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By the end of November, this year Tulail and Bagtore areas would also be covered by Jio network. Thus whole Gurez valley will get 4G mobile and internet services.

“On Sunday Reliance Jio made a trial run for 4G internet and voice calling in Dawar tehsil of Gurez valley where Jio towers had been installed a year ago but there were some issues which led to the delay in starting the Jio services in the area, the official said.

“But all the issues have been resolved and Jio has been given permission to provide internet and calling services to the people of Gurez.” 
So far, the only mode of communication available for the people of Gurez was provided by a single transceiver tower of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in Dawar that ran a few landline telephones.

However, Tulail tehsil and bagtore as of Gurez did not even have this facility. The area has been facing immense problems due to the unavailability of the mobile network.

Gurez valley remains cut off from Kashmir valley and pretty much the outside world for winter months every year when the Bandipora-Gurez road remains snowbound.
“Due to the absence of mobile connectivity, the problems faced by the people here would get aggravated. Now the mobile and internet connectivity by Jio would provide a much-needed relief and minimise the problems being faced by the local populace,” said a resident of Gurez. 
The people living in Gurez have expressed their gratitude to district authorities for helping get 4G mobile and data services to the area.
“Since the area is located very close to the Line of Control (LoC), there were some security related issues for providing uninterrupted mobile connectivity to the area. Now the issues have been resolved and people of Gurez have been provided mobile and internet connectivity through Reliance Jio,” said an official.
He said that as of now Dawar tehsil has been given mobile and internet connectivity from Sunday, but Tulail and Bagtore areas of Gurez were yet to be provided with this service.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that from Monday 4G mobile and internet services will function normally in Dawar tehsil and the area would get connected with rest of the valley. 
“Today we had a trial run which was successful. By the end of November, this year Tulail and Bagtore areas would also be covered by Jio network. Thus whole Gurez valley will get 4G mobile and internet services which would give a much-needed relief to the people of Gurez,” he said.
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Lone Saab told us about the possibility of visiting an advance border post at Chorwan, so first thing in the morning we called him up and reminded him about arranging a permit for us from local army brigade. He was a very nice person, took us to army brigade and got permission for us, the officer looking at my camera gear, just reminded me that it was no photography zone, I was more than agreed to that already. Amit told me about Ramiz Raja, another loveable character who works in the GH and a local lad from Bagtore. We took him along with us as after Chorwan we had to proceed to Bagtore. He had a day off on that day and with us, he would also visit his home in quick time. So we went to Chorwan first, the army was already informed as they didn’t even bother asking about our details and straight away asked us to proceed to the main camp. The person there took us to the observation tower and showed us a 270-degree view of various Pakistani Posts in another side of the ridges through a powerful binocular. We could see their camps and even spot their bunkers some 500 meters away. They had several night vision cameras installed there to track the slightest movement in another side of LOC. We were enjoying, my kid was very thrilled, even requested the army to shot few rounds from their Insus, she never has seen bullets so closely, was amazed and asked me repeatedly when Pakistan would start firing (so from our end we could retaliate ). After the visit, we had some nice Pakoda and Chay there with the army and had some good chat. It was getting late and we had to move towards Bagtora, so we moved further, got some fabulous shots of Dawar from opposite side of Kishanganga and was able to touch the LOC fencing too, it was really thrilling, took some snaps and then proceeded towards Bagtore.
Dawar from Chorwan side:
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The LOC Fencing, we are standing at Zero Point:
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On the way to Bagtore:
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Near Tarabal where the encounter happened on 20th Aug 2012, militants were trying to cross Kishanganga here:
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The nature at its best:
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Last point where road ends at Tarabal:
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This side of Gurez was even more scenic, we crossed Wampot, Khopri, Nayal and then at Kanzalwan took right and moved towards Bagtore. We reached at Tarabal which was the last village in this side of LOC where motorable road ended and along with Ramiz, we started walking towards the BSF Camp which was the last camp just before LOC. It was a short 20 mins walk just by the side of river Kishanganga and what an amazing scenery it was, I couldn’t really express in words rather try to put some snaps of this small yet beautiful trek. The captain at Camp was posted in Bengal for almost 7 years and could even speak some Bengali was very surprised to see a family with a kid there out of nowhere. He invited us for lunch, which we readily accepted and had a great lunch with roti and sabji. He told though civilians were not allowed there, once we came, we should enjoy the place, he showed us positions of various army camps and bunker positions of Pakistan and also the exact place where a fierce encounter took place between army and militants last year 20th August when they tried to infiltrate by crossing river Kishanganga in a raft.
Walking towards the last Post near LOC:
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Kishanganga is flowing at right:
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Looking back towards Tarabal:
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Extremely colorful terrain:
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BSF Commander posing with us, the far ridges are in Pakistan just on another side of Kishangana gorge:
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After spending some more time there, we started our return journey and Ramiz took us to his home. We met his parents, brothers and sister, had cup of tea and snacks and chatted with them for a while. The time was very nicely spent with this warm yet simple Kashmiri family in their own ambience listening to the stories of their daily lives. Another amazing day came to an end as we started our return journey and on the way Kazim found a water falls to get a free car wash. We were enjoying the misty evening with clouds and suddenly a white Tata safari came to screeching halt and a gentleman came out and extended his arms, he knew me for sure, I took a guess and yes it was Sunny Paaji, with his friend who was also a BCMTian. So a small BCMT get together was inevitable and what a place to meet Sunny Paaji, we never even thought in our wildest dream that we would be meeting in Gurez after narrowly missing each other in Srinagar and in Aru. They were also travelling to Gurez and fortunately we all stayed the night at JK Tourism GH at Gurez only. After coming back to GH, we had some more chatting on Gurez and entire Kashmir trip. Kazim prepared the chicken again for last time in the trip and it was so delicious to have that in dinner. After a nice dinner, caught up with some World Cup T-20 cricket in TV before we retired for that day.
Trekking back the same route towards Tarabal:
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Tarabal Village:
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Ramiz (at right) with his brother and parents:
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Gurez is a valley located in the high Himalayas, about 86 km from Bandipore and 123 km from Srinagar in northern Jammu and Kashmir, India. At about 8,000 feet (2,400 m) above sea level, the valley is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It has diverse fauna and wildlife including the Himalayan brown bear and the snow leopard. The Kishanganga River flows through the valley. The road to Gilgit runs through Gurez. Gurez is divided into three regions. The area from Toabat to Sharda Peeth is administered by Pakistan as Neelum District, that between Kamri and Minimarg is part of the Astore District, Northern Areas, Pakistan, and that from Toabat to Abdullae Tulail is known as Tehsil Gurez, and is part of Bandipore district. People of Gurez valley are Dards, they speak Sheena language and have their ancestral connection with Gilgit valley now in Pakistan. The feature and attire of the Dards are similar to Kashmiri people of mountain region. Though Gurez is a far-flung area the people of the Dard race have uplifted themselves by the hard work and proper education. Dard women are fair with athletic built, who spend the summer in collecting wood from mountains for the harsh winter; when it is impossible to move in 20 feet outside. Ultimate adventure destination to the north of Kashrnir, Gurez, is a gateway to the famous silk route across central Asia. The pyramid-shaped peak named after famous Kashmiri poetess Habba Khatoon is most fascinating peak of Kashmir. The emperor Yousuf Shah Chak who is said to be a Dard from Gilgit entered into Kashmir through Gurez. It is believed that when emperor was imprisoned by the King Akbar, his beloved Habba Khafton used to wander near the peak to look for her lover. The roar of mighty Kishan-Ganga river flowing across the valley resonates with surrounding mountains that lulls a visitors to sound sleep.The traditional log wood houses make Gurez no less than a European countryside. The trekking Routes from Gurez and Tilel lead upto Gangabal and Sonmorg to its east and Drass , Dahanu and Zanskar to its north. The Kishen Ganga river in Gurez offers easy level of stream for Rafting and tough ones from Tilel. Some of the mountains have absolutely challenging scope for Rock Climbing.Trout fishing is a frequent sport among locals who through in a line to get descent meal for the day. Anglers con be delighted to catch a brown trout in the Kishen Ganga River or the streams coming down from the mountains. Gurez has lovely composites where the tents can be pitched near the river. 20 km from Gurez ,the awesome villages of Tilel have log wood houses which perfectly add to the magnificent view of mountains full of pine and fir trees. The road from Gurez to Tilel is just 7 years old, which has been extended upto Drass in Kargil region. The rugged and tough life of people of Tilel can make a visitor to contribute for promotion of the destination in one way or the other.


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