What Is The Coldest Place In India?

The Coldest Temperature Recorded In India

Dras

Dras is a town in India’s Kargil District in the country’s northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir. The town is located at an elevation of 10,990 ft and is regarded as the ‘Gateway to Ladakh’. It is often labelled as the coldest place in India. The lowest temperature of India of −33.9 °C was recorded here. The place experiences a continental climate with dry and cool summers which last from June to September. The average temperature at this time is about 23 °C. Winters last from mid-October to May and have temperatures averaging around −20 °C. Precipitation takes place mostly in the winter months and averages around 550 mm water equivalent of snowfall.

Leh

Another town in Jammu and Kashmir, Leh, is also known for its frigid winters with temperatures dropping as low as −30.6 °C. Leh was the former capital of the kingdom of Ladakh and its palace housed the ruling family of the time. The town is located at an elevation of 11,562 ft above sea-level. Leh experiences a cold desert climate with pleasant weather in summers (April to October) and extremely harsh winters between November and early March. Precipitation is very low with occasional snowfall in winter and an average annual rainfall of only 102 mm.

Is This The Coldest Place In India?

Although the above towns have recorded some of India’s lowest temperatures, the records in the India-controlled Siachen Glacier area are way lower. Subjected to territorial disputes between India and Pakistan, this area has witnessed skirmishes and wars between the armies of two sides for decades. Located near the 17,881 ft high Bilafond La and the 18,337 ft tall Sia La, this area has recorded temperatures as low as −55 °C. Blizzards blowing in this area have wind speeds higher than 250 km/h. Such extreme conditions claim the lives of many soldiers posted in this area to guard the borders of their own countries.