The Sheep of Sinthan

June 15, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

The Sheep of Sinthan

On our recent long foray into the Mountains me and Tahlan Sir decided to go to the Sinthan Pass as it had opened just a day earlier. In the evening we were warned by some people that there was some Militant activity around the Pass and we should avoid.

Of course we had our own sources and being from Kashmir these thing hardly perturb me. Anyways we got our all clear and started our Journey towards Sinthan. Because of the incident which took place one day before the security personnel were on alert and the check points to the Pass were manned by the Army. The Army men were rather amused when they saw a HR registered Fortuner with two not so young men wanting to go to Sinthan Pass. We were asked why we were going there ? I told them well I am missing home and if I feel like I might go to Srinagar from there and if I m not in the mood I will come back. They obviously laughed. :)

And soon we were on our way through this beautiful pristine area which still lives in an era gone by. The Gujjars were also on the move with their livestock, Horses, Families and Dogs. The population in the area is a mixed bag, there are Hindu Kishtawaris who live in the higher Villages, Muslim Kishtawaris (some of Kashmiri) descent in the Villages along the Road and Gujjars on the move and also living in some of the Villages. This mixing gives this area a unique cultural identity and adds to the charm of the place. Mosques and Temples around each other. It almost gave a notion of Paradise but of course this area has had its share of troubles.

Anyways the drive upto the top was just amazing with a lot of Snow walls right till the top of the Pass and some more on the other side. Anyways once on top I told Ramesh Sir that lets go down to Kashmir and have a cup of tea at the first place we find in Kashmir. And it was while going down that we met these guys. And surely they looked dangerous, but they didnt bother us and to me they looked like Tourists going upto their favourite holiday destination. Have a look ;)

And of course we had Tea at a shack set up by a Gujjar boy and served Girdas with Butter and Tea. And then we met a Gentleman there. Well thats a story for another day.

Video from the Kashmir Side of the Sinthan Pass. June 2019.

Gurez to Drass

May 14, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

Gurez to Drass Road

A Road which connects Gurez to Drass via the Kaobal Gali. This provides an alternate Route from Kashmir into Ladakh via Gurez instead of the Zoji La but as of now the Road remains Off limits for Civilians and only Military Vehicles are allowed. Presenting some exclusive pics of this beautiful Road and hoping one day its opened for normal Civilian traffic.

The Minaret of Jam

May 14, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

Deep in the heart of the Koh-Baba Mountains which is one of the most westerly extension of the Hindu Kush Range, at an elevation of around 1900 m above sea level and at the confluence of the Hari Raud (Herat) and the Jam Rud Rivers lies a magnificent Monument. This Monument is a free standing Minaret and is the second highest free standing Minaret in the World. Second only to our very own Qutab Minar it actually was the inspiration for the Qutab Minar.

Of the Himalayan Mountains and Rivers

April 29, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

The Rivers and the Himalayas and the even the Mountain Ranges beyond it are always interacting in very interesting ways. In this article we see how the River Basins of the Indus, Ganges and Satluj and the Mountains interact and in some cases the River Basins extend beyond the Ranges themselves.

The Illustrated Mountain Geography of Ladakh

April 24, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

The mighty Nun Peak of the Great Himalayan Range at 7135 m its the highest Himalayan Peak in Jammu ans Kashmir (not including the areas under occupation). On the side is the Saddle Peak.

The Mountain Geography of Ladakh makes for interesting reading situated as it is between the Great Himalayan Range and the Karakoram Range. Also running within Ladakh are the Ladakh Range and the Zanskar Range but most people do not have a clear idea as to which Pass co-relates to which Pass.

The Exploration of the Siachen or Rose Glacier

April 17, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

The Siachen Map

The Story of the Exploration of the Siachen Glacier. This Glacier, now said to be the highest Battlefield in the World, was first Explored and Mapped by a team led by a Lady Fanny Bullock. This is her Story as well as Guide to explaining the Siachen Glacier with its main features and Glaciers around it.

The Brahui of the Bolan Pass, Baluchistan

April 16, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

The Brahui are a Tribe that inhabit Balochistan around the Bolan Pass traditionally. However unlike other Tribes in the area which speak Indo European languages, the language of the Brahui, also called Brahui belongs to the Dravidian family of languages pointing out there relationship with people living in South India where the Dravidian family languages are spoken.

The Enchanting Padri Gali

April 8, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

The enchanting Padri Pass or Padri Galli or Padri Top which connects Chamba in Himachal Pradesh with Bhaderwah in the Jammu Division of Jammu and Kashmir at around 10,400 feet amsl. It is located around 110 kms from Chamba Town and around 40 kms from Bhaderwah and is the highest point of the Chamba Bhaderwah Highway. This is one of the important Passes which connects J and K with Himachal. In older times Bhaderwah was a part of the powerful Chamba Kingdom which held Kishtwar as well and even Zanskar.

The Inter-State Himalayan Boundary Dispute at 14000 ft

April 7, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

An Inter-State Boundary dispute at 14000 ft beyond the mighty Baralacha La between the Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The dispute involves the marking of the actual Border between Lahaul on the Himachal side and Ladakh on the Jammu and Kashmir side.

The Burmese Tamils of Moreh

April 5, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

There live in the Border town of Moreh, in Manipur on the India Myanmar Border a community of Tamils who came from Burma where they had settled Centuries ago after migrating from Tamil Nadu. The Community of Tamils still control the majority of the cross-border Trade between India and Myanmar that takes place here.

Kiki

The Sheep of Sinthan