Five years ago the Galwan Valley was in the News for the wrong reasons after a deadly clash between the Indian and Chinese Armies in the Valley located in Ladakh lead to many deaths on the contentious Border between the two countries in wake of continued Chinese intrusions into Indian territory.
This area along the Shyok River, of which the Galwan Nallah or the Galwan River which forms the Galwan Valley has been off limits to Civilians since long but now the Indian Government has decided to open up the area for Civilians and we were amongst the First Civilians to venture into this beautifully desolate part of the Eastern Karakorams in Ladakh. Earlier Civilians could only venture upto the Village of Shyok from where the Shyok River takes a U turn and flows in a Northerly direction.
We undertook the Journey on the 16th of June as a part of our Karakoram Odyssey though the original opening Date has been postponed from June 15 earlier to July 15 due to unavoidable circumstances. No Special Permits are required for visiting the Galwan Valley but do get your Inner Line Permits in place.Please note that you have to report at the Shyok TCP (Traffic Control Point) before 10 AM as no one would be allowed beyond 10 AM to travel any further into the Shyok Valley. And you are not allowed to stay at the Galwan Memorial beyond 3 PM.
On the whole the Journey from Shyok to the Galwan River is around 120 kms and takes around 3 Hours and its mostly a good Road surface. Please note that the complete stretch is bereft of any inhabitation except for Army Camps on the Road which are also far apart. Please carry enough Drinking Water and Light Snacks Munchies Chocolates when you embark on this Journey.
Historically this Route along the Shyok River was the traditional Winter Route on the Silk Route Trade as the Traders used to walk on the Frozen Shyok River further up North to the point where the Chang Chenmo River met the Shyok. From the Chang Chenmo side it was connected to Tibet and China. From hee one could walk all the way to Daulat Beg Oldie and up the Karakoram Pass into the Trans Karakoram and Central Asia on their way to Kashgar and Yarkand.
There are still signs of this Track as one drives towards Galwan on the other side of the River. There are also remains of an Old Mud Fort which housed Tax Collectors on the Route. There is also a small Monastery, Tarsing Karmo Monastery, on the way under a Rock. There is another interesting point on the way where as per local legends a Golden Fish can be seen by those Pure at Heart.
What appealed to me was the complete desolation of the place in spite of the Shyok River flowing through the Valley. This is a part of Eastern Karakorams where we were lucky to be amongst the first civilians to witness this enchanting Valley.
You can explore other such places like the Siachen Base Camp and the Turtuk Thang area as a part of our Karakoram Odyssey where we cover the Karakorams in Ladakh which most people are unaware of.