Butootah

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)

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.