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{{about|the village in [[Ladakh]]|the town in the [[Lhasa Prefecture]] of the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]] of [[China]]|Qüxü}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Chushul
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| etymology =
| pushpin_map = India Ladakh#India
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ladakh, India
| coordinates = {{coord|33.601|78.648|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|Union Territory]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Ladakh]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Leh district|Leh]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Tehsil]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Durbok|Durbuk]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://leh.nic.in/about-district/administrative-setup/village/|title=Villages | District Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh | India}}</ref>
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| seat_type = [[Panchayat]]
| seat =
| leader_party =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_m = 4350
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_total = 949
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| area_code_type = 
| area_code =
| blank_name_sec1 = [[Census of India|Census]] code
| blank_info_sec1 = 908
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}

'''Chushul'''{{efn|Alternative spellings include '''Chhushul''',<ref>
{{citation |author=Government of Punjab |title=Report on the trade and resources of the countries on the north-western boundary of India |location=Lahore |publisher=Printed at the Government Press |year=1862 |url=https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/afghanuno/168/ |via=unomaha.edu |at=Appendix IV A, p. xxii}}
</ref>
'''Chushal''',{{sfnp|Drew, The Jummoo and Kashmir Territories|1875|p=319}}<ref>
{{citation |last=Godwin-Austen |first=H. H. |title=Notes on the Pangong Lake District of Ladakh, from a Journal made during a Survey in 1863 |journal=The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lwMAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA351 |year=1867 |volume=37 |publisher=J. Murray |location=London |jstor=1798534 |page=352}}
</ref>
'''Chushol''',<ref>
{{citation |title=Yale North India Expedition |publisher=Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences |year=1934 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qnc6AQAAIAAJ |page=33}}
</ref>
and '''Chusul'''.
An old spelling is '''Shushal''',<ref name=Gazetteer/> also '''Shooshal'''.{{sfnp|Ward, Tourist's and Sportsman's guide|1896}}}} is a village in the [[Leh district]] of [[Ladakh]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://leh.nic.in/depts/villageamenitydirectory.pdf |title=Blockwise Village Amenity Directory |publisher=Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council |access-date=2015-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909100301/http://leh.nic.in/depts/villageamenitydirectory.pdf |archive-date=9 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is located in the [[Durbok|Durbuk]] [[tehsil]], in the area known as "Chushul Valley", south of the [[Pangong lake|Pangong Lake]] and west of the [[Spanggur Lake]]. The [[Line of Actual Control]] with China runs about 5 miles east of Chushul, across the Chushul Valley. Famous as site for historical battle grounds.

In August 1842 the concluding battle of the [[Dogra–Tibetan war]] with subsequent signing of the [[Treaty of Chushul]] in September 1842 for border non-proliferation took place at Chushul.<ref name="Rubin">{{citation |last1=Rubin |first1=Alfred P. |title=The Sino-Indian Border Disputes |journal=International and Comparative Law Quarterly |volume=9 |issue=1 |year=1960 |pages=96–124 |doi=10.1093/iclqaj/9.1.96 |jstor=756256 }}</ref>

On 18 November 1962 [[Sino-Indian War]], [[PVC]] Major [[Shaitan Singh]] with his five platoons of 120 men fought to the 'last man, last round' at [[Rezang La]] (Chushul), only 6 men survived the Chinese massacre.<ref>{{Cite news |title=#ShauryaStories: Major Shaitan Singh, 'The Hero of Rezang La' in 1962 war |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-shauryastories-major-shaitan-singh-the-hero-of-rezang-la-in-1962-war-2868577/amp |publisher=DNA Web Team |access-date=16 January 2021}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Tanktse-Loi-Yogma-Chushul-by-Strachey-1851.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Map 1: Chushul, Tangtse and the Loi Yogma valley ([[Henry Strachey (explorer)|Strachey]], 1851)]]
[[File:Pangong-and-Spanggur-US-Army-map-1954.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Map 2: Area around Chushul ([[Army Map Service|AMS]], 1954){{efn|From map: "THE DELINEATION OF INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES ON THIS MAP MUST NOT BE CONSIDERED AUTHORITATIVE"}}]]
[[File:Ladakh LAC Landmarks (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|280px|Map 3: Chushul area ([[Defense Mapping Agency|DMA]], 1992)]]

Chushul is about 10 miles south of the [[Pangong Lake]]. It is in the valley of '''Tsaka Chu''' (or "Chushul stream") which rises near the '''Tsaka La''' and flows north for about 30 miles before entering the Pangong Lake on its south bank near [[Thakung]]. The stream flows through a flat plain of some 10 square miles in extent, allowing for scattered growth of grass and fuelwood.<ref name=Gazetteer>{{citation |title=Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladak |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.43256/page/n7 |publisher=Superintendent of Government Printing |location=Calcutta |year=1890 |page=747}}</ref>

Chushul itself is on the western edge of the Tsaka Chu plain, at the mouth of the [[Loi Yogma]] valley. A stream called Har Lungpa flows down from Loi Yogma, and another stream called Umlung Lungpa flows from the southwest. Chushul is mainly watered by these two streams before their confluence with Tsaka Chu.

A narrow range of mountains called Pangong Range lies between Chushul and the village of [[Tangtse]] to the northwest. (Map 1) The Loi Yogma valley, immediately to the west of Pangong Range, provides the travel route to Tangtse and the central parts of Ladakh beyond it. This valley was also the site of the "Battle of Chushul" fought as part of [[Dogra–Tibetan War]] in 1842.

Across the Tsaka Chu valley to the east of Chushul is a range of mountains that are considered part of the [[Kailash Range]]. (Map 3) The [[Line of Actual Control]] between India and China runs along this range, even though India's claim line is 20 km to the east of it. (Map 2) About 15 km southeast of Chushul, a gap in the Kailash range leads to another valley that contains the [[Spanggur Lake]] and continues to [[Rutog Town|Rutog]] a hundred kilometers away.

==Demographics==
According to the [[2011 census of India]], Chushul has a population of 949 people living in 148 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 61.47%.<ref name="census_2011"/>

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+ Demographics (2011 Census)<ref name="census_2011">{{cite news |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/datagov/CDB_PCA_Census/PCA_CDB_0103_F_Census.xls |title=Leh district census |work=[[2011 Census of India]] |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations |access-date=2015-07-23 }}</ref>
! !! Total !! Male !! Female
|-
| Population || 949 || 489 || 460
|-
| Children aged below 6 years || 121 || 69 || 52
|-
| [[Scheduled caste]] || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[Scheduled tribe]] || 945 || 489 || 456
|-
| Literates || 509 || 315 || 194
|-
| Workers (all) || 556 || 278 || 278
|-
| Main workers (total) || 398 || 244 || 154
|-
| Main workers: Cultivators || 197 || 130 || 67
|-
| Main workers: Agricultural labourers || 18 || 12 || 6
|-
| Main workers: Household industry workers || 25 || 14 || 11
|-
| Main workers: Other || 158 || 88 || 70
|-
| Marginal workers (total) || 158 || 34 || 124
|-
| Marginal workers: Cultivators || 49 || 25 || 24
|-
| Marginal workers: Agricultural labourers || 13 || 2 || 11
|-
| Marginal workers: Household industry workers || 85 || 2 || 83
|-
| Marginal workers: Others || 11 || 5 || 6
|-
| Non-workers || 393 || 211 || 182
|}

==Village==
Most of the people are dependent on the rearing of goat and yak. In the field of agriculture, barley and pea are main crops of the season. During the chilly winter season, Chushul is cut off from main the capital city of [[Leh]]. During the winter season, Ice hockey is the main sport in Chushul. The youth of Chushul has a keen interest in playing ice hockey. The Chushul Ice Hockey team recently participated in the district as well as the CEC cup which was held at Leh at Karzoo and the new ice hockey ring at NDS Ground. In Chushul, various associations have played an important role in developing Chushul's economy, politics and education system. Some of these associations are Women's Alliance Chushul, Student Union of Chushul, Youth Association of Chushul, Gonpa Community of Chushul and Ex. Service Men Association of Chushul.

There are five schools in Chushul: Govt. High school Chushul, Govt. Middle school Buk, Govt Middle School Tailing, Central Institute of Buddhist Studies.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==Military history==
Being a border village, Chushul has had a rich history involvement in engagements and conflicts between India and China.

During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948]], an airstrip was built at [[Leh]] and a motorable road was constructed up to [[Kargil]]. From Kargil onwards into Ladakh, only animal transport was possible.

In 1951, soon after the [[Chinese annexation of Tibet]], a situation developed near Chushul with a brigade of [[Kazakhs|Kazakh]] troops from Chinese Central Asia trying to flee via Rudok, and the Chinese [[People's Liberation Army|PLA]] pursuing them. Indian intelligence detected the movements in advance, and arrangements were made to rush a company of Indian troops from [[Pattan]] to Chushul, traveling by road and animal transport. The Kazakhs fled through the Spanggur Valley and set up defensive posts 3 km east of the then prevailing border (India's claim line). Fighting erupted between them and the PLA troops pursuing them. After discussion, Indian prime minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] agreed to grant asylum to the fleeing Kazakhs, and they were admitted into India. Indian troops stood their ground and confronted the PLA troops, who eventually withdrew.<ref name="Panag">
Lt. Gen. H. S. Panag, [https://theprint.in/opinion/indian-armys-first-brush-with-the-pla-was-in-1951-the-windfall-was-chushul-airfield/2326176/ Indian Army’s first brush with the PLA was in 1951. The windfall was Chushul airfield], The Print, 24 October 2024.
</ref>

{{anchor | Air | Airstrip | ALG }}
After the incident, it was decided to lay an [[airstrip]] near Chushul for defensive deployments. An initial location was selected east of [[Spanggur Gap]] in territory currently under Chinese control. However, it was considered unsuitable and a second location was selected within the Tsaka Chu valley, opposite the Spanggur Gap. The airstrip was completed by August 1952. Jawaharlal Nehru along with colleagues took the first flight into it and inaugurated it.<ref name="Panag"/>

A road link to Chushul became available only in September 1962. In 1960, the [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO) was set up by Government of India to take over the construction of strategic border roads. The BRO completed the road to [[Leh]] by August 1962 (now [[National Highway 1 (India)|NH-1]]), and extended it up to Chushul by September 1962.<ref>
{{citation |last=Das |first=Pushpita |title=India's Approach to Border Management: From Barriers to Bridges |publisher=KW Publishers & Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses |year=2021 |url=https://idsa.in/system/files/book/indias-approach-to-border-management.pdf}}
</ref>

Until this time, the Chushul airstrip was the only means available for logistics. [[Dakotas]] and [[Ilyushin Il-14]] planes from No. [[No. 12 Squadron IAF|12]], [[No. 42 Squadron IAF|42]] and 43 squadrons of Indian Air Force made logistical supply flights to Chushul.<ref name="Lal">{{Cite news |first=P.C |last=Lal |title=1962 War: The Role of the IAF |newspaper=Indian Defence Review |date=17 February 2021 |url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/interviews/1962-war-the-role-of-the-iaf/}}</ref>
The Army asked for six [[AMX-13]] tanks to be airlifted for defence of Chushul. [[AN-12]] transport airplanes were used for the purpose, after making elaborate arrangements for the transport of delicate but heavy equipment, and they were eventually delivered on 25 and 26 October 1962.<ref name="Lal"/>
Flight Lieutenant Virendera Singh Pathania of [[No. 23 Squadron IAF]] made sorties from Chushul for photo reconnaissance on a [[Folland Gnat|Gnat]] airplane.

During the [[Sino-Indian War]], the 114 Infantry Brigade was headquartered at Chushul, and it had the control of all the forward deployments from [[Daulat Beg Oldi]] (DBO) in the north to [[Demchok (historical village)|Demchok]] in the south. The units involved were 14 J&K Militia in the DBO sector, 5 Jat in the Galwan and Changchenmo sector, 1/8 Gorkha Rifles in the Chushul sector (holding Spanggur Gap and the surrounding areas), 13 Kumaon holding features to the south of Spanggur Gab and 1 J&K Militia holding the rest of the areas up to Demchok.<ref>
{{citation |last=Katoch |first=Dhruv |chapter=The India–China War of 1962: Army Operations |editor-last=Singh |editor-first=Air Commodore Jasjit |title=China's India War, 1962: Looking Back to See the Future |publisher=KW Publishers Pvt Ltd |isbn=9789385714795 |date=2013 |page=88 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p026DQAAQBAJ&pg=PT88}}
</ref>
The Ahir regiment of 13 Kumaon stationed at the [[Battle of Rezang La|Rezang La pass]] (as it was then called) fought the famous last stand battle.

=== Border Personnel Meeting point ===
Chushul is one of the five officially agreed [[Border Personnel Meeting point]]s between the [[Indian Army]] and the [[People's Liberation Army]] of [[China]] for regular consultations and interactions between the two armies to improve relations.<ref name=ti1>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indian-soldiers-prevent-Chinese-troops-from-constructing-road-in-Arunachal/articleshow/44953671.cms |title=Indian soldiers prevent Chinese troops from constructing road in Arunachal |date=28 Oct 2014 |access-date=11 Nov 2017 |newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref>

[[Moldo]] ({{lang-zh|莫爾多}}) post of the [[Indian Army]], coordinate: {{coord|33.5575|N|78.732|E||display=inline}}{{dubious|date=November 2020|reason=There is nothing here on the map.}}

Spanggur ({{lang-zh|斯潘古爾}}) post of the [[People's Liberation Army]] of [[China]], coordinate: {{coord|33.565|N|78.80|E||display=inline}}

== Transportation ==
{{anchor | Transport | Road | Highway }}

Chushul is connected by the following roads:

* [[Pangong Tso#CKC|Chushul-Lukung Road]] (CC road),<ref name=CLR1>
[https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/wildlife-board-approves-5-roads-in-ladakh-including-daulat-beg-oldie-route-124101700391_1.html Wildlife Board approves 5 roads in Ladakh, including Daulat Beg Oldie route], Business Standard, 17 October 2024.
</ref> also called the [[Pangong Tso#CKC|Surtok-Kakstet-Chushul Road]] (CKC road), parallel to the southern bank of [[Pangong Tso]], provides shortest route from [[Spangmik]], [[Man Pangong|Man]] & [[Merak, Ladakh|Merak]] to Chushul.
** Thakung Post Road: is a 5.8 km long spur of "Chushul-Lukung Road" from a T-section and it goes to Thakung Post of Indian Military, constructed under [[India–China Border Roads|ICBR Phase-III]].<ref name=CLR1/>

* [[Pangong Tso#PL|Pangong Lakeshore Road]] (PL road), is a motorable road along the scenic southern shore of Pangong Tso.

* [[Demchok sector#Transport|Chushul-Dungti-Fukche-Demchok highway]] (CDFD road), along the southern bank of [[Indus River]] which marks the LAC, will be converted to a single-lane 7.45 m wide 135 km long national highway with paved shoulder by 31 March 2025. Chushul and [[Fukche]] Airstrips lies along this highway. It will also provide faster access to the [[Nyoma]] airbase. This will boost military logistics and tourism in the border area.<ref name=cdfd1>[https://www.news18.com/news/india/exclusive-counter-to-china-bro-starts-process-for-135-km-road-near-lac-from-chushul-to-demchok-6902071.html BRO starts process for 135-km road near LAC from Chushul to Demchok], News18, 24 Jan 2023.</ref>

{{anchor | MCR }}
* Mahe-Chushul Road (MCR), via Kartsangla, will be completed by the [[Border Roads Organisation|BRO]] by December 2023 (August 2023 update).<ref name=etau1>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/epaper/delhicapital/2023/aug/03/et-poli/over-20-strategic-roads-close-to-lac-have-year-end-deadline/articleshow/102366166.cms Over 20 strategic roads close to LAC have the ear and deadline], The Economic Times, 3 Aug 2023.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Geography of Ladakh]]
* [[India-China Border Roads]]
* [[Sino-Indian border dispute]]
* [[Tourism in Ladakh]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{citation |last=Drew |first=Frederic |author-link=Frederic Drew |title=The Jummoo and Kashmir Territories: A Geographical Account |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.49165 |year=1875 |publisher=E. Stanford |via=archive.org |ref={{sfnref|Drew, The Jummoo and Kashmir Territories|1875}}}}
* {{citation |last=Ward |first=A. E. |title=The Tourist's and Sportsman's guide to Kashmir and Ladak |publisher=Thaker, Spink & Co |date=1896 |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.6082 |via=archive.org |ref={{sfnref|Ward, Tourist's and Sportsman's guide|1896}}}}

==External links==
* [[:File:SINO-INDIAN BORDER DEFENSES CHUSHUL AREA CIA-RDP89B00569R000200120051-4.pdf|SINO-INDIAN BORDER DEFENSES CHUSHUL AREA]] (CIA, 1963)
* {{Cite web |title=Importance of Chushul sector: Indian Army's consolidation will give New Delhi access to east Ladakh and region's crucial airstrip |publisher=First Post |date=16 December 2020 |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/importance-of-chushul-sector-indian-armys-consolidation-will-give-new-delhi-access-to-east-ladakh-and-regions-crucial-airstrip-8821361.html}}
* Simar, [https://medium.com/@Ghe_connect/developing-chushul-a-border-village-205cdb783690 Developing Chushul: A Border Village], Global Himalayan Expedition, via medium.com, 31 May 2023.
* [https://travelthehimalayas.com/kiki/2018/9/8/a-place-called-chushul A place called Chushul], himalaya.com, retrieved 21 November 2020.

{{Ladakh}}
{{Leh district}}
{{Indian Air Force}}

[[Category:Indian Air Force bases]]
[[Category:Villages in Durbuk tehsil]]
[[Category:Borders of Ladakh]]

Chushul - Revision history

imported>Kautilya3: /* Geography */ Bolding a search term