Our Leh - Ladakh Trip

 Our Leh - Ladakh Trip - 11 AUG 24

Hunder - Turtuk -Thang - Hunder.

Our Leh Trip.

11 August 2024. 

Hunder - Turtuk - Thang - Hunder.

Today we would see Tartuk and  Thang. 

The nameTurtuk brings to mind the golden letter events in the history of the Indian Army when in 1971 war Pakistani forces were driven back and an area of about 580 sq km including five villages Turtuk, Bogdang, Tyakshi, Chalunkha and Dhothangwere brought within the Indian Territory.

During 1971 Turtuk sector saw some of the fiercest battles of the war where the enemy was outfought, and outsmarted and the element of surprise was used to the fullest extent.

In the Turtuk Sector​ Major Chewang Rinchen was made in charge of driving back the Pakistani forces from POK. His forces consisted of 3 companies of Ladakh Scouts​ which were supported by 2 platoons of the Nubra Guards, 2 sections of 81mm mortars and 2 sections of MMGs.​ The most commanding spot in the area was point 18402. As the mane suggests it is a mountain feature 18402 feet above the mean sea level with very steep slopes and rugged, hard and difficult approaches. Amongst all the axes (plural of Axis) along which an assault could be mounted, assault on and from point 18402 was the most difficult. As the enemy was well dug in the commanding locations, daylight assault was considered suicidal hence all the attacks were to be carried out during the dark nights. No one imagined that a silent dark night attack would be mounted from the direction of point 18402. That is precisely what  Major Chewang Rinchen did, a silent night attack under the most difficult conditions, in freezing weather was launched. The enemy was taken by complete surprise and after a hard fight, the objective was under our control. By the time the cease-fire was declared an area of  580 sq km of area including villages of Turtuk, Chalunkha, Thang, ​Bogdang,​  Dhothang and Takshi were captured from Pakistani-administered Kashmir.  One of the best gains in this 580 sq km was the capture of Point 18402. because from here entire Shyok Valley from Turtuk to Thoise airfield, including Indian Hq at Nubra are visible. The capture of Point 18402, was the highest post ever captured in any war.

Geographically​ this area is in the Baltistan region, which has been under Pakistani administration, except for the villages of ​Turtuk, Chalunkha, Thang, ​Bogdang,​  Dhothang and Takshi which are part of India. These villages form the only region in India populated by Balti people. 

Major Chewang Rinchen was awarded MVC for his gallantry. 

Road Journey.

It was quite an exciting thought to imagine that we would be travelling on the routes travelled by the valiant and gallant men of the Indian army.

For the most part, the road travels through a very broad valley, at times very close to angry looking Shyok River, sometimes along the river bank and quite a few times on the river bed itself where our BRO has laid wonderfully smooth blacktop road right in the middle of river-bed.

No matter where and how the road passes, the scenic beauty of the mountains and the valley are amazing and present never-to-be-forgotten sights. In many places, it appears that the almighty God has poured streaks of different coloured sand along the mountain slopes.

We had two photoshoot stops, one on the bank of Shyok River where 54 Road Construction Company of 6 Task Force has put up a wooden frame asking all the visitors to "enjoy the view of Shyok River". The second was near a bridge on the left bank of the Shyok River from where men of Major Chewang Rinchen must have crossed Shyok River all those years back.

Short of Turtuk in its outskirts we had a washroom cum tea break. Also for the first time had ripe "tree-fresh" Apricots. ( "tree-fresh"- straight from tree to mouth 😋) Did sightseeing around Rzaba-Turtuk Bridge in Tartuk.  And then left for Thang.

Thang -  the northernmost Indian village, which till 1971 was in Pakistani-administered Kashmir (POK). Today the village has electricity, medical facilities, school and is well connected to the rest of India by well-maintained roads. From this viewpoint, one can see bunkers occupied by Pakistani as well as Indian Army in their respective territory. We had a first-rate Indian lunch in one of the many restaurants offering a variety of foods. 'Dosa' from Kanyakumari to 'bāltī gosht' a balti dish from the Balistan region of the north.

Left for the return journey. Reached Hunder by early evening.

A tiring but exciting day.

Do read the captions of the photos. Some are repetitive, some boring but lots do carry tidbits of information culled from Google.