Apati, Ladakh

Apati is a village in Kargil district of the Indian union territory of Ladakh. It is in the Sod Valley close to the India–Pakistan border (LOC). The village is located 19 kilometres east of Kargil, on "Kargil-Batalik Road" on the bank of the Tumel Lungpa stream. Near the village is Apati Chamba, an ancient Maitreya Buddha statue from 7th–11th centuries carved on a mountain cliff.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census of India, Apati has a population of 1245 people living in 142 households.

Transport

Apati served by the Kargalik–Batalik–Khaltse Road, which passes by the north of the village. Kargil is 19 km away from Apati and Batalik is 41 km away.
The nearest major railway stations to Hardas is the Srinagar railway station located at a distance of 223 kilometres.
The nearest airport is at Kargil located at a distance of 18 kilometres but it is currently not operational. The next nearest major airports are Srinagar International Airport and Leh Airport located at a distance of 219 kilometres and 225 kilometres.

Apati Chamba: Rock-cut cliff-face statue of Buddha

Apati Chamba or Apati Buddha statue, is one of the three tallest rock cut relief statue of Buddha in Ladakh, which are collectively also known as the "Bamyan Buddhas of Ladakh". It is a Maitreya Buddha statue dating to 1 century BCE to 6th century CE, predating Tibetan Buddhism and 6th century Buddhas of Bamiyan of Afghanistan. It is most eroded and smallest of the three tallest rock statues of Ladakh.