Rudok

Rudok is centred on a small hill on the bank of a tributary called Chuling Chu of the Maga Tsangpo river. Chuling Chu joins the latter about 4 km downstream and the combined river flows into the southeastern end of the Pangong Lake further 4 km down. Maga Tsangpo is one of the largest affluents of the Pangong Lake. E. B. Wakefield, the first European to visit Rudok in 1929, described the purple and black hill, rising high above the level of the surrounding plain, crowned by the Dzongpön's palace, which seemed "beautiful and impressive and worthy of [its] sanctity". The village was built around the hill, at its base as well as on the hill slopes. The houses were built in tiers, whitewashed and walled in. It appears to have been adapted by the Gelugpa school at a later time. It is currently referred to as Lhundrub Chode monastery. Climate Rudok is over 4,000 m. above sea-level. The winter climate of Rudok and of all the towns of the Tsangpo basin, owing to the intense dryness of the air and the light fall of snow, seems to be bracing and exhilarating rather than severe. == History ==

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Rudok was historically an integral part of Ladakh, and it was also geographically and culturally a part of Ladakh. According to Indian intelligence, the force travelled via the Keriya Pass to Gar Gunsa (Gartok) via a tedious route and arrived there in June 1951. Chinese accounts seem to corroborate this information. In October, the Chinese started to explore the possibility of opening a road route to Xinjiang via Rudok (through Keriya La). In late 1952, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment based at Gartok garrisoned Rudok with 150 men and 800 camels. The Indian trade agent stationed at Gartok was denied permission to visit trade marts at Rudok. By 1953, the Chinese had a motorable jeep track between Xinjiang and Rudok. During the negotiations for the 1954 trade agreement with India, the Chinese declined to allow trade between Ladakh and Rudok, bringing to an end a centuries-old trading relationship. Indian negotiators believed it was due to the presence of military installations in the area. An alternative route to Tashigang via Demchok was agreed and incorporated in the agreement. During the 1962 war, China stationed a battalion of forces at Rudok (Ritu Dzong), a battalion at the Indus crossing, and a cavalry regiment at Jiagang for operations in the Demchok sector (Parigas/Balijiasi). Jiagang also functioned as the command headquarters. Starting around 26/27 October, the forces attacked the Indian border posts at the Demchok village, and Jara La and Chang La passes, and forced them to withdraw to the west of the Indus river. The Demchok sector has since been divided between the two countries. == Maps ==

File:1851 map of Pangong Lake by Strachey.jpg|Map of the Pangong lake region with Rudok at the southeast (Strachey, 1851) File:Txu-pclmaps-oclc-181831961-52-o-rudok-1928.jpg|Map of the Pangong lake region with Rudok at the southeast (Survey of India, 1928) NI-44-10.jpg|Map including Rudok, labeled as ''Ko-pa-k'o'' (DMA, 1973) == Notes ==