village

Life in Turtuk

The village life in Turtuk

The Architecture Has Caught Up With The Latest Trends

A traditional Turtuk home in the village

However, there are traces of the traditional Baltistan & Ladakhi Fusion

A traditional Wooden Door in Turtuk Village of Leh

And, then there is no comparison to this grace…

The lady n Turtuk

walking around in the streets of Turtuk! 

The village Turtuk

This is all we could gather for a Turtuk Village Photo Blog. Have you been to Turtuk? How was it for you? Do let us know in the comments below!

Further Read: COMPLETE GUIDE TO TURTUK VILLAGE