Day 3 of Ladakh: A Dream ||10th July 2023

 

Dal Lake
        Photo: Dal Lake

    (Day 2 of Ladakh: A Dream) Last night we were stopped by the army jawans just as we were about to embark from Banihal towards Srinagar. The jawans requested that we start our journey towards Srinagar early in the morning. For the uninitiated, this part of our drive from Banihal to Srinagar would take us alongside the notorious towns of Anantnag, Avantipura, Pulwama and others, known for harbouring anti-India sentiments and the army were recently reinforced to facilitate the ongoing 'Amarnath Yatra'.

    When we started at 6 am, we were met with highest level of military presence. The armored vehicles straight out of Batman movie were a sight to behold. That day I felt the meaning of the words 'parinda bhi par nhi mar sakta' .

    However, with all these annotations about the valley put aside, I can say with certainty that ' Kashmir Valley is a thing of beauty'. With houses made of wood and streams flowing beside them and ranges of mountain nursing them, it truly felt like the Paradise on Earth. Srinagar was on our way to Ladakh and it would be remiss of us if we didn't click a few photos of Shikaras floating on the Dal Lake. Alas, I found the lake to be not so alluring, with its water being dirty for all the tourists it attracts.

    Bad weather behind us and sun smiling upon us we were confident of reaching Kargil (~200 kms from Srinagar) on our 3rd day when we said good bye to 'Dull Lake' at 9 in the morning. Along the way we climbed to the picturesque hills of Sonamarg, crossed the rough mountain pass 'ZojiLa', bathed in the serene valley of Drass, payed homage to the heroes of Kargil War at the 'Kargil War Memorial' and finally reached our destination at around 8 pm in the night.



                               Video: Drass Valley


    

War Hero
                                      Photo: War Hero

     Our day ended with a perfect dinner and a cup of 'noon chai' and washing the dirt  off our clothes. Leh was nearer.


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