Srinagar to Kashgar by Road : The First Motorised Crossing of the Greatest Mountain Ranges

Once the Expedition commenced there arose new Challenges. Though the Afghanistan Civil War had ended, the situation in North Afghanistan and Routes into the Pamirs were far from being safe for the Expedition. So another detour was decided. It was decided that the Expedition would now crossover into India from Afghanistan and then they would take the Mountain track that connected Srinagar in Kashmir with Yarkand / Tashkurgan in Chinese Turkestan or what is now Xinjiang

The Consulate at Chini Bagh

passport-kashgar-amarchand-hoshiarpur-kargil-leh-yarkand

The story of Chinni Bagh, which at once upon a time was the Consulate of the British Empire in Kashgar to facilitate the Trade between India and Central Asia and also keeping a watch on the Russians during the Great Game.

The Uighur Hajis

These were also adventurers but there adventure was in the name of God. The Uighur Hajis who traveled the Leh Yarkand Route only to proceed further into mainland India and then across the Arabian Sea to do the Haj Pilgrimage.

The Gurudwara and the Hindu Dharamshala at Leh

The Gurudwara and the Hindu Dharamshala at Leh. A link back to the time when Punjabi traders connected the Trans Himalayas with the Indian Plains. Mostly from Hoshairpur they were major players in the trade with Central Asia via Ladakh. And some are still there

The Kashmir Ladakh Yarkand TransHimalayan Silk Route

Notes from the Kashmir Ladakh Yarkand Trade Route / Silk Route

The Worst Trade Route in the World

The Story of the Trade Route or the Silk Route which connected Kashmir with Yarkand in Central Asia via Ladakh. The Route passed through some of the most inhospitable Mountain terrain and over the highest Passes in the World. No wonder some one called it “The Worst Trade Route in the World”