Home » Russia » From Russia to India (part I: Introduction)

My dear readers,<br /><br />In a couple weeks I will start my next trip, this time from Russia to India. Going overland from Russia to India is a pretty challenging trip with rich historical reminiscences. In this sense I would like to mention just two names: First is Russian merchant Afanasii Nikitin, who first reached India in 1471. Second is a person who recently publicly revived the centuries old inspirations of Russian imperialism, the scandalous Russian politician Vladimir Zherenovskii who shocked the Russian parliament (Duma) by telling them that he is dreaming about times when Russian soldiers will reach the Arabian sea and will wash their shoes in its water.

From Russia to India (part I: Introduction)

Alex Mumzhiu
2006-03-22 19:19:31

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This is schedule of my trip from Russia to India:

1. I will fly to Saint Petersburg, Russia May 12.
2. From Petersburg I will go to Almaty, Kazakhstan and will spend some time there.
3. From Almaty I will cross to China and go to the Chinese Altay, to the area near the junction point of three counties China, Russia and Mongolia. I was at this point, but on the Mongolian side with my friend Vladislav D. in 2003. See: http://www.foldabikes.com/CurrentEvents/Story/tn2.html I love Altay and I have already been in Russian and Mongolian Altay. Now I hope to see Chinese Altay.
4. Then, I will go to Urumqi and Turpan. Turpan is the hottest spot in China. Highest temperature here was 49C (121F). Unfortunately I will be there in the middle of summer.
5. After this I will cross Takla Makan Desert (translated as Desert of No Return) along the Cross Desert Highway and will come to the Southern branch of Silk Road.
6. On my way to Kashgar I will visit famous Silk Road oasises: Hotan, Yecheng and Yarkant. I am especially interested in Yecheng (Kargilik), which is the jumping point for illegal trips to Lhasa through the Navel of the Earth, the mt. Kailash. I want to try this route one day.
7. From Kashgar I will take the Karakorum Highway (KKH) to Pakistan through the Kunjab Pass (4655 meters). The KKH is the highest automobile road in the world.
8. The KKH goes down to the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad near the Afghanistan border. Osama Ben Laden supposedly is hiding in this area. I will look for him.
9. From Islamabad I will go to Lahore and cross to Armistar, India.
10. The last portion of my trip I will spend in Ladakh, India. I will try to ride at least part of the route Leh - Manali on bike. Also I will visit Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama and the remains of Nicholas Roerich's Himalayan Research Institute in Kuly Valley. In 2003 Vladislav D. and I visited two Roerich museums in Altay. See more on Roerikh at http://nikolai-roerich.biography.ms/ My American readers will be surprised to know that, it was Roerich's suggestion that the U.S. dollar bill include the Great Seal of the United States known for the depiction of the Great Pyramid on the obverse of the Seal.
11. From Ladakh I will go to Delhi and then fly to Almaty or directly to Saint Petersburg

I will start from Almaty in the middle of June and expect to be in the Delhi by the middle of September. It is quite possible to go through this route in the opposite direction, start in Delhi and finish in Almaty. I will appreciate your suggestions on this matter as well as on others. My initial intension was to continue to Kunming, Dali and Lijiang areas in China, but I probably will not have time for that.

Alex Mumzhiu
Washington USA
Apr 29 2005