1,900-km Shaurya Vijay Yatra from Delhi reaches Dras on Kargil Vijay Diwas
A 13-day commemorative motorcycle expedition from the National War Memorial in Delhi concluded at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras on Sunday, marking the 27th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged in the 'Shaurya Vijay Yatra', which saw around 30 serving defence personnel and military veterans complete a 1,900-kilometre journey to pay homage to the bravehearts of the 1999 Kargil War.
The expedition was organised under the motto "One Ride, One Nation, One Salute" as part of nationwide celebrations marking 27 years since Operation Vijay. The riders traversed demanding mountain routes and high-altitude passes across the northern Himalayas along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway to reach Dras.
During the ride, participants carried an urn containing sacred soil collected from the National War Memorial in Delhi. Upon arrival in Dras, the soil was handed to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who presented it to the 8 Mountain Division to offer in Kargil in memory of fallen soldiers. Speaking at the flagging-off event in Delhi, Singh stated that uniting the soil from Delhi with Kargil symbolised the confluence of the current generation's reverence and the valour of the nation's heroes.
Along the 1,900-km route, the team stopped at major military sites to pay tribute to fallen soldiers, including the Chandimandir War Memorial, the Rezang La War Memorial, and the Leh War Memorial. The riders also interacted with "Veer Naris" en route, recognising their courage and resilience.
Among the participants was retired Indian Air Force Group Captain Sanjay Misra, a Kargil war veteran who flew during Operation Safed Sagar, along with his wife Priya Misra. Misra described the journey as an emotional pilgrimage and noted that negotiating changing weather conditions and diverse terrains presented significant challenges during the ride.
Misra also pointed out a vintage MiG-21 jet displayed at the Kargil War Memorial site, noting that it was the exact aircraft with tail number C 1538 that he flew for nearly 15 years. The expedition was undertaken on Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles, enabling the riders to complete the high-altitude journey across northern India.
