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Showing posts with label Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. Show all posts

Posted on June 05, 2016

Traveling to Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh is all about landscapes so magnanimous that they behold your idea of perfect travel escape forever. To drive through majestic Himalayas on National Highway 1 is an experience that urges you to undergo it again and again. Once you have touched the terrain, it will become an addiction and you will keep returning for it. For me it was a journey in June 2012 that made a few lost memories come alive. One hell of a ride!

I am recalling one of the most romantic couplets by Rumi right now:

“Come, come, whoever you are.

Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.

It doesn't matter.

Ours is not a caravan of despair.

Come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times.

Come, yet again , come , come.”

While so much is always talked about various destinations and locations in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, not enough is being captured about the road that runs from Srinagar to Leh. Although J&K has wondrous spectacles everywhere as one's eyes roam that justify that India is incredible, I will share here the landscapes captured on the highway drive. The highway is maintained by Border Roads Organization (BRO) of India and it must be appreciated the job that has been done.

In Ganderbal distict, where lies famous Sonamarg village where rests Thajiwas glacier, flows Sindh. The crystal clear waters of the river make the show of the National Highway 1. Up till Zoji La, you are accompanied by Sindh river (Indus). Once you cross Zoji La (La stands for a mountain pass in Ladakhi), you are gliding on the road with Dras river flowing beside you. Both the rivers originate from their common source Machoi Glacier that resides close to Zoji La. While Sindh flows westwards from zero point, Drass flows eastwards. The wild expanse of flora can be witnessed during the journey that will take your breath away. The untouched mighty mountains with glaciers melting on their top have streams running down their gorges so white that my driver had humoured me, "That is milk of sheep herds drowned by nomads up the hills".

The journey begins with lush green moors and wild flowers; the terrain gradually evolves into barren yet so enchanting. Up till Dras (coldest inhabited village on the Earth with minus forty (40) degrees Celsius temperature recorded during extreme winters) there's greenery; post Kargil city, the landscape is completely barren. The only thing that remains constant is ice caps. One can see easily mountains covered with many colours enroute. I only repeatedly thanked BRO for the very maintained National Highway 1 that made this dream-like experience come true.

Sindh river (Indus) gushes past Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Ganderbal district, Kashmir (©butootah)

Somewhere around Sonamarg, Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Ganderbal district, Kashmir (©butootah)

Approaching Thajiwas glacier in Sonamarg, Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Ganderbal district, Kashmir (©butootah)

Gigantic Thajiwas glacier freshly melting in Sonamarg, Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Ganderbal district, Kashmir (©butootah)

Somewhere on Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Ganderbal district, Kashmir (©butootah)

Intimidating Zoji La (Mountain Pass) stands over 11,500 feet above sea level, Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1 (©butootah)

Zoji La (Mountain Pass) stands over 11,500 feet above sea level, Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1 (©butootah)

A freshly melting glacier after crossing Zoji La, Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Scenic view of Dras river on Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Landscape of Dras town, Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Mountainous view opposite Kargil War Memorial, Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Multi-coloured mountains on Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Flora on Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Barren mountains on Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Near Kargil city, Srinagar-Leh Road, National Highway 1, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Landscape of Kargil city (bottom right) and surrounding barren mountains, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Dras river ("Suru" in local) flows through Kargil city, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

Posters of Shia Ayatollahs in Kargil city, Kargil district, Ladakh (©butootah)

All shots are captured with Samsung Galaxy S2, mega pixels: 8.

Posted on: May 13, 2013

It was a matter of chance that I touched heaven. My journey was planned. I was to reach Jammu from Srinagar via National Highway 1. However, my driver had another plan. He told me that he would drive me to Jammu not via the highway but another road. He promised me picturesqueness on the way. I was tempted! The driver was a trusted one. Finally, he revealed that he will drive through the historic Mughal Road. This was my chance to witness Pir ki Gali!

I had never thought that one day I would so casually drive through mighty Pir Panjal Range We deviated from Pampore. We drove through Pulwama and Shopian districts. The drive through the almond and apricot orchids was making me restless already. Pretty brooks running appeared every now and then. It was getting difficult for me to sustain the anticipation of witnessing what lay ahead. I had heard a lot about Mughal Road. A colleague from my previous office had recently toured the route on his bike. I had not imagined my visit to valley will close with such stupendous return journey. It was a beautiful surprise!

After driving for couple of hours, I could see the snow caps rising through the gathered clouds. All I wanted was one single shot that could contain experience of the whole journey. Mughal road runs at an altitude of around 11,500 ft through Pir Panjal and connects districts Shopian and Poonch of provinces Kashmir and Jammu, respectively.

As we were driving I saw Aliabad Sarai pass by. Since we were running short on time, we had to drive relentlessly. In some time I realized we were driving through the top peaks. The beauty my eyes witnessed I cannot describe in words. Soon, we approached Pir ki Gali, the magnificent mountain pass not many people get the privilege to witness. The driver pulled in at the check post. He said I could get out and shoot photographs now.

I was at Pir ki Gali, the road from where Mughal emperor Jahangir, with his beloved wife Noor Jahan, use to travel to visit Kashmir. Absolutely serene and undisturbed by human activity, this medieval road was so pristine that there was not a single commercial shop or any kind or tourist shop anywhere throughout the journey. There was only wilderness spread across in all the directions. I took my shot (shared below) and wondered what it feels like when you are absolutely into the wild.

Pir ki Gali serves as an alternate entrance to Jammu province from Kashmir province. We drove through Poonch and Rajouri districts and saw Noori Chamb (the waterfall where Noor Jahan use to bathe and refresh), crossed Bafliaz bridge, we drove through Thanamandi and reached Jammu via Sunderbani village, which has the popular Thanda Pani close by. It was a surprise experience. However, due to nick of time, we didn't have chance to pull in at any of the mentioned points and take photographs. I hope some day I will drive through Mughal Road again and hopefully it will remain as raw and natural as it was on October 19, 2012.