We packed our bags and headed towards Drass.


It was emotional, bidding Good Byes to LEH. This places has attached to my heart for its people and geography.


We passed by TT Engineering works where I got Engine oil the previous day.


Just after that we tanked up at IndianOil. Mohan Sharma's workshop is the first left after this pump. (2Kms)


The snow capped peak. Oh my God!


As we Exit LEH

As we had 2 days extra in hand which was dedicated to Tso Moriri and we were not going. We decided to stop at Monasteries as Poli loves them.


We stopped at Hall of Fame


It was about 10AM when we reached HOF.


We were asked to park our bikes opposite to the road. Here you see the Military personel shooing away a smoker. Smoking in public places are prohibited as we should know.


It was time to understand the history behind where I traveled to. It meant a lot. We paid extra fees to carry our Camera and click pictures.


I was surveying the entire map of Leh and its surrounding. I learned a lot about the geography in a few minutes. When I saw Tso Moriri, I felt very sad we could not go there. Permits in my pocked I wanted to turn back and just go. But I said, next time buddy. Patience is virtue.


I could not take picture of the entire map as I forgot my camera in the Tank bag and My cell phone had only that much range.


Remembering the Cloudburst, I read this event in the news.


Just another angle, whichever you like to look at.


Another map I observed intently.


You got to read when you have time.


What our soldiers do cannot be discounted.


You win or loose, what is important is, have you tried?


Sorry the map is blurred but the text is visible.


You've got to read my friend.


Priceless picture, you name the people here.


As a child, I wanted to join the Army. That never materialized. But you can always be with them in your heart.


This captured my eyes. Nothing is impossible if you want it from your heart.


I was taken back by these words, tears filled.


They deserve a place in my blog so we can pray for them.


Rich history. Most of them we do not even know.


You should know where you are going to. And how these places are formed by nature.


The culture and people


How many of us care to know


And one more for you to read.


Im sure some of us would like to know


I also clicked picture of Hemis and Phyang Monastery but it did not come out clear. After this we read about the flowers, landscape, lakes and animals. Then we went to a room filled with battle weapons used at war. Each having their own story to tell. I did not click any pictures of the guns and other weapons. So much blood was shed and I let them be.


There was a Military base outside the Hall of Fame and saw Helicopters and Fighter jets come in and go.


As we Exit Leh


Each time I see military convoy, I slow down, what beauty.




A small pond or lake amongst the dry hills.


Look at the contrast. Green and Grey.


I let the picture describe itself.


Clear sky. What more can you ask more from God.


I felt nostalgic leaving LEH


Leaving the last spec of City behind we were out of the City.


But here, something very different. The roads dont seize to amaze you. What beautiful Tarmac.


Ladakh is geographically a desert. Compare it to Gobi, the cold desert.


Just stop and put everything behind you. This place can fool you - as if you are in another planet.


I do not remember the last time I saw such clear blue sky.


Vertical


Horizontal


We were in no rush. We maintained 60KM/H


From a distant


The Himalayan Signature. Every turn you take. There is a Hill.


We saw River Indus


2 Subsidiaries merging.


We followed the river


For your eyes.


You can get lost in this landscape and forget about being rescued


You take a paper and paint a small town withing a desert. Thats how it looks like.


Small towns dotted everywhere we went. The Leh Srinagar route is always filled with people. You are never alone


Then this came and I recalculated. Am I still sane?


A Govt School Enroute - Always happy to see a school.


The roads we were about to climb


I do not know which picture to omit. This post accepts maximum 100 Images!!


As we climbed


Awe struck seeing some bicyclists. I waved at them good luck and they reciprocated. What great adventurers.


I would meet one of them in Drass later the next day.


These roads were stress free and we knew we could make it to Drass very easily. How wrong could I have been!!


Absolute neat work by BRO. Poli was saying, it looked like the Great wall of China.


The snow capped peak always peeped at us to smile. I felt they said, ride along mate. Good job


How beautifuly the road curved,


And we saw this!!


Then we stopped to take advantage of the clear sky for some Photo Shoots.


My bull, majestic as ever, my best friend.


The mountain and me.


Ofcourse Pruthvi beside.


Poli expressing her way.


As far as the eyes can see. The roads disappear into the hills.


Mountain and gear


Then we descended


No words can describe


And the curves downwards


Another Hairpin


We saw small fresh water streams and


rice fields


As we approached Nimmu


We would soon hear a shocker news!!


Marked here inside the Red circle beside the river, we heard news of a Landslide. It was 1PM when we reached. We learned the slide happened around 11AM. BRO gave us an ETT (Estimated Turnaround Time) of 5 Hours with no guarantee. We had 2 options, head back to LEH or the nearest town or wait for uncertainty. We remembered a small detour towards a Monastary 2 KM behind us. Instead of waiting beside trucks and BRO, we decided to head back 2 KM.


This area was barren. This is the only place where we had shade. We understood the importance of always carrying extra food and Water, which we had at that time.


Taking a moment to think what do we do next.


Well, Poli pulled out the emergency mat and went off to sleep.


I took a moment and thanked my Bull. You are truly, Made Like a Gun!


We had Nutella Chocolate and biscuit. Chocolate is rich in sugar and energy. Best thing to carry.


I tried to take a Nap. Pruthvi went on a surveillance mission after 2 hours to get an update. There was no change in ETT.


1 More hour later we decided to Head forward. I do not like to go backward. And staying here we have no updates. So Around 330PM we headed to Ground Zero where they had already Dynamited the rocks. This was the scene.


We met other bikers and struck a conversation. The bull in that team had a missing bolt for its Carrier. We had an extra bolt, we fixed it.


Nothing else to do we just Spoke away.


Bikers in the front. The BRO truck did not allow anyone beyond them. We were told, when the road opens, Opposite traffic will be let in first at the road is narrower on the other side. Which meant another hour of delay.


European Royal Enfield Club. You see those two men? They are the ones who first stopped us enroute to warn us of landslide. I just sat and thought. This was the day allocated for Tso Moriri. And we are stuck here. Fate or Luck or whatever we call it. Everything is an experience in life How you take it is totally up to an individual.

When the road opened finally at 0545PM we still had day light for an hour. We knew all guest house / hotels will get filled up quickly enroute. We did not wait or stop. We headed straight to Khalse where we got a room for 500Rs and took 2 rooms. As soon as we reached the Hotel was fully booked and Khalsi had no more rooms I guess. Tourists had to go to Lamayuru.

Stay tuned for Khalsi to Drass - The story.

We woke up as usual the last ones to Leave. The entire hotel was empty We had breakfast and started our Journey to Drass.


It was hot for the altitude and conditions. I had to wear my street gloves which was ventilated.


The rocks looked beautiful with the morning rays.


Look at the direction the rocks were formed


The roads were beautiful all the while


We came across many small temples or monasteries.


The beautiful artwork of building roads. It must must be appreciated for.


ASome roads were build till the edge.. Yieeks!


BRO in action. We came across 2 more small landslides where for stopped for about 15 mins. The bulldozers would work its way and let light traffic pass once in a while.


You could only see 2 shades of colors the whole day.


And the spectacular view of roads through hills.


Count the number of individual peaks here


The contrast of light sand and dark color. Beautiful for a painter's pallet


How many mountain peaks watch over us..


And then we saw this


Speechless


and no amount of expression to correlate.


Just like from some fiction movie


We were close to Lamayuru and climbing


And started getting colder


Just before Lamayuru


I will remember these mountain ranges as Lamayuru's signature. Never saw this kind of landscape anywhere else.


Just like some fairy tale movie, the building on the hilltop and birds circling.


And another one for your eyes


Leaving Lamayuru behind and climbing


Poli so much wanted to go to the Monasteries but decided to head on as the weather did not look good. Rain was on the Horizon and Poli saw a Lama.


Leaving the Lamas behind but carrying with us memories to last forever


Soon we were on Fotula Top and it was cold.


A BSNL antenna on Fotula Top


Was surprised but surely is a great advert for BSNL


Just after Fotula we continued


As we descended


We stopped for a break


You could see shades of green amongst the brown




This winter coat is the mother of all coats.


I still cant figure who that is - A beautiful click


The roads winding down


Soon we reached the Buddha statue and I cant find that picture.


While taking a break near the statue, we had a Yamaha biker come to us and ask for a Spark plug cleaning tar & thread. First of all I never heard of it. We couldn't help but then he said, "You guys ride without a spark plug cleaning thread? Mine one fell off" (ya rite). First of all you ask for help then comment on us. I got pissed. I told him, we carry a pair of spare spark plugs. Its easier and better.


No time to waste we headed towards Drass. Had to pass Kargil first. And the Kargil war memorial is in Drass. So had nothing to do in Kargil. We picked up pace.


And the scenaries followed us.


As you enter Kargil the greens continue to grow in numbers


Yes and Respect!




Small towns dotted before Kargil


As we descended towards Kargil


We stopped at nothing. Drass was priority.


There was nothing much about Kargil. There were a lot of abandoned homes. We did not stop at all. We pushed for Drass.


Following this River. The roads after and just towards Kargil became real bad. It slowed us down and we did not have much day light. Our next stop was Kargil War Memorial in Drass


The Kargil war memorial. We took some time to look around and pay our respect. The Army personnel's here were so polite and gentle men. I just did not know how to show my respect. We were required to enter our names and contact# in a register. And I was addressed as Sir. I told the Handsome looking Army man that I should call you sir.


Some of the pictures clicked from Pruthvi's camera I did not have. We refreshed our selves and had our dinner here as well. We were so hungry as we did not stop anywhere in between to eat. We Ordered many Momo plates and Chola Batura, Parata and I do not remember what. The army personnel again who was taking the order at Rendezvous Cafe counter was smiling and saying, you ordered too much. Ofcourse I was so hungry and I let him know that. The price was very reasonable and very tasty.


As we ate we also read about the Kargil war History. Poli became very emotional and refused to go to the memorial.

After filling our stomach, learning rich history, paying respect to our fallen, we had a chat with some Army gentlemen. Who advised us to halt at Drass and continue. It would be foolish not listening to the Army. That was our plan as well. We clicked no more pictures. We reached Drass just before sunset and was turned down accommodation in J&K Tourism guest house. We found a room for 500 Rs and went straight to bed.

We were told that Zozila pass was closed due to a landslide today and light vehicles were allowed via a detour. There was no guarantee it would open the next day.

Lots of information in one day. However just being around our Army heroes was a morale boost with no limits.

Stay tuned for Drass to Banihal and how we passed Zozila.