CONQUERING THE Himalayas

In the 6th edition of the Great India Drive, Hyundai decided to take us to Kashmir for a brand-new adventure. But, with snowfall happening just two days before our arrival, how did the Tucson fare in the extreme weather?

- ISHAN RAGHAVA

The Great India Drive remains one of my favourite drive concepts for many reasons. Over the years, the drive has accorded us opportunities to visit many different areas of the country – and even outside, as the first drive took us to Bhutan! In my five GID drives, I’ve traversed across diverse areas like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. However, this time, it was time for a completely new adventure with our focus being on Kashmir. But the situation changed dramatically just two days before we were supposed to land in Kashmir, with the region getting an early dose of snowfall. How did we fare in these extreme conditions? Well, let me tell you the story.

WHITE OUT

We landed in Srinagar on a cold, freezing morning. An early morning flight meant that I missed the traffic in Delhi, and landed on a cold, but clear day in Srinagar, heading straight to our hotel. The fact that it had snowed early in the season was repeated to us by multiple people with most advising that our destination for tomorrow – Kargil – would probably be out of bounds. You see, while the lower reaches of the areas between Srinagar and Kargil are accessible, the mighty Zojila pass was unlikely to be open. Meanwhile, as the sun set, the cold increased and I could already feel the chill on my bald head. A good thing then that I had stocked up on new thermals and a new cap to keep myself warm.