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15-10-09, 05:59 PM
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#1 |
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Rail and Road...
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Chennai
Posts: 1,504
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The grandeur of Ladakh - It’s just all too magical
The grandeur of Ladakh - It’s just all too magical
Journey through Ladakh is an extraordinary experience; plainly because of the geographical location it is set. Ladakh is precluded by the terrain, which toughens up as it ascends from the greener pastures of the Kashmir Valley and through the toothy high mountains you would get to Leh. Riding to Ladakh, is an adventure by itself. Beyond Sonamarg, you would come across higher, inaccessible passes and plateaus that are referred to as the roof of the world, where no one but the most adventurous would dare to ride on. The upper regions have an aura that brings in the souls seeking the road less traveled and the ones looking for an escapade to timelessness... Getting to Leh involves a ride through a seemingly impossible landscape with the loftiest peaks and deepest valleys. Journey through Ladakh itself is as good as the destination. Last year when were traveling back to Manali from Kaza, the board at Gramphu gave me the first trickle to try out the road to Keylong and if possible to Leh itself. Then there was a forwarded mail and with link of guy riding to Leh on his Splendor. It took only few minutes for me to decided on the journey. Looking for the information, we ended up at BCMT in March 2009. Gathered all the information one would need to take up the challenging journey. (I know it’s just a norm in BCMT to get Leh’d) If not for BCMT, our travel would have been as cool as it was. Thank you so much to BCMT and all those you helped us with the journey. It was a 14 days ride starting from Jammu and finishing up at Delhi, from where we took the train to Chennai. The journey began on 11th of September 2009, started with a disaster and ended up with a crash. Anything in between, were pure magical. Here we go… Quick links Day 1 to 3 - Journey towards Ladakh begins  Landed in Delhi, an auto rickshaw to New Delhi, had one of the horrible dinner we ever had, on to platform 5 right in time for the train's arrival... Arakkonam Electric loco which hauled the train from Chennai gave way to a Ludhiana Diesel... 35 minutes of halt and then start, stop, start, stop... and then I was snoring... Read More ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 4 - Udhampur - Srinagar  It was around 10:30 am when we finally get going... 20 minutes on the road and we stopped at a dhaba for a quick brunch and tea. The roads where excellent, traffic were not really crazy, lovely twisties, cool breeze... we loved riding in the mountains! Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 5 -Dal Lake and Shikara Ride  After a peaceful nights sleep, we woke up to witness the spectacular beauty of Dal lake... The lake unlike the previous night sprung up with all kinds of actions... The calm serenity of Dal Lake had left us spell bound. We were hooked to the charm of staying on a houseboat, which provided the unique experience of living on the water. Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 5 - Srinagar - Sonamarg  The day when we rode through the lush green Alp-like mountains of Kashmir into the cold desert mountains of Ladakh. The scenery around was absolutely magnificent - roads were delightfully twisty and smooth, baring few bad stretches... Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 5 - Sonamarg  We rode in the valley for few kms after our previous photo stop and we found ourselves winding our way through a beautiful mountain slopes. As we rode deeper into the valley, magnificent vistas of snow covered mountains loomed before us... Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 5 - Sonamarg - Drass - Kargil  Each hairpin bend brought a new perspective into focus, mountains reaching for the heaven, boulders strewn everywhere, traces of green and constantly changing shades of light and brown, while the sun went played hide and seek behind the clouds... Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 6 - Kargil - Lamayuru  It was 8:30 when I saw my watch... and knew the gang must have left well before and confirmed from the watchman that they left around 7.00. We got ready, packed our things up, had a leisure breakfast and started around 10:00 am, out of the town and we were riding on the wrong road... Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 6 - Lamayuru - Leh  Just catching the glimpse of the world famous monastery and the lovely settings around, we press on to try and catch up the gang. But the landscape around each corner slowed our progress... stops frequented! Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 7 - Leh - Khardung La - Leh  We were off soon and found ourselves climbing steadily. Roads were narrow with dangerous gravels scattered around the curves and lining the middle of the roads. It was as usual, a slow beginning, with the visor's open, letting the cool breeze hit the face, until the nostrils started burning. Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 8 - Leh - Chang La - Lukung  No day to rest at Leh - We got to be pushing ahead with the plan - Before heading to Pangong, we need to secure the Permits. The guy who took our details the previous day met us in the morning and explained what happened the day before and apologised for not answering the call. Its going to be late start to today and I did not know the road conditions ahead and will we be able to make to Pangong on the same day... Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 9 - Pangong Tso  It was so beautiful, but we could not stand any longer and moved back into the hut. Alarm clicked at 06:30 and a peek from the window showed its time for action. Quickly grabbing our gears went out again to the edge of the lake and pointed the cams to the right side of the lake… Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 9 - Lukung - Leh  The ride back to Leh was uneventful, expect for breaking the indicator lamps after bro skids during a sharp turn near Tangste. We had brunch at 13:45 and Peace restaurant. I tried the Tibetan chow mien while bro played safe with Maggi. Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 10 - Leh - Pang  With a heavy heart, we set out of the hotel slowly passing the lanes and bazaars we had been roaming around for the past few days, waving out to those who recognized us. Filled up the tanks and an extra can too before we rode off. The journey begin, but felt pretty strange, not much of a stop, uncommon quietness, lost in thought... Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 10 - Pang - Sarchu  We headed out of Pang to conquer 2 more passes and the famous Gata loops before we retire at Sarchu. On the way up towards Lachung La, we came across few frozen water falls and hanging ice cones. The ascent to Lachung La had few interesting formations along... Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 11 -Sarchu - Baralacha La  “Hi! Are you from Tamilnadu?” a stark voice made me look around in the dark and found a guy gleaming brightly at me. “Yes, we are from Chennai” I replied. “Great, we are from Chennai too” he exclaimed as he pointed towards... Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 11 - Baralacha La - Keylong  The roads don't seem as bad as we imagined maybe we are just getting more used to the bad roads and conditions. We went past the Campsite and moved towards Bharatpur, where we would have our Brunch... Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 12 - Keylong - Manali  With a heavy heart, we set out of the hotel slowly passing the lanes and bazaars we had been roaming around for the past few days, waving out to those who recognized us. Filled up the tanks and an extra can too before we rode off. The journey begin, but felt pretty strange, not much of a stop, uncommon quietness, lost in thought... Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 13 - The journey back home begins  Final log of the journey We found ourselves heading out of Manali at 07:30 hrs; wanted to reach Chandigarh by evening. Few kilometers after Kullu, stopped for breakfast; also bought a small carton of Apples... Read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Last edited by koolharry; 19-01-10 at 04:38 PM. |
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15-10-09, 06:02 PM
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#2 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 789
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Re: The grandeur of Ladakh - It’s just all too magical
wow! started to seem like holiwood scary movie. Good begining and teaser photo
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15-10-09, 06:05 PM
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#3 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Kolkata
Posts: 493
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Re: The grandeur of Ladakh - It’s just all too magical
I swear dwarka!!!!!! its like- And the plot thickens kind...... CARRY-ON-HARRY!
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-Born to be Wild- |
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15-10-09, 06:18 PM
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#4 |
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...................
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: vadodara
Posts: 1,370
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Re: The grandeur of Ladakh - It’s just all too magical
nice start harry...... Expecting a treat of excellent log and pics for this weekend / holidays.
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Save the planet?....Planet must be saying, "Save yourself idiots, I will be fine" ! ( paulo coelho ) |
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15-10-09, 06:21 PM
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#5 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New Delhi
Posts: 579
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Re: The grandeur of Ladakh - It’s just all too magical
That's one loaded R15 on your profile pic! Keep it rolling boss, you got us hooked!
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"I see dead people." |
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15-10-09, 07:20 PM
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#6 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NEW DELHI
Posts: 5,671
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Re: The grandeur of Ladakh - It’s just all too magical
Cool, that pic is simply awesome!
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15-10-09, 08:22 PM
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#7 |
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New Delhi
Posts: 15,285
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Re: The grandeur of Ladakh - It’s just all too magical
LocoHarry, PhotoHarry, LehHarry, you're just a very KewlHarry!
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15-10-09, 08:48 PM
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#8 |
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Senior Billi
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Durban, South Africa
Posts: 1,240
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Re: The grandeur of Ladakh - It’s just all too magical
!! This will be good.
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Brian |
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15-10-09, 08:56 PM
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#9 | |
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New Delhi
Posts: 15,285
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Re: The grandeur of Ladakh - It’s just all too magical
Quote:
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15-10-09, 09:54 PM
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#10 |
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Travel Diet
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,633
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Re: The grandeur of Ladakh - It’s just all too magical
koolharry... cool start... waiting for more !!
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