Mithun Desai
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Leh Ladakh - Land of high passes and lakes (Apr'18)
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Mithun Desai
Member
Day 5 25th Apr'18:
We had planned to cover Tso Moriri as part of plan and after lengthy discussion with Regzin, we decided to leave @8am from Tangste to reach Chumathang via changla-Karu and stay overnight in any guest house available. Roads from Tangste to Changla were mostly good and we had military convoy from both ends to give us company. It was more cold at changla pass than khardungla pass with little less public. There was lot of snow and we never saw so much snow in our life due to which we were really excited. Once we reached changla, we had coffee and Maggi for snacks in canteen over there. Clicked few pictures since was too cold we decided to leave soon as one of troop member was facing breathing issues. Again Toilets were worse and most of them closed n locked.
We reached Upshi around 12.30 and had Lunch on road side small hotel... Our special lunch was Maggi and Thukpa soup then we proceeded towards chumathang. Roads were good for first 15-20 kms then there was road widening work was going for like 45-50kms due to which we had slow movement and took us 2.30hrs to reach chumathang. After reaching Chumathang we went to a guest house known to Regzin and checked out the place. We got 3 rooms over here but only 1 had 24 hours hot water + electricity while other 2 were good rooms but guy promised to provide hot water bucket on request and had electric heater which worked from 7pm to 11pm which was fine arrangements. It was located right next to hot water springs. We had one of the best food on our entire travel at the guest house where owner's wife cooked delicious food for us during dinner. We had to sleep early as next day was Tso moriri and back Leh with more than 250 kms worth of travelling.
Few images:
We had planned to cover Tso Moriri as part of plan and after lengthy discussion with Regzin, we decided to leave @8am from Tangste to reach Chumathang via changla-Karu and stay overnight in any guest house available. Roads from Tangste to Changla were mostly good and we had military convoy from both ends to give us company. It was more cold at changla pass than khardungla pass with little less public. There was lot of snow and we never saw so much snow in our life due to which we were really excited. Once we reached changla, we had coffee and Maggi for snacks in canteen over there. Clicked few pictures since was too cold we decided to leave soon as one of troop member was facing breathing issues. Again Toilets were worse and most of them closed n locked.
We reached Upshi around 12.30 and had Lunch on road side small hotel... Our special lunch was Maggi and Thukpa soup then we proceeded towards chumathang. Roads were good for first 15-20 kms then there was road widening work was going for like 45-50kms due to which we had slow movement and took us 2.30hrs to reach chumathang. After reaching Chumathang we went to a guest house known to Regzin and checked out the place. We got 3 rooms over here but only 1 had 24 hours hot water + electricity while other 2 were good rooms but guy promised to provide hot water bucket on request and had electric heater which worked from 7pm to 11pm which was fine arrangements. It was located right next to hot water springs. We had one of the best food on our entire travel at the guest house where owner's wife cooked delicious food for us during dinner. We had to sleep early as next day was Tso moriri and back Leh with more than 250 kms worth of travelling.
Few images:
Mithun Desai
Member
Day 6 26th Apr'18:
This was most hectic day of our trip as we were going to cover more than 250 kms in a day and also most exciting day as we were going to visit Tso moriri lake. We started with delicious breakfast at guest house and left chumathang @7.45am. Initial 30-40 kms roads were fine with tarmac roads then it was mix of tarmac road with patchy areas due to land slide... road was more scenic than what we saw during our journey so far... there is one small lake before tso moriri which was crystal clear with reflections of snow mountain on it. With weather on our side as it has been all our trip we reached Tso moriri around 10.30am. First look from far was WOW and it felt like heavenly place with no one around and a beautiful half frozen lake at our display. We were gobsmacked with the beauty of place and surroundings... Then as usual my cousins started clicking pictures and I was busy admiring the place as well as clicking natural images covering mountains covered by clouds and snow.
First look of Tso Moriri from Far:
Beautiful small lake before Tso moriri:
Few Images at Tso Moriri:
This was most hectic day of our trip as we were going to cover more than 250 kms in a day and also most exciting day as we were going to visit Tso moriri lake. We started with delicious breakfast at guest house and left chumathang @7.45am. Initial 30-40 kms roads were fine with tarmac roads then it was mix of tarmac road with patchy areas due to land slide... road was more scenic than what we saw during our journey so far... there is one small lake before tso moriri which was crystal clear with reflections of snow mountain on it. With weather on our side as it has been all our trip we reached Tso moriri around 10.30am. First look from far was WOW and it felt like heavenly place with no one around and a beautiful half frozen lake at our display. We were gobsmacked with the beauty of place and surroundings... Then as usual my cousins started clicking pictures and I was busy admiring the place as well as clicking natural images covering mountains covered by clouds and snow.
First look of Tso Moriri from Far:
Beautiful small lake before Tso moriri:
Few Images at Tso Moriri:
Mithun Desai
Member
Day 6 26th Apr Contd:
After spending nearly 2 hours we decided to move as we needed to reach Leh by sunset. Now, here our rider Regzin suggested new route to us that we should take Tso kar route which will connect to Leh-Manali highway in between then we can cover Tanglangla pass @17688 ft then go towards Karu then to Leh which will save some time as well as give us another option to cover one more high pass with loads of snow with good roads...
Well, journey for first 50-60kms was not that great as it was all kacha roads or one can say no roads then we had ok roads until we merge with Leh-Manali highway which was excellent road with few patches of muddy landslides in between. Enroute we passed through beautiful Tso kar lake with lots of yaks, sheeps and wild asses on the way with smaller villages in between. Once we were on highway it was smooth roads then we reached Tanglangla pass which was beautiful with loads of snow with no public around. Once we came to lower ground there were few villages where we had our lunch i.e. Maggi @4pm then proceeded to Karu --> LEH. We reached Leh at around 6.30pm and everyone was tired with long journey of the day. We checked into hotel Tso Kar and had dinner @gesmo.
Day 7 27th Apr'18:
Our day plan was to have rest hence we all got up @11 and got ready for 3 idiots school... we visited that school which was very good and well maintained school. They only allow to visit one spot in the campus and it has restricted access to campus. There was traditional dress corner in the campus where my cousins and wifey tried traditional dress to get themselves clicked. Post this we got back to Leh Market where we had Lunch @newly opened madras cafe for south indian food then did bit of shopping for souvenirs and dry fruits for like 3 hours. After completing shopping we went back to hotel and pack our bags with lot of memories. We had flight to catch early morning for Delhi.
Day 8 28th Apr'18:
Leh to Delhi with 4 hours layover @delhi then to Mumbai. There is unique practice at leh airport where one has to identify their checked in luggage before they are boarded on the flight.
Few Pictures:
After spending nearly 2 hours we decided to move as we needed to reach Leh by sunset. Now, here our rider Regzin suggested new route to us that we should take Tso kar route which will connect to Leh-Manali highway in between then we can cover Tanglangla pass @17688 ft then go towards Karu then to Leh which will save some time as well as give us another option to cover one more high pass with loads of snow with good roads...
Well, journey for first 50-60kms was not that great as it was all kacha roads or one can say no roads then we had ok roads until we merge with Leh-Manali highway which was excellent road with few patches of muddy landslides in between. Enroute we passed through beautiful Tso kar lake with lots of yaks, sheeps and wild asses on the way with smaller villages in between. Once we were on highway it was smooth roads then we reached Tanglangla pass which was beautiful with loads of snow with no public around. Once we came to lower ground there were few villages where we had our lunch i.e. Maggi @4pm then proceeded to Karu --> LEH. We reached Leh at around 6.30pm and everyone was tired with long journey of the day. We checked into hotel Tso Kar and had dinner @gesmo.
Day 7 27th Apr'18:
Our day plan was to have rest hence we all got up @11 and got ready for 3 idiots school... we visited that school which was very good and well maintained school. They only allow to visit one spot in the campus and it has restricted access to campus. There was traditional dress corner in the campus where my cousins and wifey tried traditional dress to get themselves clicked. Post this we got back to Leh Market where we had Lunch @newly opened madras cafe for south indian food then did bit of shopping for souvenirs and dry fruits for like 3 hours. After completing shopping we went back to hotel and pack our bags with lot of memories. We had flight to catch early morning for Delhi.
Day 8 28th Apr'18:
Leh to Delhi with 4 hours layover @delhi then to Mumbai. There is unique practice at leh airport where one has to identify their checked in luggage before they are boarded on the flight.
Few Pictures:
Mithun Desai
Member
Hey Everyone, Hope you enjoyed my travelogue... my first complete travelogue for my Trip to Leh - Land of high passes....
Thanks to @Yogesh Sarkar for helping in planning the trip
Thanks to @Yogesh Sarkar for helping in planning the trip
Justtraveller
Active Member
Hi
Nice narration and excellent photos. Loved reading your experience.
Regards
Nice narration and excellent photos. Loved reading your experience.
Regards
Mithun Desai
Member
Mithun Desai
Member
Thanks
Mohit Saxena
Member
Great log. Nice narration and pics. Enjoyed reading it.