The World's Highest Airstrip : Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) Ladakh India

The World's Highest Airstrip : Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) Ladakh India

Daulat Beg Oldi is situated in Ladakh of Jammu & Kashmir State of India and located on an ancient trade route connecting Ladakh to Uyghuristan. This place has got huge strategic position for being in proximity to five countries - India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and China.  

Courtesy:indianexpress.com

DBO has the distinction of having the world's highest airstrip at an altitude of 16,614 feet in an a very inhospitable condition where minimum temperature goes down to -56 degree. Tomato turns into a cricket ball and if hot tea is thrown into sky it falls on earth after becoming ice. Not only that. It is difficult to locate water and keep water in liquid form for drinking. Rivers and other water sources get frozen. The weather deteriorates frequently with strong icy winds lashing almost all parts of DBO.

Courtesy: indianexpress.com

DBO lies near the easternmost point of the Karakoram range in a cold desert region. It is just 8 km south of the Chinese border and 9 km northwest of the Aksai Chin Line of Actual Control. DBO is India's northernmost built-up area. It is a historic camp site and currently an important military base. The nearest inhabited town is Murgo literally meaning "the gateway of death" in Yarkandi Uyghur to the south. The Chip Chap river flows just to the south of Daulat Beg Oldi from east to west.

Courtesy:en.wikipedia.org

This place, it is said, has been named after Daulat Beg - a 16th century Yarkandi nobleman. He is supposed to have died at this place after descent from Karakoram pass. Daulat Beg Oldi literally means "Daulat Beg died."

Courtesy: travel.india.com

Indian Air Force maintains the Advanced Landing Ground  - the highest airstrip in the world. In a significant move and demonstration of capabilities the Indian Air Force successfully landed C-130J Super Hercules  transport aircraft  in DBO on 20th August 2013. A great feat, a great achievement .

Courtesy: bangaloreaviation.com