Exploring the unexplored 

Jaibir Singh Virk, a young advocate from Tohana town of Fatehabad district, has been on expedition to the unexplored areas of Trans Himalayas.

A masters’ degree holder in Law and Journalism, Jaibir was drawn to expeditions due to his passion for photography and urge to see new and picturesque places.

He recently completed his expedition “frozen desert” from Chandigarh to Comic village, 600 km north of the city beautiful, on his Maruti Esteem car.

He set out on this expedition on November 27 this year with friends, Charan Kamal Singh and Ankur Sood, and completed this tedious journey while passing through difficult terrains in seven days.

Comic is the highest village of Asia at an altitude of 4,275 m. On way to Quamik, Virk visited Shimla, Rampur Bushahr, Recong-Peo, Nako, Sumdo, Tabo and Kaza.

Narrating his experiences to The Tribune, Virk says near Quamik village is the renowned Tangyud Gompa, built around 14th century. The gompa belongs to the Sa-kya-pa sect and is of historical importance. It is recorded that a team of Buddhist scholars of the gompa accomplished the task of revision of Tangrgyud, the tantra treatises which in 87 volumes form one class of Tibetan scriptures.

Kaza at a height of 3,600 m from sea level was once the capital of Nono, the chief of Spiti. This is a beautiful place and has Buddhist monastery and a Hindu temple.

Virk also visited Tabo monastery (3,050 m), Kye monastery (4,116 m) and Dhankar monastery, situated 25 km east of Kaza. He also visited Hikkim post office, situated at the world’s highest attitude.

Nako, situated at a height of 3662 m from sea level is the largest village at such a height and is famous for its Nako Lake. The lake has boating facilities in summer and is used for ice-skating in its frozen state in winter.

At Giyu village, 20 km from Sumdo in Spiti valley, a 550-year-old mummy of a lama is placed whose hair and nails are still growing.

Despite all odds, Virk has a passion for these expeditions. This is made clear from the fact that “frozen desert” was his fourth expedition in 2007.

Earlier in April this year, Virk completed his 1000 km cycle expedition “countryside journey of hidden Himachal” from Kurukshetra to Jalori Pass of Kullu district in Himachal Pardesh.

In June, Virk completed his expedition “mission Tiranga 100 hours”. It was a non-stop expedition of 2,200 km from Yamunanagar to Khardungala Pass, the world’s highest pass situated at a height of 18,350 ft. “Mission Tiranga” was sponsored by Kurukshetra MP Naveen Jindal.