Mission Kashmir 2014 - Day ZERO
Dec 12, 2014 –
Dec 19, 2014
Planning – Confusion – Withdrawal – Packing!
As the time for
kids’ school vacation grew closer, my & my elder brother (an expert on
driving) started chalking out a travel plan. His fellow IITian, we knew since
years, works with BRO as an Executive Engineer and naturally had been living at
all the remote places where we visit to get the adrenaline rush. This time, on
enquiring, we found out he is staying in Akhnoor and was about to leave the
place for a better life – the life we abhor, quite a bit. I coerced &
forced my brother to visit him at least now. He confirmed the trip to start on
Dec 24th which would be the start of the kid’s vacation. However,
later, he advised that due to BRO logistical issues, it would be better to
leave Delhi on Saturday Dec 20th itself. He also advised that by
leaving on 20th, we would be able to beat the Tourist Rush, which
proved to be so true later. Quickly, on a quest of finding places to go after
Akhnoor, I logged in to my favorite website – www.bcmtouring.com
And voila, I
found out Mr RK Bharat’s blog which outlined just the perfect self-drive trip
which we ended up doing. He took his SX4 through the snow without snow chains
and visited the Kashmir Valley in a Delhi registered vehicle. I took the
travelogue page to my brother and both our eyes glittered with excitement and
plausibility. However we didn’t know what the over-hyped deadly evening news
had in store for us. It was a hard time to convince Mom & Dad. Eventually,
we had to withdraw our plans of driving into Kashmir – rather keep satisfied
with Katra & Patni Top or Khajjiar. With a deflated feeling, I expressed my
desire to withdraw from the trip but I am so fortunate that eventually I packed
my luggage just a day ahead and sat in the car.
In our minds we knew that if Tunnel would not be
snowed in, we would attempt an entry into the Valley. We also had to keep in
minds the ongoing elections there. Our hearts were also affixed upon Mughal
Road (courtesy BCMTouring).
