Murgi Petroglyph Site

The Murgi Petroglyph Site is an open-air archaeological site near Murgi village in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh, along the Shyok River. It consists of boulders and rock surfaces engraved with ancient petroglyphs depicting ibex, yaks, hunters and geometric motifs. Attributed to prehistoric and early historic periods, the carvings offer evidence of early human activity in the Trans-Himalayan region and are of interest for heritage and rock-art enthusiasts visiting Nubra.

Visitors can expect an open-air site with scattered boulders and rock faces along the Shyok River valley near Murgi village bearing pecked and engraved petroglyphs. The setting is arid, high-altitude desert with gravel plains and mountain views. There are no built structures; visitors walk among rocks to view carvings of animals, human figures and symbols. The site is unmanned and visited as a short stop while travelling through Nubra Valley.

The Murgi petroglyphs are rock engravings attributed to prehistoric, Bronze Age and early historic periods. The carvings of wild animals, hunting scenes and symbols indicate early pastoral and hunter-gatherer activity in the Shyok Valley and provide archaeological evidence for early human occupation and cultural traditions in Ladakh's Nubra region.

The site reflects the rock-art tradition of the Trans-Himalayan region and the cultural heritage of early communities in Ladakh. The ibex and other motifs remain culturally familiar in Ladakhi art and folklore, and the site is valued for understanding early artistic expression and nomadic life in the high Himalaya.