Once in a lifetime roadtrip to ladakh

Ladakh is situated in northern India. It was the largest part of Kashmir back then, but now it is one of the union territory of India. ladakh has supernatural landscapes ,breathtaking view, world's highest passes, it's a voyage to the land of lamas. Adventures in ladakh never ends drom riding double-humped bactarian camel to watching sunrise at colour changing pangong lake. Magestic view of silver river zanskar as you have never seen before.

Day 1

Delhi to Manali

I did this road trip on a bike with a team i never met before. we started our trip a little late at night around (3 a.m.), we were heading direct from delhi to manali ( 650 km) which took us 17 hours to reach manali. it was one hell of a ride. we ride for 15 hours with two break to reach manali on time. when we reach kullu it was raining so it become hard for us to ride on slippery muddy roads and it was getting dark so by the time we reach manali we were covered in mud, eventually we all did it very well and reach safely.

day 2

Manali

manali is located in kullu district in beas river valley at 2050m height. manali has jaw-dropping views, lush green forests. manali has scenetic temples, river adventures, scenic beauty. it act as a tourist magnet in northen india.

on that day it was still little rainy but still somehow we managed to go out. first we arrange our permits for rohtang pass( vehicle required to pay 500 rupees+50 rupeeas congestion charges). the we went to hike Jog falls, it was a very beautiful waterfall with a very small hike. then we went to vasisht temple, it's an hot spring temple, temple was so beautiful with all wooden carvings we took bath in hot spring, water was really hot it was not easy to step in water. after that we head to Hidimba devi temple, this temple was build after the wife of bheem( figure of mahabharta), temple was built in 1553. at last we spend our evening on manali mall road and relaxing in old manali (little hippi village).

Day 3

Manali to Jispa

On that we were going to Jispa. jispa is a village in lahul district on manali-leh highway so we decided to take a stop at jispa on that day. it took us 7 hours to reach there. it was 140 km ride. i really enjoy that we ride all the way through rohtang pass from manali to jispa. Rohtang pass covered with snow, breathtaking view and magnificent and sprawling landscapes and views it was at height of 3978m .As we were going alttitude was increasing it was becoming more cold. it was really cool to ride in that weather on that curves. there is not much to see in jispa but it was a very beautiful village. we were tired and it was really cold out so we stayed at our hotel for the rest of our evening.

Day 4

Jispa to Leh

on that day we woke up early in the morning when we reach to our bikes it was so called outside everthing was freezing we covered ourself with our gears to protect from freezing weather. we start our bikes warm them up and started that day. it was 250 km ride from jispa to leh it took us almost all day to reach leh because roads were in bad condition and we almost stop for 5 times in our way. it was becoming dark and freezing cold. first we reach sarchu via Baralachha Pass (5000m height). After leaving sarchu riding towards leh we cross Tanglang-La Pass (second heighest motorable pass in the world at 5300m height).on way to leh we come across to MORE PLAINS , is a plateau on the Leh–Manali Highway. It occupies 40 km of the highway between Leh and Sarchu, road is mostly on the plain for around 30–35 km. those roads take you too beautifull place but as dangerous to ride in dark, one of our team rider had an accident on that day when it was dark few big rocks slide down on road jut in front of his bike, his bike fell down he got few injuries but nothing serious happen luckily he have a recovery van to carry him and his bike and we were heading to city. we reach to the city by 8'o clock checked into our hotel. we were so tired on that day from all the incidence so we stayed in hotel for that night.

Day 5

Leh city

Leh is old and small town, easy to get mostly by foot. houses are made up of mud brick. it has main bazar which seems just like any other of hill station with the beautiful breathtaking view, this main baazar is at height of 3505m, which means at very high alltitude so you may have alltitude sickness. my teaming was carrying oxygen cylinders to acclimatization.

leh city has soo many things to see:

1. Leh palace: it is all made up of mud, it has very beautiful view from up you can see whole city. it is not far from the main baazar. it was constructed by former king in 1600.

2. Main baazar: you will find baazar crowded with all kind of people as ladakh is famous all over the world. you will exoctic cuisine restaurants at this height, this baazar has everything you will look for.

3. Hall of fame: War museum, it was constructed by the indian army in memory of the brave soldiers who laid down their live in indo-pak war. it was very tense to see that all the remains, how our soldiers live their lives back then in that harsh condition to keep our motherland safe.

4. Shanti stupa: In leh it is a very magnificant tibetan structure built for budhiset devotees. it very famous among tourism all over world.

I explore all these beautiful places on that day, it was one hell of a experince up there.

Day 6

Leh to Pangong Tso

the largest brackish water lake in asia one of the best attraction of ladakh, 2/3 portion of this lake lies in china. Lake has crystal clear water which has too many shades of blue colour.

on that day we ride for 5 hours straight for 160km. we reach their in day time it was freezing there, temperature decreses gradually my team was not able to aclimatize, few people took oxygen cylinders to get acclimatize. then we go out for walk around the lake, view was mesmerising we all had so much quality time there.

Day 7

Pangong Tso to Diskit

That day it was a long ride of 270 km on those bad roads it was very difficult to ride. it was not easy to ride there on that freezing less oxygen climate. we cross Chnag La Pass ( 5500m height) on that day. on the way we come across to a group of MARMOT( they look like large squirrels, found in cold regions and they are very friendly to humans) and then finally we reach Diskit, diskit comes under the Nubra valley. which was so beautiful, it was first time we saw desert in mountains, Nubra Velly is famous for the Bactrian camel rides. Bactrian camels are of the rarest sort, having two humps and were the primary source of transportation in the silk route. we took ride on those wild bactarian camel in middle of nowhwere which was soo cool. That area was under millitary surveliance as it countinues to the heighest battlefield of the world to siachen glacier. we visited diskit monastery, the Maitreya budha statue which is 32m heigh and can been seen far from.

Day 8

Diskit to Turtuk

Turtuk is the last Indian outpost before Pakistan in Ladakh and the Northernmost villages in India. it is a very secluded, military-dominated, and sensitive area, as merely ten kilometers ahead is the border or line of control between India and Pakistan. Because of sepreation people of turtuk effected the most. they got seprated by their family members but somehow with some rules village did manage to run. turtuk was closed by the govt. for tousim in 2010 but now you can visit with your permits. village was soo beautiful then we ride all the way down to diskit back to reach our hotel.

Day 9

Diskit to Lamayuru

Lamayuru, the moonland of ladakh. Lamayuru is a small village in Ladakh, midway between Kargil and Leh on NH1-D, the Srinagar-Leh highway. Moonlike landscapes carved into the Greater Himalayas are its claim to fame. we left early from diskit to leh, on that day we crossed the might khardung-La ( heighest motorable pass in the world). we first reach to north pullu where we had our breakfast the we head to Khardung-La, as it is the heighest past so oxygen level is so low u can't rest here for than 45 minutes, it may cause serious health problems, we just took some pictures and head to our another stop at sout pullu. From there we go straight to leh city to fill our fuel tanks and left for Lamayuru. On that we ride 230 km for 7 hours , after leh it was not so hard ride, roads were in good condition their we reach our next pass named as Fatu-La top, it was snowing so badly over there,we took a small stop and head directly to lamayuru and checked into our hotel.

DAY 10

Lamayuru to Kargil

Usually a stopover for people travelling towards Leh or Padum, Kargil is a tourist hotspot that's small enough to be explored by wayfaring. Situated close to the line of control, Kargil is also a volatile region, owing to the terrorism prevalent from the other side of the LOC. However, apart from its glorious past, bestowed with natural beauty and adventure, Kargil is the place to be for intrepid travellers. while going from lamayuru to kargil we crossed Namik-La pass (3700m height) roads were good it was little rainy but we still mangeto have a plesant ride. it was a 3 hours ride for 100 km. till the time we reach kargil it was raining haevily so we stayed at hotel till evening.

Day 11

Kargil Local

we stayed at kargil for that day as we were not able to leave kargil due to heavy landslide so decided to stay there. we visited war museum:It's hard not to feel patriotic and nationalistic when you're at the Kargil War Memorial and is a must-visit attraction for everyone, Indian or otherwise. then we intract with locals and enjoyed our stay there.

Day 12

Kargil to Shrinagar

On that day when roads were clear, we left from kargil in morning. we found traffic on Zoji-La Pass (3528m height) as roads were closed the day before. it was 6 hours ride for 200 km. we reach shrinagar via Drass, Drass is the second coldest inhabited place in the world after Siberia and coldest place in India with lowest temperature -60°C on January 09, 1995. we reched shrinagar in the day time and checked into our hotel.

Day 13

Shrinagar

Famously known as ‘Heaven on Earth’, Srinagar is located in the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir, on the banks of river Jhelum. As picturesque as the most stunning painting to ever be painted, Srinagar is known for the stationary houseboats and colourful Shikararas on Dal Lake.

we stayed in house boat and went for shikara ride, while riding shikara you will see floating market of dal lake. people sell food, followers, colothes etc and as Kashmiri cuisine is famous all over the globe, so when in Srinagar, trying out the local dishes, which are rich in unique fragrant spices, is a must. we had a great time in shrimagar.

Day 14

Shrinagar to patnitop

it is 200 km from shrinagr to patnitop which took us 10 hours to reach there, on that day we left in day time from shrinagar after having a lovely morning in shrinagar and roads were soo good from shrinagr to patnitop almost straight highway, very plesant to ride. we reach patnitop by 10 p.m so, after having dinner we all go straight to bed.

Day 15

Patnitop to delhi

It was a 650km ride for 16 hours, we left early in morning from patnitop towards delhi. after reaching delhi we all stoped at the palace for a moment to say goodbye to eachother as we were riding together for 15 days, where we helped each other as family.

so, it was the end of my trip, i reached home and realised how lucky i am to experience this once in a life time roadtrip to ladakh.