Enjoying the snow at Patnitop, December 1997
This post has been written for the theme “26 Places, 26 Memories” for the #AtoZChallenge.
U FOR UDHAMPUR, JAMMU & KASHMIR:
Udhampur is a city located in Jammu & Kashmir. It’s surrounded by lush green Eucalyptus forests, and is a strategic centre for the Northern Command Headquarters of the Indian Army.
My family and I visited Udhampur in December 1997, when one of my maternal uncles was posted there as Brigadier. At the army base, we were treated like royalty, and witnessed their impressive way of life at close quarters.
My uncle planned a day trip for us to nearby hill station Patnitop, which receives dense snowfall in winters. My brother and I were especially excited about this excursion as it was our first time seeing snow. We put on our thickest jackets and set off for Patnitop to much fanfare. What happened there is one of my clearest memories from childhood.
UNPREPARED YET UPBEAT IN PATNITOP, UDHAMPUR:
The fateful day chosen for the trip was New Year’s Eve- December 31, 1997. Our group consisted of my maternal grandfather, my parents, brother and I, with the army driver designated to us. The hill station was covered in clear snow for miles around, so we built snowmen, had multiple snow fights and clicked many photos.
When we were ready to head back to Udhampur, we were told that heavy snowfall had blocked the route. We’d have to stay the night there, and return the next day once the snow was cleared.
I was looking forward to celebrating New Year’s Eve by staying up with the adults- a big deal at the age of 10! New Year’s Eve was an important event for me. I believed that the way I brought in the New Year would determine how it would play out. Hence, being stuck in the back of beyond, on such an important night, was really upsetting.
We were given an army hut to stay in, from the few that housed the jawans posted there. This had one bedroom with attached bathroom. The room was sparsely furnished with a double bed, a black and white TV set, a couple of decrepit chairs and a coffee table. Fortunately, there was also a well-stocked kitchen with a cook. My father had carried a bottle of “Black Label” whiskey to be enjoyed with the day-time picnic. He fondly recalls sharing this with my grandfather, using fresh snow as a mixing medium! We ate dinner in the bedroom, chatting away while the TV played Doordarshan, the only channel it received.
Around 10:00 p.m., with nothing else to do, my family went off to sleep. Five of us had to share the double bed. We made the most of the small space by arranging ourselves artistically. However, I was determined to stay up till midnight to ring in the New Year.
Perched amidst my slumbering family members, with the lights out, I watched Doordarshan play old Bollywood songs in black-and-white. 1998 arrived to an animated announcement by an otherwise stodgy national TV anchor. I smiled exuberantly along with him, pleased, despite the peculiarity of the situation.
Back in Udhampur, we learnt there had been a terrorist threat in Patnitop, which was one of the reasons we weren’t allowed to travel back. I’m thankful to god for being spared the terror and gifted fantastic memories instead.
I don’t remember much of 1998, but that New Year’s Eve was certainly very memorable 😉
Come back tomorrow for the letter V and another story!
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A for Amritsar, B for Bhopal, C for Cambodia, D for Delhi, E for England, F for France, G for Gwalior, H for Hemkund Sahib, I for Italy, J for Jim Corbett National Park, K for Kamakhya Devi Temple, L for London, M for Munich, N for Naples, O for Odisha, P for Prague, Q for Qila Mehrangarh Jodhpur, R for Rishikesh, S for Singapore, T for Tarifa in Spain
Once coming back from Srinagar we had plans to take hault at Patnitop but unfortunately our cab got delayed and we had to head straightway to the Jammu’s station. That’s a beautiful place and your blog brought those memories back when we were crossing those majestic hills
It’s definitely a gorgeous place
Celebrating new year with Doordarshan, that is unique 😀 I have heard a lot about army camps but never got an opportunity to be in one.
I too remember visiting Patnitop in my childhood, can’t remember the year though. I have a very bad memory, I keep forgetting things that happened a few years back & that’s why I click a lot of pictures to preserve some memories. Anyways, coming back to your memories. That would have been an eventful night for you all, 5 people on 1 bed, new year’s eve and the news of terror attacks.
It definitely was!
Your Mom’s solo pic is the show stealer of this post, Noor! How chic does she look!
Glad you’ll avoided ‘fireworks’ of a different kind on New Year’s Eve and had a safe one.
Thanks Mayuri!
Thank god for that 😊
Patnitop is a very beautiful place. I am following all the blogs and I observed how you preserved all the memories with dates and lovely pics. I guess from very starting you are a very organised person If you told me to share my pictures and memories with date and year I will not able to show you. Great work!
Thanks Deepika! I remember all the years and all, but finding the pictures was an exercise that began in March this year, when I decided to do the challenge! It’s been a lot of fun 🙂
Right Deepika and may be she was a born traveler, A wanderlust!! Alphabets khatam ho gaye almost and I am sure still she must be having dozens of stories to tell 🙂
Thanks Priyanka! I actually do have lots, maybe for next year’s A2Z 😋
Thank you so much for reading and appreciating, it means a lot to me!
Ok we will wait, till then keep creating more memories for your travelogues 😊💜
Yes always ♥️
A nice post on Patni Top. Never been there. India has so many places to see. May be sometime, I shall go.
Yes India really does have a lot to see 🙂
Patnitop is in my bucket list since long time..and after reading your post I really want to plan our trip soon ..you had exceptional writing ability and I love the way you naarated each memories in this series. keep up the good work!
Thank you Surbhi! So sweet of you 🙂
My husband was posted in Udhampur before our wedding. He does say it is a beautiful place. So glad to know your experiences too! 🙂
Yes it’s lovely:)
Amazing memory. Glad you chose a safer option.
During this entire series we saw Noor of all ages. So sweet. If I cross your path anywhere I think i will recognize you.
I didn’t knew about this place! loved the post!
Thanks Vidhya! Glad you liked it!
You look adorable as a 10 year old and another cute experience. You have a well knit beautiful extended family darling and that’s such a wonderful thing to have, who else will understand better than me dear.
Thank you Roma! Such sweet words 🙂
An uncommon experience in the new years’s eve, Interesting indeed.
Thank you for reading and appreciating!
Your mom defines beauty. No wonder you are so gorgeous. We had plans of a trip to Jammu very recently. But the situation kept deteriorating and we had to back out. Your post let me have a sneak peek at one of my favorite places in the wishlist
Thanks Sonia 🙂
Yes now the situation is quite bad, hopefully it will improve soon 🤞
Well who does’nt love snow. Once we also got stuck in anow when in Shimla. It was really cold and my grandfather started feeling unwell As soon as the roads cleared we drove down and stopped for the night at Ambala, where all of us had to share the room. Your memory reminded me of mine.
Oh wow, I hope your grandfather felt better. Strange how memories trigger other memories 😊
I have been to Patnitop when I was in college. Beautiful place, it’s an unforgettable memory:)
Glad you liked it!
A different kinda New Year celebration. That’s the fun na…when things go unplanned and give us memories of a lifetime.
Yes definitely!
Thats an interesting anecdote. Never been to patnitop. Your mom looks so chic 🙂
Thank you Harjeet 🙂
Quite an eventful trip i must say…..We r almost towards the end Noor… How many travel stories u still have in ur pitara… Enjoyed reading this one too… see u tom.
There are many more, but 5 remain to be published! To be honest, I’m eagerly waiting for the end!
Another beautiful travelogue with some really nice old clicks, I must say you have been bitten by the travel bug royally.
#ContemplationOfaJoker #Jokerophilia
Oh yes- it bit when I was 3 months old and refuses to leave. I must say though, I’m so happy it bit me 😃
Hahahhaa…Imagine how happy the bug would have been 😀 😀
This post of yours made me do time travel too. We have stayed in Jammu for 2.5 years so have been to Udhampur, Patnitop, Sanasar etc. Glad that the old telly gave you company to welcome the new year 🙂
Lovely pics, Noor!
Thank you Shilpa! That area is just beautiful!
Such a memorable post. Enjoying your travelogues. Sad its just a few days more. But always will be glued to yr blog.
Thank you 😊
Looks like you had an amazing new year memories in 1997. Spending time with family in one room and there is only one double bed to share wow!!!! 🙂 I’ve never been to Patnitop. There is another place I need to add today into my overflowing bucket list
😊
This was quite a nostalgic read. You guys escaped a terrible situation by god’s grace. This also reminded me of my childhood days. Waiting for the next post eagerly.
Glad you like it 🙂
I have always wanted to go and see jammu and kashmir at least once in my life. Dont know if it can still be visited. Is it safe to go now? 🙂
At the moment there is too much tension, but hopefully soon it will become better!
That’s a very interesting travel story. Steeped in Nostalgia, it transports me to 1998. I was just wondering how 5 people fit in a double bed, haha.
Hahah it wasn’t easy, I can guarantee you that 😂😂
I so would love to visit this place if possible, and believe me the experience you shared was so beautifully written I felt that warm feeling with the family while reading this statement ‘We made the most of the small space by arranging ourselves artistically’!
Thank you! Glad you liked it:)
It feels like I have traveled with you, that’s how magically you write. Another beautiful travelogue. Kudos.
Thank you 😊
Your mom is looking gorgeous. You are increasing my bucket list with all your posts
Thank you 😊
I never knew Udhampur could be so nice. Thank you for apprising me about this beautiful destination 🙂
Glad you liked it!
You made the most of the situation in hand that is what adds to your memories.
Yes absolutely
We visited Patnitop and Jammu and nearby areas for our second anniversary and found it so peaceful and divine .Thanks for sharing your post it brought back my memories.
Glad you liked it!
Udhampur is such beautiful place never knew that. Your posts are really great especially the narration
Thank you! Glad you liked it!
That sounds like a pretty amazing place to relax and rejuvenate…I never knew about it…Thanks
Thanks for stopping by
Wow loved reading about your experience as a child on New years eve with your family at Patnitop…i have not visited it i should looking at the snow it looks stunning
It really is!
That is one amazing memory! A fun-filled new year wouldn’t have been much memorable… But this definitely is! Loved reading!
Thank you 😊
Love reading your travel stories..It’s fun and entertaining
Thank you
Great read Noor as always. It is sometimes God’s will that we understand later.
Thank you 😊
You definitely did have a memorable and unique new years Eve back then. New Year’s is meant to be peaceful and it was really a great option to opt for. You Mom looks gorgeous ♥️
Thank you 😊
Patnitop sounds lovely and I enjoy reading about your travel memoirs.I could almost see you watching old Hindi songs sitting up in bed.
Thank you! Glad you like them!
I like when your said, you guys arranged yourself artistically, It reminded me of my childhood days, when we all cousins use to fight and sleep together, so that we can wake up, play and chat once all adults are asleep… great post Noor
Thanks Gunjan! I would do that too 😋
Thank God you and your family were safe.
It’s great to see such old photographs, must be so nostalgic for you
Thank you! Yes this entire series has been a fantastic trip down memory lane for me!
This post brought back memories of Udhampur army cantt. I have visited it many times even though my dad wasn’t posted there but he had other postings in J&K and cousins were posted in Udhampur so we went. Loved reading it!
Thank you.. glad you enjoyed it!
I really want to visit patniPat soon. Great to know that you were safe from terror attack otherwise how we would have known this story here.
😊
A beautiful experience of snow fall no doubt😍
Yes it was lovely!
I have been to Patnitop during school days with parents, My mom is Himachal born, hence she has been to almost all the nooks and corners. This post is a nice reminder of the childhood memories.
Glad you liked it 😊