21st May is when we set on the road to Srinagar. This time there was no time wasted in negotiating the city roads to come out as we were next to Srinagar Highway in a place called Hari Niwas Palace. This is situated on a hillock next to river Tawi and must be an even better sight when the river is flowing with full force. Right now the river was pretty dry but the location is superb. The hotel itself is ok to stay. The road to Srinagar was scenic but there is no stretch of even 5 Km that is without turns.
This was a part of the journey where we started traveling through the green zone. Suddenly at point we had a first sighting of a snow capped mountain range of mighty Himalaya. Right now it’s a two lane road and one has to drive little carefully. The challenge is to keep focus on the road when the road is quite scenic
We had no clue as to where we would get some decent food. Usually we do eat outside in roadside joints but on a road trip like this it is better not to be adventurous about your food! After driving for about 4/4 ½ hours we came across a joint run by J&K tourism department – stopped over to have our Rajma Chawal (Kidney beans curry and rice). When we asked about estimated time to reach Srinagar, the answers varied from 5 Hours to 7 hours. Finally decided to figure it out on our own and it turned out to be closer to 5 hours from that point. Once you cross 2 ½ Km long Jawahar tunnel you suddenly arrive in the valley of Kashmir. Our hotel was just opposite Dal Lake and the view was outstanding.
We were staying in a hotel run by a family friend’s father. When I met my friend’s father and uncle that evening, they both were worried about our adventure! Their expressions and some comments put me in some serious doubt. Every time when you are on an expedition, there is always a point when there is a self-doubt as to why are you into this – this has happened to me sometimes on night trek or a night in the jungle – this was that moment on this expedition. When I came to the room I was really troubled – am I putting everyone at risk as we drive through those difficult terrains? At these occasions it helps to have a life partner who is equally mad. Pallavi told me to relax and everything will be alright. But I had some visions of Zojilla pass as everyone talked about that being a treacherous road. While I went to bed my mind was still troubled!
This was a part of the journey where we started traveling through the green zone. Suddenly at point we had a first sighting of a snow capped mountain range of mighty Himalaya. Right now it’s a two lane road and one has to drive little carefully. The challenge is to keep focus on the road when the road is quite scenic
We had no clue as to where we would get some decent food. Usually we do eat outside in roadside joints but on a road trip like this it is better not to be adventurous about your food! After driving for about 4/4 ½ hours we came across a joint run by J&K tourism department – stopped over to have our Rajma Chawal (Kidney beans curry and rice). When we asked about estimated time to reach Srinagar, the answers varied from 5 Hours to 7 hours. Finally decided to figure it out on our own and it turned out to be closer to 5 hours from that point. Once you cross 2 ½ Km long Jawahar tunnel you suddenly arrive in the valley of Kashmir. Our hotel was just opposite Dal Lake and the view was outstanding.
We were staying in a hotel run by a family friend’s father. When I met my friend’s father and uncle that evening, they both were worried about our adventure! Their expressions and some comments put me in some serious doubt. Every time when you are on an expedition, there is always a point when there is a self-doubt as to why are you into this – this has happened to me sometimes on night trek or a night in the jungle – this was that moment on this expedition. When I came to the room I was really troubled – am I putting everyone at risk as we drive through those difficult terrains? At these occasions it helps to have a life partner who is equally mad. Pallavi told me to relax and everything will be alright. But I had some visions of Zojilla pass as everyone talked about that being a treacherous road. While I went to bed my mind was still troubled!
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