For the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Jammu, a textbook lesson on altitude became a nine-day road trip from Jammu through Srinagar to Leh.
The trip
The Tribune reports that 32 students and research scholars, accompanied by faculty, took part in the department's first academic expedition to the Trans-Himalayan region. The route passed Zoji La, Drass and Kargil, the Khangral and Budhkhurbu valleys, Namika La, Fotu La and Sangam, the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar. On the return they stopped at Gurudwara Pathar Sahib and visited the Kargil War Memorial.
What they studied
- Five physiographic zones: the Shiwaliks, Lesser Himalayas, Kashmir Valley, Greater Himalayas and Trans-Himalayas.
- Landforms, vegetation patterns, altitudinal gradients, and aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.
- The GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments) protocol, briefed by Dr Suresh Kumar, and how plants adapt to high-altitude cold deserts.
- The physicochemical and biological characteristics of high-altitude rivers at Sangam, covered by Head of Department Prof Deepika Slathia.
The view from the group
A department spokesperson said the visit aimed to give first-hand exposure to the environmental and ecological transitions of the region, and that crossing Zoji La was an entirely new learning experience for students who already knew the Kashmir Valley. Betula (birch) patches were seen near the top of the pass.
The report does not give the tour dates beyond "nine days".
Source: The Tribune, October 31, 2026.
