Udhampur & Ramban (NH1 Circuit)

​We could have stayed longer in Dharamshala since we had not committed to any plans ahead, no hotel reservations and definitely no one waiting for us. But the weather could have played a spoilsport in our future travel plans if we delayed any further. We wanted to do the complete NH1 circuit across the Jammu, Kashmir and the Ladakh regions and delaying our travel plans was not advisable.

​The first major city in Kashmir that we planned to visit was Pahalgam, but it was long journey from Dharamshala, more than 12 hours and that meant we needed to take breaks. We entered the state of J&K and our first pit stop was in Udhampur. Udhampur is one of the biggest army cantonments in India considering its strategic location and good connectivity. There is not much to do in Udhampur though so we just spent a night there before we moved on to another small town on the way called Ramban.

​Ramban was a pleasant surprise for us. Just 2.5 hours from Udhampur, passing through the longest tunnel in India, The Chenani Tunnel, spanning a good 9 km drilled through the mountains, it was a great drive. We stayed in a small lodge located right on the shores of the Chenab river. Sipping some beer with the local finger food on the shores of Chenab was an experience unforgettable. 

One night each in Udhampur and Ramban, we were on our way to Pahalgam in Kashmir which was another 4 hours ahead.

The Juice:
1. The 9.2 km long Chenani tunnel was inaugurated recently in 2017 and bypasses Patnitop which makes it an all-weather tunnel 12 months around.
2. Once you enter Udhampur, the number army personnels and vehicles you see reminds you of all the sacrifices of The Indian Army to ensure people can still visit Kashmir and admire it’s beauty.
3. Don’t forget to stop by Ramban on your way to Kashmir. It might be not so well known town, but it’s worth a pit stop. Don’t forget to sit by the Chenab river to sip a pint of beer.