THEY CALL IT THE ROOF OF THE WORLD -- LADAKH, HIGH IN THE HIMALAYAS. BUT ITS BARREN BEAUTY DISGUISES THE DIFFICULTIES THAT MAN MUST ENCOUNTER TO LIVE THERE.

THE ROAD FROM SRINAGAR TO LADAKH IS OPEN FOR ONLY FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR. IN THESE FOUR MONTHS THE ROAD MUST BE KEPT IN REPAIR AND VITAL SUPPLIES TAKEN TO THE INDIAN ARMY DEPOT AT LADAKH. WHEN THE ROAD CLOSES THE AIRLIFT REMAINS OPEN, BUT BECAUSE OF THE TREACHEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS AND RARIFIED AIR, FLYING IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR.

FOR THIS REASON THE ROAD MUST BE USED BY THE INDIAN FORCES TO EVERY ADVANTAGE, AND VAST CONVOYS ARE NOW MOVING SUPPLIES UP FROM SRINAGAR TO THE LADAKH DEPOT WHICH SUPPLIES THE HIMALAYAN OUTPOST DOTTED ALONG THE CEASE-FIRE LINE.

THE ROAD ITSELF IF A REMARKABLE FEAT OF ENGINEERING. THE SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURE IN THE WINTER MONTHS (- 40 CENTIGRADE/FAHRENHEIT) AND THE COMPARATIVE HEAT OF THE SUMMER TOOK A HEAVY TOLL ON THE ROAD. THE RARIFIED AIR AND SHORT TIME ALLOWED BY THE WEATHER FOR BUILDING MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONSTRUCT AT ALL. AND IN THE COURSE OF ITS FOUR-YEAR CONSTRUCTION THIRTY-SEVEN PEOPLE DIED.

BUT THE ROAD WAS WORTH IT. COVERING 271 MILES (436 KILOMETRES) ACROSS TWO FORMIDABLE PASSES -- THE ZOJI LA, 12,600 FEET HIGH (3,830 METRES) AND THE FATULLA 3,300 FEET (4,051 METRES), THE ROAD CUTS DOWN THE JOURNEY TO TWO DAYS BUT MOTOR COACH. THE JOURNEY PREVIOUSLY TOOK 21 DAYS BY THE MULES WHICH ARE STILL USED WHEN THE ROAD IS CLOSED.