DAY 5: Besham to Chilas via Dasu
Since we had to reach Chilas today, we decided that we will start our journey very early in the morning, and if we got lucky, may be we could reach Gilgit or Hunza as suggested by PW member, Haider Javed.
So we asked PTDC Besham's manager to pack our breakfast which we'll eat during our journey. Changed air filter of our car just in case if we find too much dust.. and started our journey at 6am.
Just some kilometers from Besham, stopped for a tea break where I found another Hotel (couldn't remember the place and hotel's name, it was on a turn). Thought I will check this hotel on our return journey to avoid staying at same places..
Just when I thought this journey couldn't get any better, we reached Dasu..... At first, I thought this will get better once we are outside Dasu. But it got even worse, to a point where we started cursing every official in the government until we reached that place where there is a huge waterfall and lots of hotels where truck walas and buses stop for lunch. Was it in Sazin? Washed our faces there, drank lots of water refilled our bottles as well.
NOTE: To people going through Besham > Dasu > Chilas route, please keep plenty of water with you between Dasu and Chilas as weather gets very hot in Kohistan and you can't run AC when your car is struggling to get more than 20kmph.
Anyway, I asked a tandoor wala at that place about the road and he said this will get better after Shatiyal.. So, in hopes of getting to Shatiyal as soon as possible, we started our journey again.. And it really got better.. umm not better, just bearable.
Reached Chilas at 3pm.. Hungry and tired, we did not have the energy to continue our journey till Gilgit. So we decided to stay at Shangrila. Food was below average.. Bought dinner from local restaurants which was good.
I was parking my car when I found that the car was blowing black smoke from exhaust. This was very concerning as I didn't know what it meant.. It could be anything from Engine dying or some part of it already died. Quick google search showed that fuel to air mixture got messed up and this could be easily fixed.. It was a relief.. One thing was certain, this will only burn more fuel and I should not ask any mechanic in Chilas to mess with it anymore.
Let's reach Hunza first then..
This is near Besham.
Dasu
Heavy landslide around 5 10 kilometers from Dasu. We had to wait around 35 minutes and even after that, only 1 vehicle could cross the area at a time.
Struggle of school going kids.. They got the lift from Dasu.
After a tiring journey.. by Umair A. Shahid, on Flickr
Finally reached Chilas..