While I woke up in the morning, Kernel sir was getting ready in full speed. Kernel sir left for his duty wishing me good luck ahead in journey & was busy clicking some surroundings. After few more casual conversation with Lt. Sir, we got ready & had breakfast. It was already 9:45 AM & Lt. Sir did leave for his duty after wishing me luck ahead & ordering a jawan to take me to top points where jawans stay with complete alert. He said to take a jawan along as the dogs there would just attack anyone without army dress. Boy! Should I really go there?? But who would miss the life time opportunities tell me? Jawan took me to the places where they would stay, cook, bath etc. Man! Government has got to think of this really I said to myself. After all, they are serving our nation more than their family & this is what they deserve??? If this continues, going ahead, India would really fall short of people for defence. Climbing few more steps, got to meet few more on duty jawans who offered me a cup of tea & had casual discussions about my trip.
“Ek do din late hua toh bhi chalega! Lekin dheere chalna! Yeh raasta bahut khatarnak hain! Ek mahine main, kun se kum bhees se thees accidents hota hain! Kuch hi din pehle, ek motorcycle wala neeche gir gaya tha aur uska kuch bhi nahin mila…” I felt like sitting in a hot tawa.
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| Hi-Tension cable that runs above the camp! |
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| Flying freely... |
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| Valley's in front of the camp! |
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| Road ahead! |
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| More & more hills! |
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| The place where Jawan's stay... |
Came back & loaded my bike & it was already nearing 11:00 Am by then. As said by the jawans, took initial few Kms very carefully & with some photo breaks. Crossed Banihal & security officer stopped me.
“Aap Indian ho ya foreigner???”
“Indian hoon bhai…”
“Acha, foreigners ka entry karna padta hain isi liye!”
Rode ahead & was soon in Jawahar Tunnel which is of around 2.5 Kms length. Crossed it & as said by Kannada jawan previous day, vista changed suddenlyJ. Stopped at Titanic View Point for a photo break & continued ahead.
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| Kashmiri greens! |
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| Jawahar Tunnel entry... |
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| View from Titanic View Point |
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| Leh not so far now :) |
Reaching Anantnag (Khanabal) took right turn & straight to Pahalgam. Road to Pahalgam was an absolute bliss one with hills all around & green fields beside the road. It was almost 3:00 PM when I reached Pahalgam & got settled in Hotel Heena for 600 bux. As I had plenty of time, relaxed for a while in bed & got a good view of hills from my room window. Also got to see the snow covered mountain peaks at far distance. Hurray! First sight of snow in this tripJ. By 4:30 PM stepped out for sightseeing after grabbing Jain Thali in nearby hotel. Rode to Mamleshwar Temple & got good view of Pahalgam below. Came back, parked my bike in parking place & went to the small park between the flowing streams. Tourists were huge in number & their negligence had made park a little untidyL. Like many of the tourists, crossed the stream which was of my knee depth & the water was damn cold. While clicking surroundings, met 4 guys who offered to have dinner with them but I politely rejected. One said he studies in Bangalore & stays in JP Nagar & his college is in Kanakpura road. With nothing else to do, sat beside the flowing stream & it was very cherishing overlooking at the hills & sound of the flowing water.
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| Beautiful Kashmir roads |
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| Pahalgam welcomes me |
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| First view of snow in this trip |
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| Pahalgam township |
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| Serene beauty |
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| Tourists daring to cross |
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| Howz that?? |
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| Snow on hills... |
After spending quality time beside the stream, came back to lodge & rest again. At 9:00 PM, went to ‘Delhi da Punjabi rasoi’ & had Onion Uttappam & Vanilla shake. As the climate was very pleasant & bed was cosy, crashed with thick blanket on me.
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