Leh on Nexon

deepam

Super User
Beautiful pictures!! This looks like a grand adventure movie, where one after the other breath-taking events are appearing! Great going.

By the way, can you advice me on my query regarding Western Ghat tour. wherever you get time?
I am also contemplating a tour to northern part of MP, but can't find information on this forum or even on BHP. :-(
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Ravi M,
Indore - Pune - Kolhapur - Ganapati Phule.
Please post your further query in road status. We can share more details.
This thread is tribute to J Ravi for his past and future trips,
 

J.Ravi

100% Petrol Powered
Great going Sir....it seems the Nexon has performed exceedingly well in these treacherous terrains
Thans a lot, @Alpha for the appreciation. Except for the two punctures - yes, one more is coming! - I did not face any other problem.
Beautiful pictures! Great going.
Thank you so much, @Ravi_M.
By the way, can you advice me on my query regarding Western Ghat tour.
You can consider Indore>Goa>Gokarna>Karwar>Yana caves>Jog falls>Murudeshwara>Idagunji>Kollur>Maravanthe>Udupi>Mangalore>Muzhappilangad>Wayanad>Mysore> Bangalore>Hyderabad>Nagpur>Indore. You can add or reduce the places depending upon the your requirement.
 

J.Ravi

100% Petrol Powered
Leh on Nexon

On 01/10 Tuesday, after visiting the Maitreya Buddha statue, we drove to the hill top, parked Blue Diamond there and climbed the steps to visit the 14th Century-built monastery. After visiting the temples, we were treated with aromatic milk tea and salty, buttery Ladakhi tea, which tasted like soup. Then, we descended and drove to Habib Guest House, Hunder in the afternoon. Irfan, the caretaker, quoted ₹ 2,000 for a double room including dinner and breakfast. We took it, dropped our luggage, got freshened and continued our drive to Turtuk. We were allowed upto Pachathang before the border. The police personnel showed us the Pak bunkers on the hill top. We saw Indian bunkers by the side of road. We returned to Habib Guest House, Hunder by 6:45 pm and called it a day after dinner. While serving dinner, Irfan asked me what did we want for the next day's breakfast. I replied immediately without hesitation, Ladakhi bread!

On 02/10 Wednesday morning, Irfan kept his word and served us delicious Ladakhi breads for breakfast. After settling the bill, we left by 7:30 am to Pangong Tso via Agham and Shyok.

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Ravi_M

Member
My God! You two, just two of you drove all the way upto Turtuk!! I checked on Google map and located the exact place you have shown in the zoomed-in Google image. I am awestruck! Last year, when we went to Hunder, I was keen to return to some more inhabited place and you went even beyond!

I know there are many passionate travellers who do these journeys. We met many bikers at North Pullu last year, who were riding from Kanyakumari to Laddakh, but they were all in thirties. You are great man! Hats-off to you!!
 

J.Ravi

100% Petrol Powered
Leh on Nexon

On 02/10 Wednesday, our drive to Pangong Tso via Agham and Shyok continued. Shyok river gave us company for most of the stretches. Then the inevitable mountain-crossing on the boulders, rocks, sharp stones and what-not happened between Shyok and Durbuk. I was worried whether I would face one more puncture here. Thankfully, we reached Pangong Tso safely! It is said that difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. True. Let the photographs vouch for it.

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J.Ravi

100% Petrol Powered
Leh on Nexon

On 02/10 Wednesday afternoon, we spent about half-hour at Pangong Tso, clicking photos and going down to the lake to touch and feel the Pangong Tso water. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the blue sky. I drove a km or so on the lake road and returned.

We then started our drive towards home. We drove to IOC pump at Karu for Blue Diamond's tankful. As per my original plan, we were supposed to stay at Karu. But, the time was 5:30 pm with a good sunshine. So, I postponed our stay to Upshi, where we had our early dinner. After completion of dinner, we were both energetic. Our stay got further pushed to Rumtse, which was recommended by Otsal at Leh. When we reached Rumste, I was totally fresh and did not feel tiredness at all. Then, we decided to continue our drive until Sarchu and sleep there for a few hours in the car instead of staying at Rumtse. So, our marathon drive continued. All the peaks were passed in the darkness. We got the company of many Sumo cabs, who overtook us at super-fast speed. I drove on many beds of boulders in utter darkness. Around midnight, we reached Sarchu, where we had tea and slept in the car. The old lady, who gave us tea offered accommodation inside her dhaba. But, I politely declined and slept in the car itself, while wife remained awake. After a hour or so, I woke up and drove to Manali. At a couple of HP check-posts, I woke up the sleeping police personnel, wrote the vehicle details on a register to get clearance for passing through. All the villages were passed through. Again bad roads started at the climb for Rohtang Pass. The road became a dirt track with full of craters and boulders. Suddenly, I heard a thud and Blue Diamond started pulling to a side. I knew what was in store for me at 5 am on 03/10 with sub-zero temperature, a few km before Rohtang Pass. I took the torch light, came out and saw the front right tyre totally flat. Wow. Two punctures in one trip. I and Blue Diamond broke all our previous records! Again all the luggage was unloaded from the boot and stacked on the rear seat. My wife helped me and stood with me outside in sub-zero temperature. I took out the spare and tools, loosened the wheel nuts, jacked up Blue Diamond, changed the wheel, replaced the punctured wheel, tools and luggage in the boot and continued our drive after half-hour or so. Every cloud has a silver lining. Very true. Except the biting cold, there was no snow or rain, while I changed the wheel. We drove past the dry Rohtang Pass.

On 03/10 morning, we arrived at Ride Inn, Manali, @rideinnmanali a motorcycle-theme based boutique hotel. After checking in, we had breakfast and rested. In the afternoon, we drove to a tyre repair shop a few km away. As I suspected earlier, the tyre was cut deeply and not repairable. I was advised to use it as a spare with tubed tyre. So, the OE spare tyre became the new front right alloy wheel. The damaged tyre got the steel rim and went back to the boot. I spent ₹ 650 for the tube+service. We had dinner at Ride Inn. The original plan was to stay there for a couple of days. Now that we arrived earlier, why to stay for one more day, wife asked me. Similarly, I had planned to stay at Chittorgarh and from there, wanted to drive to Bangalore non-stop 1700+ km. Wife wanted to break in between. So, I booked our accommodation for one night at Ginger Wakad. I informed the caretaker of Ride Inn that we would have breakfast the next day at 8 am and then, check out at 10 am. But, there was no trace of him the next day. None of the other staff was available. We were ready by 7:30 am on 04/10, the only souls in Ride Inn. The kitchen was locked without any trace of any staff. The phones were either switched off or not reachable. Finally, the caretaker ambled in at 8:45 am. I cancelled our breakfast and asked for the bill. He scribbled on a piece of paper that included GST. When questioned, he cited power cut and offered to write it on a printed bill book. I blasted him, paid the bill and checked out of the hotel. Because of the irresponsible caretaker, my opinion about the hotel got changed completely. However, to give the devil his due, I liked the motorcycle theme of this so-called boutique hotel.

We started our drive to Chittorgarh Fort at 9 am on 04/10.

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