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
The Dras River, also spelt Drass River, is a river in the Kargil district in the Indian union territory of Ladakh. It originates below the Zoji La pas in the Great Himalayan range and flows northeast towards Kargil, where it joins the Suru Ri ...
, 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
Astore District ( ur, ) is one of the 14 districts of the Pakistani-administered territory of Gilgit−Baltistan. Its administrative headquarters are located at Eidgah in the Astore Valley. The Astore District is bounded by Gilgit District to ...
, north of
Minimarg
Minimarg ( ur, ) is a village in the Astore District of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is situated on the bank of the Burzil Nala, approximately 36 km south of the Chilam Chowki checkpost. There is a road going north to Astore via the Bur ...
, and flows east. The
Shigar River, which originates in the
Bara Deosai Plateau to the north, also flows east and joins the Shingo River before it enters the Indian-administered
Kargil district near Dalunang. In the Kargil district, at the Kaksar village, Shingo is joined by the
Dras River
The Dras River, also spelt Drass River, is a river in the Kargil district in the Indian union territory of Ladakh. It originates below the Zoji La pas in the Great Himalayan range and flows northeast towards Kargil, where it joins the Suru Ri ...
, 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
The Skardu District ( ur, ) is one of the 10 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan territory of Pakistan. The Skardu District is bounded on the east by the Ghanche District, on the south by the Kharmang District, on the west by the Astore District, on ...
of Baltistan. (The Baltis continue to call the Suru River by the name Shingo.) 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 Shingo–Drass 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.
References
External links
Shingo River marked on OpenStreet
Suru River basin on OpenStreetMap including the Shingo and Shigar rivers
{{Hydrography of Ladakh
Rivers of Ladakh
Indus basin
Rivers of Gilgit-Baltistan
Astore District
Skardu District
Kargil district
Rivers of Pakistan
Rivers of India