Here
are two photographs, both taken in Kufri, almost at the same spot but about 30
years apart.
The
photograph with Lord Mountbatten, his wife Edwina and Nehru in an open car,
windscreen down. It’s summer time.
The
second photograph is in Kufri. It’s in the late 60’s and the distance is still
in miles. That’s me standing next to the milestone. The hills are snow covered.
It’s winter. Kufri, a quaint little Himachali village is on the National
Highway that went till Narkanda, which was the road head. Beyond Narkanda was a
mule track.
As
the British made inroads into this area, Kinnaur, and its border with Tibet
they realised the Military and commercial importance of this road.
Starting
around 1866, the road was extended upto Kaurik on the Tibet border. It was
called The Hindustan Tibet Road.
The
great game was on. It was the Russian Bear versus the British Lion for
dominance and influence in Central Asia. This road would give the British
Military might to be in Central Asia in one swift move.
The
partition in 1947 put an end to all those aspirations.
The
road building continued. Today the road is a marvel of engineering and a work
of art.
I
also think it has to be one of the most spectacularly beautiful drives in the
world. Only the Himalaya can offer you that.
There
is a place called Karcham at the confluence of the Rivers Satluj and Baspa. The
road onwards is in the shadow of the awesome Kinner-Kailash range of mountains.
Jorkanden
at 6473 metres is the highest, flanked by Kailash 6050 metres, Peak C at 5977
metres and Raldang at 5499 metres.
Everyone
today wants an SUV. I don’t know why? But even any sedan today is a reliable
and roadworthy car.
You
owe it to yourself and your family to take this drive.
