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Aryan's ride to Spiti: News and Updates about Roads!

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  • #1

    Aryan's ride to Spiti: News and Updates about Roads!

    Since we have been discussing this tour for a while and there are quite a few gaps AFA opening of roads and such like things are concerned, I took the initiative of starting this thread where we can continue discussing this and updating the progress of Aryan as and when possible.

    Aryan's original announced plan is to take the following route:
    Originally posted by Aryan;
    Day:1 - Delhi - Narkanda
    Day:2 - Narkanda - Rampur - Sangla - Chitkul
    Day:3 - Chitkul - Tabo/ Kaza (if possible, that is IF time permits).

    And the remaining 2 days or so would be used to ride back at a decent pace. I don't want to strain myself, or the machine.

    EDIT:
    Anyone has any idea whether Chandertal has opened? I heard, from DCS (he, inturn saw it on some news channel) that Rohtang Pass has opened, and possibly with it the Leh route too! But, I am more keen to visit Chandertal than Leh/ Ladakh. Hence, I ask.

    @MG: At present, DCS will be riding with me in all probability. Okay, I hope the Kalpa - Kaza stretch has opened/ is open. Thanks for the help MG!
    Kunzum is not yet open, so you can leave out chandrataal. A friend came back from spiti on tuesday, hence i can confirm. Rohtang is scheduled to open for traffic today.

    Kalpa - Kaza is very much open, the road is fantastic till Tabo! Malling is not an issue anymore coz of the new route via nako, which is 14 kms extra.

    Though you might find a landslide here and there.
    The Wheel was a great invention; Two Wheels with a Motor in between was even better!


    BMW Motorrad Days 2011

    Xbhp's Indo-French Kashmir-Ladakh Tour
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Topic Approved.

    Thanks for this 'initiative'!

    Originally posted by ken cool View Post
    Kunzum is not yet open, so you can leave out chandrataal. A friend came back from spiti on tuesday, hence i can confirm. Rohtang is scheduled to open for traffic today.

    Kalpa - Kaza is very much open, the road is fantastic till Tabo! Malling is not an issue anymore coz of the new route via nako, which is 14 kms extra.

    Though you might find a landslide here and there.
    Yes, this is what Kurt mentioned yesterday at the 'Delhi Offline G2G' thread. Also, I don't have ANY idea about the road conditions (whether there are actually any roads present), the kind of place that Chitkul/ Sangla is, etc.

    OF did call me last evening and shared loads of informations about the place, and he also mailed me quite a few pictures of one such ride that he did quite some-time back, which motivated me quite a lot. I will be leaving on Tuesday, early morning along with DCS on this ride. I sure hope to bring back some good pictures along with loads of information about the place.

    I also plan to ride as far ahead as the roads allow me to. My original plan is to cover the Spiti Valley, but with the kind of time-frame hat I have (5 days or so), I doubt I can ride beyond Chitkul/ Sangla...
    Last edited by Aryan; 05-08-2009, 11:07 AM.
    :)

    Comment

    • #3
      You are finally going to Narkanda. I simply love that place... nice quite ambience, little sleepy hamlet, and the ride to the top of Hatu Peak is simply astounding.


      The road from Shimla to Narkanda is "tarmac", but most of it is not too good.

      About the current "track" in Spiti Valley, I am not sure how much of it is offroading and how much with real tarmac. Varies from year to year.

      Do book your HPTDC hotel in Narkanda in advance. Their cheapest is 700INR with a lovely view.
      The Wheel was a great invention; Two Wheels with a Motor in between was even better!


      BMW Motorrad Days 2011

      Xbhp's Indo-French Kashmir-Ladakh Tour

      Comment

      • #4
        Okay, thanks for the information. Excited to go for this ride already, I am! And that picture - that is a HDR, is it?

        Rs. 700/- INR is not something that I am not really willing to spend for a night of rest. I am looking to complete this trip in as low a budget as I possibly can. If you say that I have to book in advance and the lowest available rates at Narkanda is Rs.700/-, then I guess, I'll have to either ride ahead to Rampur, or perhaps stay back at a cheap(er) hotel in Shimla.
        :)

        Comment

        • #5
          In that case I suggest you climb till Hatu, the ride is nice, very narrow roads through dense pine forests, take pictures, and move on down to Rampur. There is another place to stay in Narkanda but it is not worth it.

          Yes, that is an HDR. Sorry about that, since you do not like them much!
          The Wheel was a great invention; Two Wheels with a Motor in between was even better!


          BMW Motorrad Days 2011

          Xbhp's Indo-French Kashmir-Ladakh Tour

          Comment

          • #6
            @Aryan: Do share whatever inputs you got from OldFox and KurtRules offline, here on the forum.
            I am desperate to go to Chandratal, hopefully last weekend of may/firstweek June.

            Comment

            • #7
              Road Conditions

              Chandigarh - Shimla: Fantastic

              Shimla - Narkanda: Newly laid tarmac (Except for a few kilometers in between thats bad)

              Narkanda - Wangtu: Pretty ok, good roads not many issues as such.

              Wangtu - Karchham: Worst of the lot! The Nathpa - Jhakri project has destroyed this stretch. Mud, Cement are the constant companions. Last time Took me 2 hrs to do this 40 odd kms!

              Karchham - Sangla: Typical mountain road. Narrow, sharp (dont look over the edge ). On an all, the road is mostly tarmac, decent all the way upto chitkul

              Karchham - Peo: A mixture of good and bad tarmac.

              Peo - Sumdo: Good roads (A few bad stretches but managable. Watchout for landslides and shooting stones!)

              Sumdo - Tabo - Kaza: Rideable till tabo and then horrible till kaza. All gravel

              Edit: Aryan for any other info, you can call me, i have pm'd u my number.
              Last edited by kurtrules; 05-08-2009, 12:45 PM.
              " I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not" - Kurt Cobain

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              • #8
                There is a place called Himalayan Hotel, call the caretaker on 98170 42045. They were 250 a night for a decent barebones place back in 06. Lovely food, awesome hospitality and typical himachali care.

                it is above the main bazaar and is on the first detour from the road to hotel hatu.
                http://www.bikenomads.com/wiki/index.php/Leh - All you ever need to know about getting Leh'd.
                My posting Philosophy

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by kurtrules View Post
                  Road Conditions


                  Sumdo - Tabo - Kaza: Rideable till tabo and then horrible till kaza. All gravel
                  This is the BEST part. And all gravel from Kaza till Kunzum La all the way till Gramphoo. Simply love this part.
                  The Wheel was a great invention; Two Wheels with a Motor in between was even better!


                  BMW Motorrad Days 2011

                  Xbhp's Indo-French Kashmir-Ladakh Tour

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    All the very best for the ride. If possible keep on posting the log with pictures

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                    • #11
                      @Aryan da: All the very best for the ride,,safe ride,,enjoy ur trip !!

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                      • #12
                        all the best for the ride.....
                        i am in shimla these days....if u could manage some time out of your schedule,, i would love to meet you....
                        sigpic

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          fantastic Aryan...
                          all the best for the ride and come back with loads of pictures...

                          i made that route last year August, during monsoon...
                          missed Tabo/Kaza because of heavy land slide...
                          5 days are good enough to carry with photography...

                          i've a very volatile memory , chk this link, it might help

                          4550 M above sea (Monsoon Himachal Ride) - xBhp.com : The Global Indian Biking Community
                          http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/4848-4550-m-above-sea-monsoon-himachal-ride.html
                          Motorcycle travelogues by thousands of xBhpians from across the world.


                          archistar: August 2008
                          sigpic

                          www.archi-star.net
                          www.theindianexpedition.com

                          http://www.flickr.com/photos/archistar

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Well, we intend to keep the budget to bare minimum so as to prove that one doesn't need to spend lavishly to tour. of course, there has to be the BARE ESSENTIALS ,but this time around, we'll try to stick to the essentials only.
                            as for the route, well, though we have wonderful mates with lovely and precious suggestions but I would rather like it to be a bit NOT-SO-Planned, we'll take a direction and follow it till the time and other resources permit us to.
                            Cheers!
                            Its not about the BHP or the CC, its about one common religion called Biking!!!

                            Save the Tigers! Only 1411 (excluding ME) are left!




                            This is my entry in the blogging world!!

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                            • #15
                              aryan, recently (B2L)imran's friend Arjun had a trip to chitkul....You can ask him for further details.
                              its all about CC...

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