“Impossible things are difficult to achieve but difficult things can be done quickly”
Started the journey on 5th August from Pune towards the World’s Highest Motor-able road “KHARDUNG LA (18380 Ft)”. It took me almost 2 months to prepare everything for this amazing and lifetime experience of travelling on bike.
On 6th Aug we started from Chandigarh to Manali. It is of around 300 Km drive and full of scenic beauty. We are accompanied by BIAS River with us from Mandi till Manali. The major attraction on this road is stunning valley across the road with BIAS River, KULLU Tunnel and mouth-watering Apple Garden beside the road. KULLU Tunnel is one of the longest tunnels around 2.8 Kms.
Road to heaven
The next day begins with difficult journey to ROHTANG PASS, it is around 50 Km from Manali but really took heart out of us while driving. After Marhi road was pathetic and as top up God is greeting us with rain. We had crossed around 6-9 Km muddy road which was covered by 1-1.5 Ft mud on the road. We travel till JISPA which is around 100 Km from Rohtang. On this way to JISPA, after ride through few villages one sign board stops you saying “Next filling station is 364kms away“. Place is Tandi with last petrol bunk after Manali.
Amazing Ride towards Place in DREAMS
Next day we started for SARCHU, which was a smallest journey in the tour. It is only 70 Km from JISPA where we cross Dipak Tal, Baralacha and Suraj tal. SARCHU is located in the middle of the mountains and at the height of around 12500 Ft. SARCHU is the place where we have only 60% Oxygen in the air. We have to avoid any physical activity which will make us tired or will increase our respiration. SARCHU was like a stay at Heaven in our whole trip. It was a location just like in Fairy Tales, Place is covered with mountains from all side and River is passing in between.
From SARCHU, it was a longest and multi terrain road of our journey till LEH. This patch of our journey is covered with many adventures and thrilling experience of nature. While moving towards LEH, we come across the 21 GATA LOOPS , these loops started from 13702 Ft and at the end of these 21 U Pin Loops we attained a height of 15300 Fts.
GATA Loops - You have to complete many Rounds to Reach HEAVEN
After these Loops we come across the MOREY PLANES, it is the Table land of around 45 Km long and completely covered with dust. Around 25 Km of road was constructed by the Border Roads Organization but rest 20 Km we have to cross through dust. It was really a stress testing experience to pull your vehicle from that dust.
Once challenge of MOREY PLANES ends, we came across the next challenge to cross one of the World’s Highest Pass “TANGLANG LA”. We took around 2 Hrs to reach TANGLANG LA. After some Hot Black Tea at Tanglang La we descend to Rumtsey in the coldest wind so far. As one goes down the whole vegetation (whatever little bit one finds) changes. You are entering Ladakh now. LADAKH word derives from LA – Pass and DAKH – Land, so LADAKH – Lands of Passes (KHARDUNG LA, CHANG LA, FOTU LA, JOZI LA, TANGLANG LA and many more)
Need to Cross Long LONELY Road
The day arrived which I was waiting for, all set done. Permission to visit KHARDUNG LA was taken from Army officers in LEH. We started our journey at 6 am from LEH. We reach South Pullu – Army Checkpost by 7 am. Nature was blessing us with snow fall from South Pullu, we have to cross 15 Km to reach KHARDUNG LA. As we are ascending KHARDUNG LA, temperature was descending. Our hands and body was getting freeze while driving. We have to cross some Waterfalls running on the roads which are flowing with ICE water. Suddenly after some cautious driving of 2-3 hrs our Leader stops in the middle of traffic and we realize we are on the “TOP of the World”. It was really an amazing moment of life. Due to snowfall there was a big traffic jam and army suggested us to wait there for next ½ hr till some trucks will go down and road will get clear.
FREEZING ROAD
Finally We Reached World's Highest Motorable Road
We start descending in the similar atmosphere towards North Pullu. As per our plan we reach DISKIT – a Cold Dessert (Nubra Valley) by 3 pm. Here we enjoyed a double hump Camel ride and visited a 103 Ft BUDDHA Statue.
Double Humb Camels in DISKIT
Rest of the journey is also wonderful, ride away from LEH to KARGIL till Srinagar. From LEH – till KARGIL was really a pathetic dust road. After KARGIL one sign board frightens you with its message “CAUTION – ENEMY IS WATCHING YOU”. Still there are some PAKISTANI Posts from where they can see our NH-1 (LEH – SRINAGAR). But after Kargil War our Indian Posts are against them to protect us. Also in some patches of this road you will find big wall constructed by Army, so that this road can’t be seen by Pakistani Army.
WARNING MESSAGE
Now the moment comes where we should salute all those SOLDIERS who fought for our better future. We visited “WAR MEMORIAL”, where we observed how the KARGIL war happened and how our soldiers face them in such tough conditions. Rest journey was not interesting driving back to Srinagar and be back to Pune.
SALAAM.... REAL HEROES of KARGIL
It was a journey of life I have seen many ups and downs, moments of achievements; saw the culture of Ladakh and many more. It is not only journey but it is a stress test put up by the nature. Even though I am atheist, still I would say if there is something like GOD then he must have made this place for him. It is an experience of being in HEAVEN….
amolsk 