My Travel

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The Jammu - Srinagar national highway (NH 1A), the only winter route to Kashmir, is frequently disrupted due to heavy accumulation of snow at Batot - Patni top, Banihal tunnel and Quazi gund. Numerous frequent landslides and hurtling down of small bridges on the valley makes the traffic difficult. Heavy snows generally commence in October and the falls carry till May. Zoji la (3980 m, pass) leading to Ladakh (Leh) from Srinagar remains closed for almost six months. Closing of Khardung la (5602 m, world's highest motorable road from Leh to Siachen glacier base at Panamik) causes the road movement and stocking schedules of Shyok and Siachen garrisons.

Those on the other side of Khardung la acts as an airfield for Siachen. Line of Control beyond the point NJ 9842 (Siachen) was undetermined and was captured by Indian Army in 1984.

Series of bomb blasts ripped through the Kashmir valley and on the national highways on both sides of Jawahar tunnel at Banihal, random bomb blasts near Srinagar club, detection of a powerful explosive device inside the Jawahar tunnel itself, frequented prolonged 'hartals' at Srinagar, unidentified gunmen on motorcycles opened fire at the sentry posts outside the residence of the sessions judge, firing near Inspector General office, killing of three terrorists in an encounter, a car was blown up in Lal Chowk and bombs were lobbed at a police piquet at Zaldagar bridge, two extremists fired at a CRPF post in the High court premises, several bomb blasts at various tourist complexes in the city, extremists lobbed a hand grenade on the roof of the TV transmission centre and at various police out posts.

A bus carrying CRPF 'jawans' were bombed by a remotely operated device killing more than 16, a powerful time bomb was detected at the Srinagar airport and was disarmed later, mob violence and protests, riots, military convoys were targeted by remotely operated bombs, grenades were lobbed at an ammunition depot, airfields of Avantipur and Badgam
were attacked using rockets in a commando style operation by terrorists and damaged a couple of parked aircrafts.

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Major fires : A major fire broke out in Army petrol depot and JKSRTC bus stand due to the firing of MZ A17 flame thrower. The staff of Radio Kashmir was held at pistol point and a programme was aired by the terrorists. The terrorists fled in a jeep after throwing two petrol bombs, power stations and transmission towers were regularly damaged in attacks, one tube of the Banihal tunnel was blocked for more than 24 hours when a truck blew up halfway, a number of houses (mainly made of wood) were set on fire by militants while escaping, two trucks in the up convoy were damaged by mines at Zoji la, frequent bank robberies, fire from automatic weapons were even directed to armed forces Head quarters and lots more.

The most disturbing feature in Kashmir was the total passivity of the police during 'bandhs' and strikes.

Large number of Kashmiri youths were trained in guerrilla warfare at Pak occupied Kashmir and send back to India with sophisticated automatic weapons to disrupt the peace in the valley. They are provided with automatic weapons, huge quantities of ammunition, hand grenades, plastic explosives and money. Training camps are located near the Line of Control and are run by experienced Afghan Mujahids. Batches of 500 Kashmiri youths were trained at a time here. The financial support for these caps were done by POK administration and from their donations of the businessmen of the area.

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Oh, it's so beautiful. Can you up more some pictures

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On the first week of Sept 2007, I visited the mystery lake of Roopkund and Zorawar gali (5350 m) in Uttarakhand, India.

It was a moderate trek at high altitude over a well defined stone paved route. The weather during the 52 km to and fro trek was nice.

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Red Fort (Lal Qila) : The sandstone walls of the Red Fort (Rs 11, Monday closed) extend for 2 km and vary in height from 18 m on the river side to 33 m on the city side. Shah Jahan began construction of the massive fort in 1638 and it was completed in 1648. Shah Jahan never completely moved his capital from Agra to his new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi because he was deposed and imprisoned in Agra fort by his son Aurangazeb.

The Red Fort dates from the very peak of Mughal power. The Mughal reign from Delhi was a short one, however, Aurangazeb was the first and last great Mughal emperor to rule from here.

The Yamuna river used to flow right by the eastern edge of the fort, and once filled the 10 m deep moat. Tickets are available at Lahore Gate entrance.

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Lahore Gate : It is the gate of the fort which faces towards Lahore, now in Pakistan. Inside the fort on will see a vaulted arcade known as Chatta Chowk (Covered Bazaar). The arcade of shops once sold items that the royal household might fancy - silks, jewellery and gold.

The arcade leads to the Naubat Khana, or Drum house, where musicians used to play for the emperor. There is an Indian war memorial museum upstairs (Rs 2). The open courtyard beyond the drum house formerly had galleries along either side, but these were removed by the British army when the fort was used as it's headquarters. Other reminders of the British presence are the monumentally ugly, three storey barrack blocks that are situated to the north of this courtyard.

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Diwan I Am : The Hall of Public audiences was where the emperor would sit to hear complaints or disputes from his subjects. His alcove in the wall was marble paneled and set with precious stones, many of which were looted following the 1857 Uprising. This elegant hall was restored following a directive by Lord Curzon, the viceroy of India between 1898 and 1905.

Diwan I Khas : The Hall of Private audiences, constructed of white marble, was the luxurious chamber where the emperor would hold private meetings. The centrepiece (Until Nadir Shah carted it off to Iran in 1739) was the magnificent solid gold and jewel studded peacock throne. In 1760 the Marathas also removed the silver ceiling from the hall, so today it's a pale shadow of its former glory.

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Royal baths : Next to Diwan I Khas are the hammams (baths) - three large rooms surmounted by domes, with a fountain in the centre - one of which was set up as a sauna. The floors were once inlaid with pietra dura (marble inlay work), and the rooms were illuminated through panels of coloured glass in the roof.

Shahi Burj : This modest, three storey, octagonal, tower located at the north eastern edge of the fort was once Shah Jahan's private working area. From here, water used to flow south through the Royal baths, the Diwan i Khas, the Khas Mahal and on to the Rang Mahal.

Moti Masjid : Built in 1659 by Aurangazeb for his own personal use and security, the small and totally enclosed Pearl mosque, made of marble, is next to the baths. One curious feature of this mosque is that its outer walls are oriented exactly in symmetry with the rest of the fort, while the inner walls are slightly askew, so that the mosque has the correct orientation with Mecca.

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Gardens : Between these buildings were highly formal Charbaghs (garden divided into quarters), complete with fountains, pools and small pavilions. While the general outline and some pavilions are still in place, the gardens are not what they once were.

The Khas Mahal, south of Diwan I Khas, was the emperor's private palace, divided into rooms for worship, sleeping and living.

The Rang Mahal, the palace of colour, further south again, took its name from its painted interior, which is now gone. This was once the residence of the emperor's chief wife, and is where he ate. On the floor in the centre there's an exquisitely carved marble lotus, and the water flowing along the channel from the Shahi Burj is used to end up here.

Relics of the Mughal era are displayed at the Museum of Archaeology (admission Rs 2) in the Mumtaz Mahal, still further south along the eastern wall. A sound and light show is at 1930 h daily is organised in the fort at Rs 50 (one hour show).

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Chandni Chowk is the Old Delhi's main through fare where Sisganj Gurudwara is located.

Sunheri Masjid : In 1739 Nadir Shah, the Persian invader, stood on the roof of this mosque and watched while his soldiers conducted a bloody massacre of Delhi's inhabitants. Located near the Red fort.