Saluting our heroes at the highest battlefield in the world!

Today, July 26 or Kargil Vijay Divas, marks 18 years of India’s successful capture of all the outposts lost to intruders and the resulting victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War, a high altitude war along the mountain peaks near the Line of Control that divides the beautiful state of Kashmir between the two countries. This full-fledged military showdown between the two countries erupted after infiltrators from Pakistan were detected by local shepherds taking control of hills in the Indian Territory. 


The difficult terrain of the region limited the extent of engagement with heavy artillery shelling by the enemy on National Highway NH 1D that cuts through Dras and Kargil. The area that witnessed the infiltration is a 160 km long stretch overlooking this only road linking Srinagar and Leh. Even today, the wall that was built by the Indian Army to assist vehicles and help them avoid being targeted by the enemy still stands! Yes, the Srinagar-Leh highway on which thousands of tourists travel every summer was directly in the vision of the enemy. There is a signboard here which reads something like this:

"You are under enemy observation"

To put things in perspective, Kargil is just 170 odd kms from the Pakistani town of Skardu, which provided logistical and artillery support to Pakistani combatants during the war. And Batalik is right there, at the border, about 60 kms from Kargil towards Skardu. So that’s as close as you can get! 

Last Indian outpost in Batalik!

The town of Dras is primarily known to most people because of the Kargil war. It is indeed unsettling when you walk through the streets here and see the mountains right in front where a fierce war was fought. Considered as the gateway to Ladakh, Dras is situated about 142 kms from Srinagar at an altitude of 11000 feet and directly faces the northern areas across the LOC. 

Welcome to Drass! 

The small town of Drass- in the background

What makes this victory even more impressive is the fact that with well-prepared defensive posts atop these mountain peaks, the enemy enjoyed advantages of having a bird’s eye view and the Indian army’s difficulties were just exacerbated by the high altitude and freezing temperatures of the terrain. A board declaring Drass to be the second coldest inhabited place on earth (Siberia being the first) greets you. 

Approaching the town of Dras

10 kms after Dras is the location of the Kargil War Memorial, and a visit to this ground is extremely painful and disturbing and makes you as angry and emotional as you can get. The huge tricolor swaying high, against the Tololing mountain range is sure to give everyone goosebumps! A humbling visit it has been indeed, both the times that I have been here.

Batra Transit Camp, enroute Drass- the board in the background also provides a reference to the lowest temperature ever recorded- minus 60 degrees! 

 

Proud of our soldiers! The tricolour looks gorgeous! 

The flame that burns continuously with a soldier guarding it- in memory of the shaheed jawans of Operation Vijay

 

Goosebumps- a tribute to every soldier who lost his life

No need to caption that!

Tiger Hill, the highest and the most famous mountain peak of this region is clearly visible from here.

The historic Tiger Hill in the background

Now you realize why I intentionally chose to keep the pictures of the war memorial out of my previous post! Saved it for the right occasion, and nothing better than today!

Jai Hind! :)