The Leh – Zanskar – Gulmarg- Srinagar route – An Amazing journey

I recall that many dangerous routes like Kardungala, Chang La and Leh – Manali Highways were explored during our trip but Leh- Srinagar route was quite thrilling one. We started our journey from Leh on July 16th morning despite curfew was imposed in Srinagar. I was in a dilemma whether we could book a direct flight for Chennai but we embarked on a road trip. After few hours of drive, we halted somewhere but it was vast, cold and beautiful. We were informed that it was Nimmu, a beautiful valley that marked the confluence of  Leh Zanskar and Indus rivers. The view from vantage point was quite spectacular and amazing, and we couldn’t take eyes off such a spellbound view. The road was tightly hair pinned and bumped, an exquisite winding mountain drive with sharp and blind curves and hairpin switchbacks leading the travelers over the mountains. On the way, green oasis, almost lunar landscape and nice bends on the descent from the Fotula Pass to the east were well seen.

 

The drive through the Fotula, the highest mountain pass at an elevation of 13,478 ft in Leh – Srinagar Highway was beautiful where we stopped to get an amazing view of snow clad mountain ranges. After a long drive, we had reached Lamayuru village, the moonlike landscapes carved into the great Himalayas are its claim to a fame. It was very cloudy and about to rain at any time despite the weather was cold. We rushed into the Yuru Gompa Monastery and spent our marvelous rainy noon exploring the monastery. The landscape rock formation and colors were wonderful.

It was a solid 2-hour drive to reach Kargil where it lies near the line of control facing the Pakistan-administered region of Gilgit–Baltistan and we had to spend a night on there. My time in Kargil evoked several emotions within me, of patriotism, fear, and pain. But more than anything else, it left me with a feeling of survival — albeit the cold night.

 

 

On the next day,  we started to head Zoji la pass, considered as the gate to the Majestic Ladakh. But the route is quite narrow and very dangerous. It’s the lifeline that keeps the people of Ladakh in touch with the rest of the world. If you look at the sharp mountain edges to find a road there you will see only a thin line. That’s the ‘road’. It’s nothing more than a one-lane crumbling dirt trail that hugs some of the tallest mountains in the world, with imminent death waiting for those who show up unprepared. Needless to say, conquering this beast requires relentless driver attention, along with a reliable set of wheels. We somehow reached Sonmarg on that evening after a quite tough journey and waited there till midnight since none of the vehicles was allowed to reach Kashmir.  The entire journey was very memorable and adventurous despite it was stressful.