On the previous night we heard news of the curfew being temporarily lifted in Srinagar. This certainly buoyed our spirits for the long journey onwards. We began at the crack of dawn from Kargil and stopped for tea along the way at Drass, the second coldest inhabited place in the world. The road was equally scenic with the scenery filled with lush green meadows, babbling brooks and serene rivers and grazing sheep. Along the way we passed several military encampments and a convoy of army trucks.

Along The road to Srinagar

As we neared Srinagar the tension in the air was palpable. In fact after a point, we could see armed military sentries posted after every km along the road. At around mid-day, we finally sighted Dal Lake and began our entry into the city. The city certainly looked normal, though there was an undercurrent of tension in the air – the proverbial calm before the storm.
After checking into the Hotel, we decided against venturing out into the city as the reports that we got from the Hotel Manager as well as the news channels were not at all encouraging. So we just called it a day after a quiet dinner.