The ancient discovery that put a Silk Road city back on the map

A family in the Himalayas has opened a museum showcasing rare and valuable Silk Road artefacts after uncovering a hidden collection of treasures from the legendary trade route. Muzzamil Hussain, who was a child when the 1999 Kargil war broke out, recalls fleeing with his family to the remote Suru Valley. After the war ended and displaced families returned, Hussain's grandfather urged the family to check on an old property near Kargil's bazaar. When they opened the property, they discovered wooden crates containing silk from China, silver cookware from Afghanistan, Persian rugs, turquoise from Tibet, Mongolian saddles, and luxury soaps from London, New York, and Munich—an unexpected treasure trove of Silk Road artefacts. This discovery would later become one of the most significant family-owned collections in India, dramatically shaping Hussain's life. The region of Ladakh, where Hussain's family has lived for generations, sits along the dangerous Zoji La mountain pass t...