This bit was already uploaded on my Blog, thought will post the same here and let the caravan move on.
Somnath and Rishabh have put on some quality drool stuff already, the pics by me here are more to take you through the journey of Leg 3
The LADAKH SAGA Part- 3
Sonamarg to Kargil.
19th, Aug 2014.
It was an early rise for the team at 5.30 am. Enthusiasm amongst the group members was high and rightly so, we were about to cross the notorious Zozila! first of the many passes in our epic journey. From 2743 mtrs we?d be climbing upto 3530 mtrs almost a km vertically! Absence of hot water ensured that none of us was willing to risk a bath, (remember the tap water was freezing), dressed & ready by 7 am, we were eager to set out for our onward journey.
About to leave the confines of the army camp, were we forgetting something? Ah Yes!
A selfie!!!! And
with grins galore the selfie was taken, I need to mention here that Rishabh did a small jig prior to this but the same was not captured well by me. Sorry Rishabh!!.
IMG_2680 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
The road was still a well laid tarmac, and with the early morning rays caressing the distant mountains and the river 'Sindhu' following us blissfully as company, must say it was a start as good as any. The countryside was breathtakingly beautiful making charming postcards of restless streams and green fields as witnessed from the moving vehicle.
IMG_2710 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
Barely a few kms later, Somnath asked the vehicle to stop , the ?Boss? had scouted another photo op. The river making a beautiful ?S?, with fields below and the distant lit mountain tops making a perfect backdrop, unfortunately I was not able to capture the frame properly
and shall wait for the others to pitch in with better photographs.
A few kms later leaning out from the window of the moving car I saw this frame and with half my body stretched out, shot it much to the chagrin of my fellow friends who held on to my jacket with the sole intent of pulling me in, Well I had my shot .
IMG_2703.editJPG by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
The road was now ascending and we were continuously gaining height I could see the dew covered green blanket on the hillocks which were now turning more rocky. The view towards Baltal as we were ascending the Zoji La Pass was spectacular and warranted a stop, but our intent of crossing the Zozila before 8am and beating the traffic bottle-neck wisely ensured that we did not stop.
IMG_2748 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
Here's another one:
IMG_2720 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
The road was entirely absent now and had by now petered to a dirt track , cutting and winding through sheer rockface of different hues and colors, the gradient frightening, a sure sign that we were approaching the pass.
IMG_2742edit by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
Looking down could see the serpentine narrow road making those elusive ?Z?s?, on one side the sheer cliff face and a sheer drop on the right that made the hair stand, the drop almost at right angle to the ground was a good 500 mtrs plus and we were thankful when we finally navigated it successfully.
The curves though would do any damsels proud.
IMG_2757 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
Can you imagine that we traveled on this road?
IMG_2752 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
The dirt-track winds and winds till you come to the top known as India Gate, after which there is a steady descent to Zero Point. The Zozila is only 11,500 feet, but being narrow and subject to the vagaries of nature is what makes it challenging. The final ascend is paved with interlocking stones and the bright green board greeting us to declare that we had indeed reached the top and the Zozila had at last been captured . From the Sonamarg checkpost the India gate check post at the top of the pass is some 27 kms away , a journey that took us an hour and a quarter even with no traffic bottlenecks.
Vital stats
: Zozila alt 3530 Mtrs/11649 ft.
Tip: Do enquire about the exact timing when the one way traffic is regulated to and from the Pass and ensure you are ahead of the queue.
Zozila by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
Just ahead of the pass during our descent into the Drass valley I sighted a ?Bakarwal camp? Bakarwal?s are a nomadic tribe of hardy lineage who roam in the Himalayan mountains with their livestock, a few children came up to us and we were happy to photograph them. In the local language ?Drass means Hell? and it earned the name by being the ?Second Coldest Colonized Place in Asia? What says you???
IMG_2812 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
Happy as only kids can be
IMG_2821 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
Crossing Matayan Alt 3793 (17km from the pass) we saw a couple of tea-stalls and the realization set in that we were yet to have our breakfast, the foodie in me refused to proceed ahead with rumblings in the stomach and the group gave in and stopped for breakfast. With a bare rocky mountain of the most intrinsic colors as a backdrop, it was a hearty breakfast of heavily buttered slices of Yum tasting local bread, omlettes and cups of steaming hot tea. I remember Somnath shooting me making an omelette here, hope he can pitch in and share that pic. The majority of the populace at Matayan are Sunni muslims and chatting with the tea stall owner I was told that the place was base for some wonderful treks into the ?Suru valley? which pass through flower laden meadows and some of the most beautiful vista?s known to man, hmm?.. food for thought for another day maybe!!
IMG_2830 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
2 km ahead of Matayan another vista lay in store for us at Draupadi kund, A small, not too clean pond alongside a small structure, which looked like a picnic spot once upon a time but now shut and barricaded. Queen Draupadi of the Mahabharata fame according to folklore, took her last bath here before she was put to rest in the mountains. The reflections in the still water were worth capturing and I share my humble attempt with you here.
IMG_2835 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
A few kms before The Batra transit camp which is 13 kms ahead of Draupadi Kund, we encountered some wild horses taking a dip in the river which had made another beautiful ?S? and with a bridge in the foreground and the golden lit meadows and mountains in the background, I was able to capture this from the moving car.
(Different colors of wilderness)
IMG_2854 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
The road by now had made an appearance albeit with potholes and craters that made the going slow but as before, was no longer winding as a serpent . There were more straight stretches and one such vista was captured from the moving vehicle with the mountains in the backdrop and the Surru river giving us company. Just before Draas was this panoramic expanse
IMG_2863 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
Crossing the town of Drass, with the road having improved we were merrily on our way to Kargil via Karbu. Kargil is about 60 kms from Drass.
town of Drass by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
As you enter Kargil you cannot miss the huge Kargil war memorial on the left and this was our next halt to pay our homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war. The sun was right up and was not the best of times to shoot in such harsh conditions all the same, I conclude and leave you with some snapshots of the memorial.
IMG_2896edit by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
IMG_2908 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
IMG_2926 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
IMG_2965edit by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
IMG_2957 by
jasiiboss, on Flickr
Adios for now friends!! 
