Sadhana Top is a drive you'll never forget

Sadhana Top is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.130m (10,269ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayas, Tangdar in Kupwara district in Kashmir valley, in Jammu and Kashmir, India.

The route, to the summit, also known as Sadhna top, demands 100% concentration. Drivers must remain cautious as the pass has been known to claim the lives of careless drivers. Take a tip from the tortoise: slow and steady wins the race. The surface of the road is paved (some sections in very bad conditions) but scary enough, with hairpin curves /around 60) and dangerous dropoffs. Sadhna pass was originally known as Nastachun (cut nose) pass.
Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. This pass receives more than 12 to 15 feet of snow every winter and remains mostly closed from December to April due to snow. But heavy snow can block the road anytime. This road has humbled many egos. It’s not for the sissies and shouldn’t be attempted by novice drivers. This trail passes through remote areas, so you need to be prepared. The area has limited phone connectivity due to security reasons. Expect high winds and fog at the summit. The pass is best known for its generation old mythological legend of Blind and Deaf Fairies.

The road is certainly breathtaking and it has a fearsome reputation. It still remains an adrenaline-pumping journey and is definitely not for the faint of lungs, heart, or legs. The road to the summit links Tangdharand Kralpora towns. The journey is avalanche prone and very dangerous for commuting during winters and summers as well and witnesses frequent accidents, landslides, snow avalanches and rolling stones.
Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson
Pic: manik mittal

 

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