Etymology
The Indian government refers to the river as "Charding Nullah" after its place of origin, the Charding La pass, with nullah meaning a mountain stream. The Chinese government uses the term "Demchok river" by the location of its mouth, near theDescription
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The Charding Nullah originates below the Charding La pass, which is on a large spur that divides theCharding–Nilung Nullah Junction
The Charding Nullah flows northeast along a narrow mountain valley. Halfway down the valley it is joined by another nullah from the left, called Nilung (or Nilu/Ninglung). The Charding–Nilung Nullah Junction (CNNJ, 4900 m) is recognised by both the Indian and Chinese border troops as a strategic point.Changthang plateau
{{Main, Changthang plateau The entire area surrounding the Charding Nullah is referred to as the Changthang plateau. It consists of rocky mountain heights of Ladakh and Kailas ranges and sandy river valleys which are only good for grazing yaks, sheep and goats (the famous pashmina goats) reared by Changpa nomads. The Indian-controlled northern side of the nullah is close to Hanle, the site of the Hanle Monastery. The Chinese-controlled southern side has the village of Tashigang (Zhaxigang) which also has a monastery, both having been built by the Ladakhi ruler Sengge Namgyal ({{reign, 1616, 1642). At the end of Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal War, the Tibetan troops retreated to Tashigang where they fortified themselves. {{OSM Location map , coord = {{coord, 32.6988, 79.4562 , float = right , zoom = 12 , width = 270 , height = 200 , caption = {{center, The two villages , nolabels = 1 , map-data = Q96807758 , mark-coord1 = {{coord, 32.7038, 79.4467 , mark1 = Red pog.svg , mark-size1 = 6 , label1 = Demchok–Ladakh , label-size1 = 10 , label-color1 = hard red , label-pos1 = right , label-offset-x1 = 0 , label-offset-y1 = 0 , mark-title1 = Demchok–Ladakh , mark-image1 = , mark-description1 = Indian-administered village , mark-coord2 = {{coord, 32.6949, 79.4593 , mark2 = Red pog.svg , mark-size2 = 6 , label2 = Demchok–Tibet , label-size2 = 10 , label-color2 = hard red , label-pos2 = right , label-offset-x2 = 0 , label-offset-y2 = 0 , mark-title2 = Demchok–Tibet , mark-image2 = , mark-description2 = Chinese-administered village , mark-coord3 = {{coord, 32.6965849, 79.4356986 , mark3 = BlackRedMountain.svg , mark-size3 = 14 , label3 = Demchok , labela3= Lhari peak , label-size3 = 10 , label-color3 = hard red , label-pos3 = left , label-offset-x3 = 0 , label-offset-y3 = -10 , mark-title3 = Demchok Lhari peak , mark-image3 = , mark-description3 = Rocky white peak that is considered sacred; traditional name: Demchok Lhari Karpo , mark-coord4 = {{coord, 32.6835043, 79.4354181 , mark4 = Red pog.svg , mark-size4 = 6 , label4 = Hot Spring , label-size4 = 10 , label-color4 = hard red , label-pos4 = left , label-offset-x4 = 0 , label-offset-y4 = -7 , mark-title4 = Hot Spring , mark-image4 = , mark-description4 = Indian-administered village , mark-coord10 = {{coord, 32.80737, 79.38093 , mark10 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg , mark-size10 = 12 , label10 = Indus River , label-size10 = 11 , label-color10 = hard blue , label-pos10 = right , label-offset-x10 = 0 , label-offset-y10 = 0 , mark-title10 = Indus River , mark-image10 = , mark-description10 = Sengge Zangbo , mark-coord11 = {{coord, 32.5993, 79.3999 , mark11 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg , mark-size11 = 14 , label11 = Charding , labela11 = Nullah , label-size11 = 10 , label-color11 = hard blue , label-pos11 = right , label-offset-x11 = 0 , label-offset-y11 = 0 , mark-title11 = Charding Nullah , mark-image11 = , mark-description11 = Tributary of the Indus riverMouth
At the bottom of the valley, the Charding Nullah branches into a 2 km-wide delta as it joins the Indus river. During the British colonial period, there were villages on both the sides of the delta, going by the name "Demchok". The southern village appears to have been the main one, frequently referred to by travelers.{{harvp, Lange, Decoding Mid-19th Century Maps of the Border Area, 2017, p=353: 'At present officially located in India, the village of Demchok marked the border between Tibet and Ladakh for a long time. Abdul Wahid Radhu, a former representative of the Lopchak caravan, described Demchok in his travel account as "the first location on the Tibetan side of the border".'{{harvp, Indian Report, Part 3, 1962, pp=3–4: According to a report by the governor of Ladakh in 1904–05, "I visited Demchok on the boundary with Lhasa. ... A nullah falls into the Indus river from the south-west and it (Demchok) is situated at the junction of the river. Across is the boundary of Lhasa, where there are 8 to 9 huts of the Lhasa zamindars. On this side there are only two zamindars."Sino-Indian border dispute
Prior to the Sino-Indian War of 1962, India had established a border post to the south of the delta (called "High Ground"). As the war progressed, the post was evacuated and the Chinese forces occupied it.{{sfnp, Cheema, Crimson Chinar, 2015, p=190Notes
{{notelistReferences
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