Train to Udhampur

It was one of those days when you make the decisions in the spurt of moment.
Dr. Manish Singh suggested that we make this day worthwhile & make a trip to Udhampur by train.
Udahmpur is a small town nestled amidst the trikuta hills in the state of J&K & is 56kms by train from jammu with journey taking 1 hr 40 min.
Govt. of India took a bold step in deciding to extend the railway line to udhampur & ultimately to the summer capital of the sate, Srinagar. I wrote bold because the track would pass from a very hostile terrain & would require world-class engineering.

(mountainous terrain - a lonely hut)

The train started chugging in 2005 & this was my first but not the last trip on this train. I got my beloved D70 from home in the anticipation of great shots during the trip but all plans were foiled by the RPF Personnel.
To believe what has already been written about the picturesque journey it is, one really has to make this 11/2 hrs trip. The change of topography is breath taking & amazing. From the concrete jungle it’s sudden onslaught of lush green mountains (being monsoons) & the river Tawi flowing right besides you almost through out the whole journey.

(lush green cover)

(river tawi)

(river tawi - upstream)

(Acharya Shree Chander College of Medical Sciences & Hospital)

We soon passed right below ASCOMS, the hospital & college & soon after shot this small waterfall.

We spent whole of the journey in the door well & it was worth doing so. My advice to a person who loves landscapes: - Make sure that you spend whole of journey in the door well only.
On reaching udhampur station we found that it is surrounded by mountains on all the sides that were at that moment covered with clouds, a breath taking view to hold in your mind forever.

Udhampur is not of very big importance but is of extremely important from strategic point of view. No details please, I could find myself behind bars.

Return journey was also spent in the door well.

Something about the Train:- It has two engines on both the ends working in synchronization to make the ascent of almost 330m from jammu to udhampur.

Dr. Manish Singh, Dr. Devinder Pal Singh & Yours truly made the journey on 8th August, 2006.