Shingo River


The Shingo River is a tributary of the Indus River, and flows through Gilgit-Baltistan and Kargil regions.
In the Kashmiri terminology, the Shingo river joins the Dras River, which in turns joins the Suru River. In the Balti terminology, the Shingo River runs all the way to the Indus River, and the other rivers are its tributaries.

Course

The river originates in the Chhota Deosai plains in the Astore District, north of Minimarg and flows east. The Shigar River, which originates in the Bara Deosai Plateau to the north, also flows east and joins Shingo before it enters the Indian-administered Kargil district near Dalunang. In the Kargil district, at Kaksar Village Shingo is joined by the Dras River, which originates near Zojila Pass and flows northeast. The flow of Shingo is then doubled. The two combined rivers join the Suru River flowing north at Kharul, 7 km north of Kargil.
The Suru river flows north into the Skardu District of Baltistan. The river joins the Indus from the left near Olding.
The Shingo river is clearer than other rivers in Ladakh because it is formed from melting ice. It flows through Chanigund.

Environment

The Shingo River runs north of the Line of Control dividing the Indian- and Pakistani-administered portions of Kashmir. Gultari is the largest city on its course. A road runs parallel to the river, which once connected Astor to Kargil. Once in the Kargil district, the valley of the river contains India's National Highway 1 that connects the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. After reentering Baltistan, its valley supports the Shingo River Road, which is also called the Kargil–Skardu Road.