"Epic Journey through J&K: Day 3 (31st July 2023) - Battling Landslides, Honoring Heroes, and High-Altitude Thrills"

                                                      

"Welcome to Day 3 - a day of emotions, adventure, and inspiration. Today, we venture through regions often in the spotlight of media and radical groups, gaining a firsthand perspective on the demanding life of the Army."

Our unexpected stay in Ramban altered our plans, leaving us with an additional 130 kilometers to cover on Day 3. We knew we needed to start early to make up for lost ground, especially factoring in the time constraints around Sonmarg and the crucial visit to the war memorial en route to Kargil.

Setting out at 3:30 am, we encountered substantial bridge construction near Ramban. This region is prone to landslides, and construction efforts were underway to fortify the roads. However, our nimble bikes allowed us to maneuver around temporary halts, ensuring we didn't lose much time.

We cruised through Qazigund and the Banihal tunnel, immersing ourselves in one of the most exhilarating rides of our 14-year riding history. A 40-kilometer stretch after Ramban challenged us with ongoing roadwork and diversions. Yet, as we approached NH 44 near Banihal, the road smoothed out, offering an uninterrupted journey for the next 80 kilometers.Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Awantipora, known for their turbulent history, flashed on road signs, serving as poignant reminders of the region's complex dynamics. This route, sensitive due to its proximity to the border, was fortified with additional security measures due to the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage.

Arriving in Srinagar, we met Dr. Bichkar and his wife, seasoned trekkers with a wealth of memories associated with this region. Shrinagar is a town situated near Jhelum river. It is famous by many ways but specially for Houseboats due lots of lake in this town and very cozy atmosphere Shrinagar is always a prime tourist spot for all. We must say that town is beautiful as we surf around. we reached at Lal Chowk (Zenda Chowk), around 7 am, the sunlight felt unusually bright for morning. But temperature was good to have a hot cup of team along with some rusk in other hand.  Lal Chowk, recently getting renovated for the upcoming 15th August Flag Hosting. Once a very sensitive area now has garnered attention as a tourist hub. Here,  We visit to the famed Dal Lake, however, left us a tad disappointed. The influx of tourists and the houseboats cluttered the natural allure, and the cleanliness was notably lacking.

We continued our journey towards Sonmarg, gearing up for the challenging Zozila Pass then to Dras, and finally, to Kargil. Zozila Pass was our first encounter at 11,800 ft above sea level. The road conditions were alright, but the natural beauty from Sonmarg to Kargil was breathtaking. We didn't spend much time at Zozila as the region is very uncertain and prone to landslides. So far we crossed 3 Main mountain ranges. Pir Panjal was the first we crossed then had a good Face off with lower Himalayan range and when we crossed the Zozila it was actually the Zanskar range. Pir Panjal appeared very familiar to us but when we reach Zozila the Zanskar range the mountain have completly change & the demography is now different. This is a kind of Vicious beauty I must say. Those mountain and blue sky actually  hypnotize you and take you to next level.

Around 2:30 pm, we reached Dras, where a warm meal at Afzal Hotel, opposite Dras Police Chowky, awaited. Salim Chacha, a seasonal visitor from Himachal with his son and family, regaled us with stories of his annual sojourns. 

It was a afternoon time when we visited the first War Memorial in this tour, located just below Tiger Hill, close to the border, and under Tololing Top, This was the very battleground of the 1999 Kargil War, where sacrifices were made and victories clinched. We were standing at soil who got colored in Red, the sound of air whispering how brave was those voices which rested in peace there. The flag was witnessed the highest sacrifice made by all those Jawans. It was a touching experience to visit the war memorial, pay our respects, and honor the supreme sacrifice of our soldiers. We had some friendly chat with local tea stall there he also shared his experience at that time even if he was very little he said with proud that many villagers help Indian army with supplies even if it is true by 1% it an honor to serve country when it most needed.

After that emotional visit, we continued towards Kargil. The road was excellent, and the terrain, valleys, and flowing rivers were awe-inspiring. At the memorial we met a young rider who came along with his son, Mr. Mahesh, was in his mid 60s, traveling all the way from Santacruz. When we met this duo they already Travelled almost 2200 kilometer and most of there journy was in heavy rain. They both were inspirational to us, they were carrying all kinds of

 equipment like drones and action cams and what not. with that 15 min talk we saw a different sheds of Mr. Mahesh he was passionate rider and equally passionate devotee, coming from Varakari sampradaay Mr. Mahesh regularly goes to Wari.

However, the day concluded with a minor hiccup - my bike's carburetor faltered during our ascent, affecting performance. We executed some makeshift repairs, hoping for smooth passage to Leh. As we reached our stay at Royal Gasho Hotel on Zanskar Road, the echoes of the War Memorial still reverberated in our minds. The mingling feelings of awe, frustration at some visitors' lack of reverence, and the inspiration drawn from fellow riders made Day 3 a vivid tapestry of adventure, emotion, and reflection.

 

Stay tuned for Day 4, as our Ladakh adventure continues its enthralling journey through the heart of the Himalayas!