rishij
Member
The Srinagar-____-______-Delhi trip
Pretext:
We were done booking our PNQ-SXR & DEL-PNQ air tickets on the 25th June 2016. By then little did we know of what the Indian Army had planned for and executed on the 8th July 2016 by the killing of the terrorist commander Burhan Wani in Kashmir. I am sure though the Indian Army too had not foreseen this unrest that followed this event.
Had read about the unrest that followed the hanging of Afzal Guru in 2010 had lasted for a few months and the reporters having quoted the gathering seen at Wani's funeral to be humongous and a first in history. Doing the math it did seem that the unrest (that apparently is a switch for the separatists to raise and propagate the Separation of Kashmir Issue). Having waited for all this long to plan a trip to Ladakh and having already spent substantially on the air fares all we were left with is to hope for the best that things fall in place.
By the time of flight on the 11th August dayend, not much of the situation had improved. So we had our Plan Z in place and took to the flight and checked in our baggage directly for Srinagar though we had a connection via Delhi.
Plan A
Srinagar {CAB/PUBLIC TPT} Leh {RENTED BIKE} Leh {HPTDC BUS} Manali {BUS} Delhi
Plan Z
Srinagar {FLIGHT} DELHI {BUS} MANALI {RENTED BIKE} SPITI-KASOL- MANALI-{BUS}- DELHI
So going to Srinagar and having our own view of the things around there before making a turn around into Plan Z was the unanimous decision then.
Srinagar came at 6.30 am odd after a scantily occupied DEL-SXR 6E flight.
Srinagar:
It was our first time into the valley, We already had starting liking Kashmir after the aerial sunrise views we got to see. We had a sense of the situation out there given the occupancy of the A320 being 20-30 against a full capacity of 180. Out of the airport and we were (no so) greeted by the JK police and CRPF armed personel. Took a cab to the TRC (Tourist Reception centre) that is the nucleus for visiting tourist. To start with the cabbie was quite friendly and helpful;narrating his side of the story; negotiating his was through the police and CRPF vans,canters & jeeps starting their day and taking positions for the day that was FRIDAY. Laying of barbed wire at crossroads being carried out by the police as the start of Curfew to be imposed from 0800 hrs was the goosebump evoking scene we witnessed as our qualis made to the TRC. At TRC, the JKSRTC Delux that leaves for Leh aound 0730 Hrs had been cancelled for the next 3 days. No Force Travelers were lined up for departure. Out of the 2 cabwalas that were ready to take us to leh. We (had to) narrowed down on one. Got all the Luggage tied up on the overhead carrier on the Tavera and set asail.
Only having to make a U-turn in 15 minutes as the novice driver sensed trouble on the road we had to take out of Srinagar.
(to be continued)
(Would be writing this long one in pieces everyday over the next few days as and when time shall allow. Apologies in advance as is don't intend to bore anyone with the tortoise pace)
Pretext:
We were done booking our PNQ-SXR & DEL-PNQ air tickets on the 25th June 2016. By then little did we know of what the Indian Army had planned for and executed on the 8th July 2016 by the killing of the terrorist commander Burhan Wani in Kashmir. I am sure though the Indian Army too had not foreseen this unrest that followed this event.
Had read about the unrest that followed the hanging of Afzal Guru in 2010 had lasted for a few months and the reporters having quoted the gathering seen at Wani's funeral to be humongous and a first in history. Doing the math it did seem that the unrest (that apparently is a switch for the separatists to raise and propagate the Separation of Kashmir Issue). Having waited for all this long to plan a trip to Ladakh and having already spent substantially on the air fares all we were left with is to hope for the best that things fall in place.
By the time of flight on the 11th August dayend, not much of the situation had improved. So we had our Plan Z in place and took to the flight and checked in our baggage directly for Srinagar though we had a connection via Delhi.
Plan A
Srinagar {CAB/PUBLIC TPT} Leh {RENTED BIKE} Leh {HPTDC BUS} Manali {BUS} Delhi
Plan Z
Srinagar {FLIGHT} DELHI {BUS} MANALI {RENTED BIKE} SPITI-KASOL- MANALI-{BUS}- DELHI
So going to Srinagar and having our own view of the things around there before making a turn around into Plan Z was the unanimous decision then.
Srinagar came at 6.30 am odd after a scantily occupied DEL-SXR 6E flight.
Srinagar:
It was our first time into the valley, We already had starting liking Kashmir after the aerial sunrise views we got to see. We had a sense of the situation out there given the occupancy of the A320 being 20-30 against a full capacity of 180. Out of the airport and we were (no so) greeted by the JK police and CRPF armed personel. Took a cab to the TRC (Tourist Reception centre) that is the nucleus for visiting tourist. To start with the cabbie was quite friendly and helpful;narrating his side of the story; negotiating his was through the police and CRPF vans,canters & jeeps starting their day and taking positions for the day that was FRIDAY. Laying of barbed wire at crossroads being carried out by the police as the start of Curfew to be imposed from 0800 hrs was the goosebump evoking scene we witnessed as our qualis made to the TRC. At TRC, the JKSRTC Delux that leaves for Leh aound 0730 Hrs had been cancelled for the next 3 days. No Force Travelers were lined up for departure. Out of the 2 cabwalas that were ready to take us to leh. We (had to) narrowed down on one. Got all the Luggage tied up on the overhead carrier on the Tavera and set asail.
Only having to make a U-turn in 15 minutes as the novice driver sensed trouble on the road we had to take out of Srinagar.
(to be continued)
(Would be writing this long one in pieces everyday over the next few days as and when time shall allow. Apologies in advance as is don't intend to bore anyone with the tortoise pace)
