Khalatse

Bridge at Khalatse. Photo taken first half of 20th century.

A fragmentary inscription at Khalatse carries the name 'Maharaja Uvima' which is attributed to the Kushan king, Vima Kadphises, who ruled in the 1st or early 2nd century CE.[7][8][9]

Lhachen Naglug (c. 1150-1175 CE), the king of Ladakh (then known as the Maryul kingdom), built a bridge across the Indus at the same site as the present bridge, and the Bragnag castle on the bank of the Indus, on the brook, about one mile (1.6 km) above the present village, to guard the bridge. It was built in competition with another bridge, the Babu Khar bridge, only three miles (4.8 km) away, and was clearly built to raise taxes from travellers. The castle is said to have been the first castle built in the country. The ruins of the castle and also the remains of extensive fields and watercourses are still visible. Lha chen Naglug also built the palace at Wanla.[10]

There are a number of ancient Dardic rock carvings nearby, including one of a Dard woman carrying a basket on her back, one of a man hunting antelopes, and some showing men with what appear to be flat hats, all costumes similar to the Dards of Da. In front of the ancient Dard castle at Khalatse is an inscription in an Indian language which probably dates from the period of Dard occupation.[11]

The German Moravian Church Mission, which opened in Leh in 1885 had a sub-station in Khalatse which remained open for the half a century prior to India's independence in 1947 and played a prominent role there with their medical and educational activities, but only made a few converts.[12]

At a cost of 750 crores, Khaltsi has been chosen as the location of the upcoming Central University in Ladakh. Its location was strategically chosen, being between the capitals of Kargil and Leh.[6]

Khalatse is also famous for its apricots.[13]

Entering Khaltse by road from Srinagar, it is clear one is entering the heartland of Buddhism with its chortens or small stupas, mani stones and prayer flags. Upstream from Khalatse, and downstream on the right bank of the Indus, the people are almost all Buddhist. The ones downstream are mostly Brokpa or Dards.[14]

According to the 2011 census of India, Khaltse has 156 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 86.27%.[15]

Because Khalatse is about 400 metres lower than Leh, two crops can be grown each year rather than only one. By the time crops are being sown at Leh in late May, they are already half-grown at Khalatse. The first crop – usually of grim (naked barley – Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hook. f., which is an ancient form of domesticated barley with an easier to remove hull) – from which tsampa, the staple food in Ladakh, is made) is usually harvested by mid-July and then other crops such as buckwheat, turnips and other vegetables are planted.[17]

• Francke, Rev. A. H. (1977) [1907], S. S. Gergan; F. M. Hassnain (eds.), A History of Western Tibet, Sterling Publishers – via archive.org
• Francke, A. H. (1914). Antiquities of Indian Tibet. Two Volumes. Calcutta. 1972 reprint: S. Chand, New Delhi.
• Schettler, Rolf & Margaret. (1981). Kashmir, Ladakh & Zanskar. Lonely Planet. South Yarra, Vic., Australia. ISBN 0-908086-21-0.
• Rizvi, Janet (1996), Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia (Second ed.), Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-564016-8 – via archive.org

• Khalatse to Marol (via Suru Valley), OpenStreetMap, retrieved 15 January 2023.
• Kargil–Dha–Khalatse Indus Valley Road, OpenStreetMap, retrieved 15 January 2023.