DAY 10 - June 13,2010 - PANAMIK - KHALSAR

PANAMIK - KHALSAR


We started early from Panamik,so that we can visit Diskit,Hunder in the morning and cross Khardung La before afternoon.

Nubra valley known as the valley of flowers,but what the heck it didnt had any flowers at our time

Complete region was dry and parched.But still i was taking plenty of stops to capture the beauty of the Nubra Valley.

Soon we made it to Diskit and then Hunder
SAND Dunes at Hunder

At hunder we stopped for the breakfast.It was a south indian canteen,where you can get idli's dosa's..uthappa and yeah samosa,jalebi's too.Since it was too early in the morning,we have to wait for 1/2 or 1 hour.
Me and Ashish had taken the permit for turtuk as well.So i enquired in the canteen that, "how far is it ??".The canteen guy had an i am not sure expression but still he threw away an answer 'its only 40 Kms from here'
And i immediately asked everyone,'who is ready to go '.But nobody was ready

So i thought for a while and decided to go solo.while the others decided to have breakfast and spend some time at sand dunes...and ofcourse they agreed to wait for me for max 2 hours.

After riding for 5-6 kms the 'F-' sign started to blink.
But no worries,as i had 5 ltrs of fuel in stock.So i kept on riding.

Later on my way some army fellas stopped me by blocking all the road,just to check out my bike.Later they asked me for the lift .Two of them jumped on my bike,but i politely said "sir jii ek hi banda jayega sirf".
The army station was around 8 Km from there.Just to reconfirm the distance of turtuk i asked him that how far is it.He said its very far,But not sure how many kms.

I dropped him at the base,he offered me tea and snacks.But i was having very less time on my hand so i said "thankyou" and zoomed ahead.I had almost travelled 40Kms but there was no sign of Turtuk.Finally saw a checkpost,where i was stopped to show the permit.

He was a police guy.
he said "sir you cannot go ahead".
I said "why"
Because "you are solo,we cannot allow single person to go ahead..If i will let you go.Then the army check posts ahead will stop you and ask you to return"
I said "Common sir,I am coming from all the way from Mumbai to see this place and now you are returning me back"
argument like these continued for 15-20 mins and then i finally gave up and offered him some money.100 Rs

Vistas along the way

And he let me go,and said if you were asked about your second partner at posts ahead then just tell them he is taking rest at the nearby village.

And yeah he told me one more amazing thing that,Turtuk is still 40 Kms away from here.Hunder to Turtuk is 80 kms one side
Ok,so i started for Turtuk again.After some 20 Kms i got stopped at

Military check post,where i submitted the copy of the pemit.Army guy was not too concerned about me being solo.He just asked where is the other guy.I added some spice to make it more real and replied "He is having loose motions so he stopped for the break at the last village,If later on he comes here can you please let him pass ".He said 'OK'

Vistas along the way

Again 20 Kms of run and i reached turtuk village,there again you have to submit a copy of the permit.The police guy at the check post was very friendly.I invited him for tea and had a chat for couple of mins.Like how do you guys get food,how is situation at the border any major problems you guys face.

Turtuk Farms

Over the conversation i came to know from a villager that,This village was part of Pakistan but in war of 1971 india captured some good 20-25 kms. from the previous border.Actually there was a bridge enroute.This side of bridge was Pakistan and that side of bridge was India.Now the bridge and some odd 30 kms are in India

Here is the bridge

The Police man showed me the pakistan border,pakistan posts.But from the village it's just very very far.You can just see and assume,yeah there it is.

So i went ahead and there was a military camp ,beyond that point no touritst are allowed.
I started my return journey from there.And in couple of hours made it back to Hunder.I went to the same canteen and ordered Masala Dosa,Oh i hadn't eaten anything from the morning i was vey hungry.

Again i met our Mumbai xbhpians.They were out of fuel and there was no fuel available at Diskit.Damn they were in deep trouble.
I wish i could have helped them but i just used my reserve 5 ltrs before entering Hunder.

Had an heavy breafast with them and started ahead for Khardung La.And what i see at Khalsar is,that all the lazy bums are sitting there and playing cards.I said wats up..They said 'Road is closed today because of major snowfall'.

They had booked a dormitory for 100 rs per bed. I just went there and crashed to bed as i was very tired.

Cheers
Biru