WARNING – This ride information logged for other rider reference. But all this information provided based on the travel date and context, so this may change when you ride.

PHOTO:

[Leh-Ladakh Ride] [1&2nd Jul 2011 – Bangalore – 2 – Delhi – Srinagar] https://picasaweb.google.com/112046714466411554404/LehLadakhRide1To16Jul20111stAnd2ndJulBangalore2DelhiSrinagar

[Leh-Ladakh Ride] [3r & 4th Jul 2011 – Dal Lake, Srinagar] https://picasaweb.google.com/112046714466411554404/LehLadakhRide1To16Jul20113r4thDalLakeSrinagar

[Leh-Ladakh Ride] [4th Jul 2011 – Srinagar to Kargil]
https://picasaweb.google.com/112046714466411554404/LehLadakhRide4thJul2011SrinagarToKargil

[Leh-Ladakh Ride] [4th to 7th Jul 2011 –Zanskar Valley]
https://picasaweb.google.com/112046714466411554404/LehLadakhRide1To16Jul20114thTo7thZanskarValley

[Leh-Ladakh Ride] [8th Jul 2011 – Kargil to Leh]
https://picasaweb.google.com/112046714466411554404/LehLadakhRide1To16Jul20118thJulKargilToLeh

[Leh-Ladakh Ride] [Leh Ladakh]
https://picasaweb.google.com/112046714466411554404/LehLadakhRide1To16Jul2011LehLadakh

[Leh-Ladakh Ride] [12&13th Jul 2011 –Leh to Manali]
https://picasaweb.google.com/112046714466411554404/LehLadakhRide1To16Jul20111213thJulLehToManali

[Leh-Ladakh Ride] [14to17 Jul 2011 – Manali & Delhi]
https://picasaweb.google.com/112046714466411554404/LehLadakhRide1To16Jul201114to17JulManali2Delhi

RIDE DURATION/DATE: 16 Days, 01st Jul 2011 to 17th Jul 2011

RIDER: Udhaya Kumar.V , Balaji Anand & Nandish

EXPENSE: Rs.62,130 (Per Head), IF we do round trip, it may come maximum 30,000 Rs only.

Rs.12,644 – 16 Days Food, Hotel/Room Stay and Other Expense
Rs.6,710 – 16 Days Petrol expense

Following expense can be avoided, If I ride from bangalore (round trip)

Rs.15,260 – Initial Preparation – purchase expense, Bullet Service, etc.
Rs.10,081 – Flight Charge (Bangalore to Delhi to Bangalore)
Rs.7,150 – Bike Transport Charge (Bangalore to Delhi to Bangalore)
Rs.10,285 – Unexpected Expense (Leh Service + Bike Transport from Zanskar because of Clutch plat and battery failure)

DISTANCE: 3,200 Km (Delhi – Leh – Delhi)

ROAD MAP:

DOWNLOAD ROAD MAP

State: Delhi – Punjab – Jammu and Kashmir – Himachal Pradesh – Punjab – Delhi.

Day 1, 01-Jul-2011: Bangalore to Delhi in Flight

Day 2, 02-Jul-2011: 640km: Delhi –(Good Road)- Ambala – Ludhiana – Jalandhar – Pathankot –(Good Road, 4 Lane) – Jammu Bypass – (Ghat Road) – Udampur (640km)

Next to Pathankot, We can take deviation to reach Udampur, We don’t required to go through Jammu, But When we went this road was closed for some local security problem. So we took Jammu Bypass to reach Udampur.

Stayed at – Stayed at Government Traveler Bungalow, Tajjor Kotti (Before Udampur)

Day 3, 03-Jul-2011: 266 Km: Chinap (Follow the Chinap River) – Srinagar

Day 4, 04-Jul-2011: 261 Km: Srinagar – (Good Road) – Amarnath Yatra –(Pass – Bad Road, No Road) – Drass – Kargil War Memorial – Tiger Hills – Kargil – Sanko(Towards Zanskar)

Drass – The second coldest inhabited place in the world after Siberia. Temperatures can drop down to about -45 Degrees Celsius in Winters & You can see more then 10 feet of Ice in the roads. This road will be opened for 3-4 months.

Petrol – Kargil having Petrol Bunk. Kargil to Padum(zanskar Valeey) don’t have any petrol bunk. One way will be 240km & round trip will be 480km, So you should have backup petrol for Zanskar Ride.

Stay – Kargil having hotel to stay, Recommend to stay at Sanko, if you planned to visit Zanskar valley.

Day 5, 05-Jul-2011: 236Km: Sanko (Towards Zanskar) – Panikar – Tangole – Rangdom – Badam(Zanskar Valley)

Road Status – from Kargil, first 30km will have good road. After that, NO road. we have to follow the river & very often you can see small water crossing. Maximum speed will be 25km/ph(We took 15hrs to cross 236km in Zansakar Valley), Nothing more its possible. In complete Leh, Ladhak ride, this will be considered as Very bad/no road. If you can able to ride in this valley, I am sure you can ride any ware in Leh, Ladakh region.

Zanskar Road Open Date – This road will be opened in Jun to 22nd Sep every year, Other season this valley filled by Ice & road will be closed. Government spending 3 months (March to May) to cut the ice and makes this 200km road for Zansakar connectivity. Other season local people will walk through river and reach Leh.

Hotel/Stay –

Sanko, J&K Tourism Bungalow – 44 km from Kargil, Towards Zanskar Valley(Badam)
Panikal, J&K Tourism Bungalow
Tangole, J&K Tourist Alpine Hut to Stay
Rangdom, J&K Tourism Bungalow – 124 km from Kargil, Towards Zanskar Valley(Badam)
Badam Town – J&K Tourism Bungalo + Private hotels – 236km from Kargil. This is last point in Zanskar Valley

Drass – The second coldest inhabited place in the world after Siberia, But local people said, Rangdom will be the 2nd Coldest place in the world compare with Drass.

Petrol – Zanskar valley don’t have any petrol bunk. You should carry extra petrol. But there is local shop selling petrol at Pankar and Badam. But absolutely based on your luck, when we enquired for petrol, they said it will take 3 more days to get petrol in this region.

Day 6, 06-Jul-2011: Local Sight Seeing at/near Badam (Zanskar Valley) (Karcha, Lakshara, Photang Monastery, Zangla, Stangday)

Day 7, 07-Jul-2011: Padam – Sanko (44 km before Kargil in Zansakar route)

Day 8, 08-Jul-2011: 230Km: Sanko – Kargil – Chamba Statue – Lamayurv Gompa – Nimmo – Leh

Road Status – Very Good Road + Ghat Road

Petrol – After 100 Km we have one petrol bunk (Mid of Kargil and Leh)

Stay at Leh (main Hub) – Its very Good Town and having all the facility. So you can find plenty of the hotels in all the range. Even there is the Airport @ Leh.

Day 9, 09-Jul-2011: Leh Local Sight Seeing and Service bike (SHEY PALACE, THIKSAY MONASTERY)

Day 10, 10-Jul-2011: Leh – 43 km – Khardung La (World’s highest motorable road – 18,380 Ft) – Leh – Leh Local Sight Seeing

Note – From Khardung La, we can reach NUBRA Valley(Panamik and Chalunka). We skipped nubra valley because of less time.

Stay @ Nubra – Diskit, Nubra Valley have Facility to stay.

Petrol – Panamik have petrol.

Day 11, 11-Jul-2011: Leh – Chang La Pass(17,586 fee, 5360 mt – World Third Highest Pass) – (152Km)Pangong Tso (Lake@14,443 feet) – Leh (Night Stay)

Stay at/near Pangong Tso – You can tent it in this place. You can find some tent hotel for food. But, it will be very cold. So Better will stay at Spangmik village. (you wont find hotel in this region)

Day 12, 12-Jul-2011: 254 km: Leh – TANGLANGLA Pass (17,582 feet, 5328 mt, World 2nd Highest Pass) – PANG – LACHULUNGAL Pass – Nakeela Pass – Sarchu

Road Status – Initial 60km bad road, After good road.

Petrol – 365 Km don’t have any petrol bunk. Next Petrol Bunk at Tandi/Keylong (Near to manali)

Day 13, 13-Jul-2011: 232 Km: Sarchu – ZingZing Bar – Rohtang pass – Manali

Road Status – Bad / No Road + Water Crossing + Pass Crossing. But Rohtang pass was in very very bad position. People took one complete day to cross this pass because of water/rain. Most of the car/heavy was get stuck in this pass.

Day 14, 14-Jul-2011: Manali Local Sight seeing

Stay – “The Beas”, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Hotel – at The Mall Road, Near to Beas River.

Day 15, 15-Jul-2011: Kullu & Manali local Sigt seeing.

Day 16, 16-Jul-2011: 989 Km: Manali – Delhi

Day 17, 17-Jul-2011: Delhi to Bangalore in Flight.

WE CARRIED:

Following things We dumped in our riding bags: I am sure, we wont use all this things, But some time its useful, we don’t know which ? when ?. So let’s carry important things for your ride.

Puncture Kit: 1. Electric Pump 2. Valve tube removing key 3. Tire removing levers 4.Tube patches 5. Spare Tube

Bike Backup Kit: 1.Clutch Cable 2.Accelerator Cable 3.Handle Liver 4.Foot Rest Rod 5.Screw driver complete set 6.Spanner (full set in all size) 7.Cutting player 8.Chain Lock 9.Front Light 10.Spark Plug 11.Spare bike key 12.Engine Oil (20-40 W) 13.Fuse 14. Additional fuel tank two 5 ltrs tank 15. metal carrier 16. Bungee 17.Fastning rope 18. Hammer

Other Kit: 1.Road Atlas (Eicher) maps book 2. Candle 3. Lighter 4.Swiss army knife 5.Torch 6.Sony Laptop(w series) 7.TATA Photon/ Relliance Data card connectivity 8.Sleeping Bag / tent 9.Camera 10.Cloths 3 pairs 11.T-shirts 6 turtle neck 12.Undergarments and SOX 13.Monkey cap 14.Sweater 15. Balaclava (HeadMask) 16.Mobile charge

Ride Gear: 1.Touring Saddlebag 2.Magnetic Tank bag 3.Armoured Riding Jacket 4.Ridng Pants 5.Riding Gloves 6.Thermals 7.Thermal gloves 8.Water proof riding shoes with ankel protection 9.Helmet / Additional clear wizer

Medical Kit: 1.First Aid kit 2.General tablets 3.Pain Spray

LEH BULLET MECHANIC INFORMATION: He is a very good Bullet mechanic. we serviced our bike in this place.

Juma Auto Mobile, Airport Road, Leh, Phone – 94691-58585, 9343824507

SOME POINTS:

1. Water Crossing : Water will be less in water crossing, Before afternoon. So where ever if you find more water crossing, better ride at early morning. No worry, your bullet will cross any water, even though water over the engine.

2. Engine Breathing issue / engine carburetor : Its know issue, while going in some of the pass, because of less oxygen performance will go down. Some known solution 1. You can adjust the airflow in the Carburetor. Its simple, you can do it (or) 2. You can make more holes in Air filter.

3. Ur Breathing Issue : You can feel breathing issue in the pass, don’t worry about this. Your body will get adjust it soon for this. But general recommendation, you should stat at any pass more then 20mins. Still if you fined any bigger issue, you can reach any army camp (you can find it in all the passes) and they will provide you the fist aid.

4. Shooting rock : Some of the mountain roads having this issue & its danger. Be aware of this and ride away from this mountain.

5. Clutch Plat Issue : Very often, Clutch plat will die in this region because of the road status, So better carry backup clutch plat (or) avoid using clutch very often.

6. Backup Petrol : Find the way to carry backup petrol for some road stretch (plan the distance). More you have petrol back-up, more you can ride at unexplored place.

7. Cold at Night : At Night Cold will be very high, Even though if you carry sleeping bag, it won’t work. Better stay at any paid tent or house or hotel.

8 ATM : Kargil and Leh having ATM. So must carry money while riding, No use of your debit/credit cards.

9. Army : Stop if army stops you (its not u’r city police – be clear). Even if you need any help they will help you. You can find army and army people everywhere in this region.

PLACE WE VISITED/PASSED:

1.Delhi
2.Jammu
3.Srinagar
3.1 Lake
4.Srinagar to Kargil
4.1 Amarnath Yatra
4.3 Drass (World second coldest (-45 Degree Cel in Winters) inhabited place)
4.4 Kargil War Memorial
4.5 Tiger Hill
5. Zanskar Valley
5.1 Rangdom
5.2 Rangdom Gompa
6. Padum Town
6.1 Karcha Gompa /Monastery
6.2 Nan/Lakshara
6.3 Karsha Cham/Ling Monastery
6.4 Photang Monastery
6.5 Zangla
7. Kargil to Leh
7.1 Chamba Statue, Budha
7.2 Lama Yuru Gompa
7.3 Nimmo
7.4 Magnetic Hill
8. Leh
8.1 Shey Palace
8.2 Thiksay Monastery
8.3 Kardung La (18,380 Feet)
8.4 Shanthi Stuba (Leh)
8.5 Hall of Fame (Museum of Ladakh Culture and Military Heritage)
9. Pangong Tso
9.1 Chang La Pass (17,586 Feet, World third heist pass)
10. Leh to Manali
10.1 Tanglangla Pass (17,582 Feet)
10.2 Lachulungal Pass (16,616 Feet)
10.3 Nakeela Pass (15,547 Feet)
10.4 Rotang Pass
11. Kulu-Manali
11.1 Naggar (Kulu Valley / Castle / Museum)
11.2 Jana Water Falls
11.3 Jagatsukh (Gayatri Temple)
11.4 Tibetan Monastery
11.5 Manu Maharishi Temple
11.6 Hadimba Templ
11.7 Solang Valley

GET PERMIT AT LEH:  We went to permit office(at 10.00 AM) and applied our permit to see the restricted area in Ladakh region. They collected the document and they said, they will provide the permit document at 4.00 PM.

THANKS NOTE: Our Sincere Thanks to our Friends … Rider… Mr.Jayan S R and Mr.Jo Jobingeo, Who shared there, experience and road map for our ride plan.

RIDE LOG:

Riding at Leh, Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir) will be every Indian rider dream, Even around the world lot of motorcycle and cycle riders coming to this region to ride and trek in June to September. Other then this period(3 to 4 months), most of the Kargil, Leh roads will be closed and filled by ice.

Its my very long pending ride and finally happened !! I feel, every Indian should visit this region, at lest once in a life time. Its beautiful untouched mountains, valley, river, animas, Ladakh people, No road, No commercial !! its Ladakh region !! Its unique Natural beauty !! we can’t compare it with anyplace inIndia!!

Leh, Ladakh region filled by Buddhist people, who lives simple, more happiness, friendly humanitarian people. Yes off course we need feel it !!  this words not going to demonstrate anything. So you can try out once !! Budha calling !!

Day 1, 01-Jul-2011:Bangalore toDelhi in Flight

We transported our motorcycles to Delhi through Private Railway Cargo(Green Express), Other wise it will take 3 days to reach delhi from bangalore by road. We reached delhi in flight after we collected our motorcycle and checked-in the hotel atdelhi. We planed to stay outside delhi, but unfortunately we are not found any hotel, stuck in delhi traffic.

While searching hotel at delhi, one guy stopped his car and came to us. He introduced himself.. He is Doctor Anil Agarwal and enquired about our ride. After he provides lot of health tips for us like 1. Don’t drink cold water at Leh 2. Drink more lemon water 3. eat ice-cream at night etc.. Even he recommended hotel to stay atDelhi. May be he inspired by motorcycle riding !!

Day 2, 02-Jul-2011: 640km: Delhi –(Good Road)- Ambala – Ludhiana – Jalandhar– Pathankot –(Good Road, 4 Lane) – Jammu Bypass – (Ghat Road) – Udampur (640km)

06:00 AM: we are started our ride towards Srinagar, but getting out of Delhi itself difficult. We should bypass this city to save our time. Today it was complete high way ride.

05:30 PM: We reached Pathankot (J&K) and planed to reach Udampur, but Udampur road was closed by army/police and requested to go throughjammu, its little long route, but its good high way.

After jammu, it was complete Ghat single road with more traffic. We decided to get out of the jammuand stay near Udampur, But this road don’t have any town or hotel facility. Finally we found on  Government Traveler Bungalow, Tajjor Kotti (Before Udampur). Its really bigger bungalow for tourist, but no one using it.

Day 3, 03-Jul-2011: 266 Km: Chinap (Follow the Chinap River) –Srinagar

09:00 AM: Started riding towards Srinagar. Before Srinagar we can see “CHINAPRiver”, just keep following we will reach SrinagarJ Its simple.

Srinagar highway having one of the longest tunnel in this region, its 2,547 meters !! its amazing.

We reached Srinagar and decided to stay at hotel. Its famous tourist town and we can find plenty of the hotels in any range. But DAL LAKE BOAT HOUSE will be very famous in this place for night stay. Yes off course its little costly.

We went to Dal Lake for boating, its one of the main tourist attraction in Srinagar and lake shore length of 15+ kilometer. There we an see plenty of boat house in this region. Even we can see lot of shopping roads where we can get very famous Kashmircloth in this place. If you want to buy any type of the Kashmir cloth or mat, you can get in this lake shops.

Even we can visit other famous tourist attraction Nishat Bagh Mughal Gardensand, Hazratbal inSrinagar, but we are not went.

Day 4, 04-Jul-2011: 261 Km: Srinagar – (Good Road) – Amarnath Yatra –(Pass – Bad Road, No Road) – Drass – Kargil War Memorial – Tiger Hills – Kargil – Sanko(Towards Zanskar)

07:00 AM: we are started riding towards Kargil, there was lot of people going to Amarnath yatra using bicycle. It’s trend in this region. Till amaranth this road was good and after that it’s very bad or no road with pass.

There is plenty of Car, van going to Amarnath and its located at POK border, So army stops all the vehicle in one place and then they escort with army vehicle to reach Amarnath tenting place.

Srinagarto Kargil high way having beautiful place which get passed through KARGIL WAR MEMORIAL, DRASS, TIGER HILLS, etc. But this complete high way controlled and secured by Indian army.

We stopped at Tiger hills and visited to one of the government school. we had discussion with head master/teacher and he is explaining about Kargil water, winter, problem, how army helping to people, etc. We said, this place looks heaven (yes really look beautiful and great). He get angry and responded like, this is one of the worst place to live because only 4months in the year we can do any activity, in other season there will be 10 feet of ice, we need to be there in house for complete 8 months and do nothing. Even everybody needs to save food, vegetables in there house for 8months survival. even we need to save food for animals also. No road … No transport … No medical …. No work … for 8 months. (yes, its second coldest inhabited place in the world, where people living). If any emergency in this season, they have to depends on army only.

Drass –  The second coldest inhabited place in the world after Siberia. Temperatures can drop down to about -45 Degrees Celsius in Winters & You can see more then 10 feet of Ice in the roads. This road will be opened for 3-4 months.

06:00 PM: Reached kargil and filed petrol. We are start riding towards Zanskar Valley/Padum.

07:30 PM: We stopped at SANKO, J&K Tourism Bungalow for stay. Government invested lot of money to construct more hotels like this, but there is tourist in this region. We took one room and rent will be just Rs.200 only.

Day 5, 05-Jul-2011: 236Km: Sanko (Towards Zanskar) – Panikar – Tangole – Rangdom – Badam(ZanskarValley)

I can say, in complete Leh, Ladhak regionZansakarValleywill be the beautiful place to see, but its highly isolated place. In our complete ride, We seen just 2 tourist/riders only. But european tourist coming to Zansakar/Padum to do trek. From Padum there is 10+ days of trek route which is considered as more adventurist route in complete region to reach Leh.

Road Status – from Kargil, first 30km will have good road. After that, NO road. we have to follow the river & very often you can see small water crossing. Maximum speed will be 25km/ph(We took 15hrs to cross 236km in ZansakarValley), Nothing more its possible. In complete Leh, Ladhak ride, this will be considered as Very bad/no road. If you can able to ride in this valley, I am sure you can ride any ware in Leh, Ladakh region.

This road will be opened in Jun to 22^nd Sep every year, Other season this valley filled by Ice & road will be closed. Government spending 3 months (March to May) to cut the ice and makes this 200km road for Zansakar connectivity. Other season local people will walk through river and reach Leh.

Drass –  The second coldest inhabited place in the world after Siberia, But local people said, Rangdom will be the 2^nd Coldest place in the world compare with Drass.

RANGDOMValley– its beautiful valley in this route. We visited to RANGDOM GOPMA and its 500+ years older monastery.

07:30 PM: We reached Padum town and check-in J&K Tourist bungalow (Rs.200 per day rent). This is main town in this region.

Day 6, 06-Jul-2011: Local Sight Seeing at/near Badam (ZanskarValley) (Karcha, Lakshara, Photang Monastery, Zangla, Stangday)

Zanskar valley having 18 villages and have 18,000 + people. They are all Buddhist and depend on agriculture. This valley highly isolated, it means only 4 months in the year people can use road to reach Kargil. After that this road will be closed because of more ice. After closing roads, Padum people walking on frozen “ZANSKA RIVER” to reach Leh. One of the hotel manger said, he took 3 days to reach leh by walk throughZanskarRiver. In night time, people will stay at cave in this 3 days. He said, people walking on frozen river, Often accident happening. Even last year 2 of them dead in this partially frozen river. So people follow some of the experience people path to reach Leh.

We visited to KARSHA GOMPA/MONASTERY & nuns monastery (its 11km from padum). We spend some time with monetary monk, he is explaining about dalai lama, etc. Interesting thing, he said padum people will reach Himachal Pradesh by walking 3 days. People keep walking days together for survival or purchase anything !! But we call this as adventure Trek route  🙂 🙂 , but its part of there life.

12:00 PM: We visited to PHOTANG MONASTERY to see Dalailam Birth day Celebration. The complete region people, monks and king was assembled in this place for this B’day celebration. Local traditional dance, speech, etc performed by local people. We are lucky to see this !!

03:00 PM: We went to ZANGLA to see the place, but there is no place and everything already destroyed. But this valley looks so differently (NO green) and beauty.

While going to Zangla, we met one american girl, who is walking alone to reach this palace to meet king. She said she came here to do research in Indian History. she is staying in this region for some months together. Other then this she said, she is teaching English for local school students, so she knows more people in this region. Great thing will be, she speaks in Ladakh/Tibetan/Hindi languages with local people. Good to see this type of the people passion with more courage.

There is one more monastery in this region, its called STANGDAY. But we are not visited and local people said, its very small.

Day 7, 07-Jul-2011: Padum – Sanko (44 km before Kargil in Zansakar route)

06:45 AM : We started riding back to kargil, But already my bike had Clutch Plat issue and having very less pulling power.

10:30 AM: My mullet completely stopped because of clutch plat issue, still needs to go 160km to reach Kargil. I am sure we can use this for normal road, it wont work this type of the hilly claiming. I am very lucky, we found one truck which go backs to Kargil from Padum. We loaded my bike in this truck & traveled in truck.

We had seen 3 trucks in a complete day. This trucks coming to padum from Kargil to transport, all the basic things(food, dress, oil, construction things, etc) for this region people. This road will opened only 4 months in a year, So they have to stock all basic necessity things.

Day 8, 08-Jul-2011: 230Km: Sanko – Kargil – Chamba Statue – Lamayurv Gompa – Nimmo – Leh

08:00 AM: We started towards Leh, Ladhak. Its very good and beautiful road. We stopped some time at CHAMBA STATUE (Buddhist)

03:45 PM: We reached LAMA YURU GOMPA, we stopped for lunch and its one of the famous gompa in this road.

MAGNETIC HILL(located near to Leh in Kadakh) – we are playing some time in this place with our bike. All we need to stop our bike at the marked place in the road. We should switch off our bike and we can feel, our bike/car will move automatically. Some people said, its magnetic property of this place, but its absolutely optical illusion and there is no magnetic disturbance in this are.

07:00 PM: We reached NIMMO, Lex its very small town and having facility like hotel and shops.

10:00 PM: We checked in “Mansor hotel atOld Road” in Leh. We put our bike in Juma Auto Mobile,Airport Road, Leh service center for service.

Day 9, 09-Jul-2011: Leh Local Sight Seeing and Service bike (SHEY PALACE, THIKSAY MONASTERY)

10:00 AM: We went to permit office and applied for permit to see the restricted area in Ladakh region. They collected the document and they said, they will provide the permit document at 4.00 PM.

12:00 PM: We reached SHEY PALACE, its 15km from Leh. Its one of the beautiful place.

We visited to “THIKSAY MONASTERY”, I feel this is very beautiful monastery in this complete region.

Day 10, 10-Jul-2011: Leh – 43 km – Khardung La (World’s highest motorable road – 18,380 Ft) – Leh – Leh Local Sight Seeing

06:30 AM: We started to KHARDUNG LA(world highest motorable road) and reached. But this place looks very cold and not able to see anything because of early morning. Its recommended to go this place after 11.00 pm. I am sure, every rider dream to reach this place in there life time. !! finally we did it.

Note – From Khardung La, we can reach NUBRAValley(Panamik and Chalunka). We skipped nubra valley because of less time. As per our plan we should stay one day atNubraValley, but we skipped because of riding time for Manali. we met different riders/travelers in leh, who reached Leh from Malali. First set of people said, they took 4 days to reach leh from Manali. One more set of people said, It needs minimum 3 days to reach leh in manali route, its goes. So we decided to remove NubraValleyand kept the day for Leh to mnali ride. But finally we felt, we took wrong decision and took input from wrong travelers. When we did this ride, all we took exactly 20 hrs(for 475km) to reach Manali from Leh, which includes break, food, Photograph, etc. But we are lucky, we are not stopped at Rotang pass and just crossed, this is one of the worst pass. Some riders said, they took one complete day to cross this pass because of rain, bad road, traffic jam, etc.

04:00 PM: We reached SHANTHI STUBA at Leh.

06:00 PM: We reached at “HALL OF FAME”, its museum of Ladakh Cultureand Military Heritage place.

07:00 PM: we went to “SPITUK MONESTARY”

08:00 PM: we went for shopping at Leh.

Day 11, 11-Jul-2011: Leh – Chang La Pass(17,586 fee, 5360 mt –WorldThirdHighestPass) – (152Km)Pangong Tso (Lake@14,443 feet) – Leh (Night Stay)

07:00 AM: Started to “PANGONGTSOLAKE”.

12:30 PM: We crossed “CHANG LA PASS(17,586 feet, World Third highest pass)” and reached Pangong Tso lake (14,443 feet).

Its most biggest and beautiful lake in this complete region. Half of the lake in Indian and remaining inChina. The army person said, if you go to this border you can able to see China Trains, it means china built the rail route till this Pangong tso lake border.

This lake shown in “3 idiots hindi movie” also.

Stay at/near Pangong Tso – You can tent it in this place. You can find some tent hotel for food. But, it will be very cold. So Better will stay at Spangmik village. (you wont find hotel in this region)

08:00 PM: We came back and stayed at Leh itself.

Day 12, 12-Jul-2011: 254 km: Leh – TANGLANGLA Pass (17,582 feet, 5328 mt, World 2^nd Highest Pass) – PANG – LACHULUNGAL Pass – Nakeela Pass – Sarchu

06:00 AM: We started from Leh towards manali.

09:15 AM: We reached crossed “TANGLANGLAPASS(17,582 feet, 2^nd highest)”

12:15 PM: We reached Pang and took lunch.

Leh to Manali, one of the beautiful road which filled by Mountain, Ice, water crossing, Valley, River, Different Sand, Plain Land, etc. we had two major water crossing, all other thing small and keep riding.

Moray Planes – Its really fun to ride in moray planes, no road, more sand … just keep riding for at lest 25 km. But now government started constructing road in this area, it may take more time to complete. Its really risky place to ride and some of the car get stuck.

02:00 PM: Crossed Lachulungal Pass(16,616), followed byNakeelaPass(15,547).

04:00 PM: Reached at SARCHU and decided to stay in this place. We wont get any hotel in this region, but we can see tent to sleep and food. We initially thought of using our tent and sleeping bag to sleep at night, But after we realized its worst cold in this valley.

Road Status – Initial 60km bad road, After good road.

Petrol – 365 Km don’t have any petrol bunk. Next Petrol Bunk at Tandi/Keylong (Near to manali)

Day 13, 13-Jul-2011: 232 Km: Sarchu – ZingZing Bar – Rohtang pass – Manali

06:30 AM: We started to Manali from SARCHU. After we realized one of our bike had puncture. We fixed the puncture and started at 10:00 AM only. There was two major water crossing in this road.

08:00 PM: We reached Manali after doing all the adventure to crossRohtangPass.We seen some of the people already burned there clutch plate in this pass itself and searching for clutch plate. WE stayed at “The BEAS” hotel (Himachal Pradesh Tourism hotel)

BEAS RIVER starts from Rohtang region.

Road Status – Bad /No Road+ Water Crossing + Pass Crossing. But Rohtang pass was in very very bad position. People took one complete day to cross this pass because of water/rain. Most of the car/heavy was get stuck in this pass.

Rohtang Tunnel(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohtang_Tunnel) (Its Under construction) is a tunnel proposed to be built under the Rohtang Pass in the Leh-Manali Highway. The 8.8-kilometre-long (5.5 mi) tunnel will be the longest road tunnel in India and is expected to reduce the distance between Manali and Keylong by over 60 kilometres Lying on the Manali-Leh axis.

Day 14, 14-Jul-2011: Manali Local Sight seeing

10:00 AM: We visited to “NAGGAR/CASTLE” (its 40km from manali), We can have very beautiful Kulu/north/south valley view from this place. Other then this there is beautiful temple and museum in this place which represent Himachal Culture.

This complete region filled by APPLE TREES and apples. Its like every house having apple trees and garden.

We visited to “JANAWATERFALLS”

We visited to JAGATSUKH/GAYATRI TEMPLE, which is 500+ years old which represent himachal Pradesh architecture. We met one American in this temple. He said, he is in this place for last 8 months to learn Hindi, Sanskrit and Local Culture.

Just we visited following place:

TIBETAN MONASTERY

MANUMAHARISHITEMPLE(ONLY TEMPL FOR SAGU MAN)

MADIMBATEMPLE(500+ YEARS OLD)

Stay – “The Beas”, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Hotel – at TheMall Road, Near toBeasRiver.

Day 15, 15-Jul-2011: Kullu & Manali local Sigt seeing.

We visited toSOLANGVALLEYthrough Ropeway. But there is no activity now. Generally this place will be very famous and active in December & Jan.

Today nothing much to do .. Just Sleeping. Night we went to movie in the theater.

Day 16, 16-Jul-2011: 989 Km: Manali –Delhi

06:00 AM: We started from manali to reach Delhi. Initial we seen some danger roads in this stretch. After its good, just high way !!

06:30 PM: We reachedDelhi.

Day 17, 17-Jul-2011:Delhi to Bangalore in Flight.

10:00 AM: We handover our bikes to Private Cargo & went to Airport.

11:00 PM: Reached Bangalore Happily !!

Its really fun riding at J&K region. Dream came True J

 

By Udhaya Kumar.V , udhaya@udhaya.com