By an occasional correspondent: Denis Buchan BSc. MEngSc, past member Institional Engineers Australia Some of the guys forming a protest committee located in Marwah Valley The fabulous Marwah Valley- entrance way to Kishtwar National Park Many of you may be wondering why a foreigner would pick this place the Marwah Valley to write about. Well the fact of the matter is I have … Continue reading →
19th July 2014 Today we expect to go over Umassi la. It has been a great trip and I hope I am up to it. This is to be a momentous day for me. From our rock shelter you can see a waterfall entering a depression. We head towards it. There are two ways over the waterfall which we must cross. Sheep generally go … Continue reading →
In Machail I was determined to find some nice accommodation. The lack of sleep was getting to me and I needed to get things shipshape before the climb. I actually wasn’t too sure how to go about this so just asked at the various houses around the temple area and In particular the ones that I thought looked most attractive. I found a very … Continue reading →
I am now almost at Atholi. Atholi is one of my favourite villages which I have been wanting to return to for some time. I am hungry, hot and thirsty as I approach Atholi on the Kishtwar road. The men I meet seem sullen too and perhaps that is the effect of Ramadan. Children pass me on there way home from school shy but … Continue reading →
from my friend Chris Zandee ‘It is madness but it looks you are nice and busy. We have distributed food and will help with pumping water. business has been paused as the whole valley has been paused and stopped for now 2 weeks. It will take months and some years to recover. Financial loss is high. Agricultural loss is also huge to trees animals … Continue reading →
Introduction Last year I went to Padum, in the Zanskar valley with the intention of traversing Umassi La into Jammu. This is a relatively high walk described as demanding with the top of the pass being 5340m. As it happened I think I had a re-occurrence of Ross River Virus and after some struggles getting to Padum just wasn’t up to the challenge. This … Continue reading →
Tit for Tat-or can freedom ever exist?- this is a copy of the letter I am submitting to the Kashmiri newspapers. Padam, Ladakh 21st July, 2013- a ghost town Why is the world so cruel? I cannot believe what happened on my recent visit to Padam. Padam is located in the Zanskar region of Ladakh and administered by Kargil. Ladakh itself has until recently … Continue reading →
Yesterday Dr. Masood Shah invited me to join him on a Dental Camp. The purpose of this session was to assess the dental problems associated with the orphans at the Raahat Manzil. These assessments was ostensibly run by the Dental Association of India but in reality were volunteers from the Srinagar sub-branch. Raahat Manzil was set up by volunteers to look after children who … Continue reading →
Bilal’s family live in Yordu. In order for one to get to Yordu it is necessary to cross the Mawau River either via the old bridge or via the newer suspension bridge which takes a larger load. Then a short walk up the hill to a sort of commons where some shops are located on one side and a Forest Rest House just to … Continue reading →
Last year I was fortunate enough to visit the Marwah Valley as part of my trek from Sonder to Baital . This was a great adventure but the need to return even if only to see parts of it again seemed important to me. I was especially upset when my camera disappeared in the final hours probably stolen on the bus I took from … Continue reading →
