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**xBhp** · 06-29-2022, 05:47 PM

Topic approved.

**sajalsheth** · 07-02-2022, 04:54 PM

Date:- 18.5.2022 & 19.5.2022, Preparation and Day 1 & 2 :- Train to Delhi & Ride to Ambala.

My PAST RIDES:-

I am riding since age of 16. So I have 40 years of riding experience & done many small and big rides.
These are worth mentioning:-

1) Solo ride from Cuttack to Ranchi & back: - 3 days ride for 1095 km.

2) Distance Is Not A Measurement For True Love Of A Father :- 8 days solo ride from Cuttack to Manipal & back for 3865 km, just to meet my daughter = Travelogue Link

3) Solo maiden ride to Ladakh and Zanskar for 19 days for 3987 km = Dream > Explore > Discover =Zanskar & Ladakh Bike Ride, June 2014 =Travelogue Link

4) Solo ride to Deomali -Highest peak of Odisha & Duduma - Three big waterfalls at one place - Three days ride for 1263 km = Travelogue Link

5) MahendraGiri – Second highest mountain peak of Odisha – Three days group ride for 750 kms = Travelogue Link

6) S 3 = Sohra , Sandakphu & Sikkim - 4464 KM for 19 days-Travelogue Link

7) Ride to NEHAsthan for 3630 kms for 6 days – to meet my younger daughter with a message of EDUCATE GIRL CHILD - Travelogue Link

8) Ride to KISS ( K = Kishtwar-Killar , I = ishtiyari , S = Sach Pass & S = Spiti Valley ) Solo ride to Cliff Hanger road and Spity Valley-Travelogue Link

Also done many other rides in Odisha for 200 km to 900 km.

My instagram account is :-
SAJAL SHETH (@sajalsheth) • Instagram photos and videos

PREPATATIONS:-

On 15th May,2022 me and my wife BINA (Tarot Reader, Crystal Healer , Reiki Healer, Intuitive Guide & Life Coach ) discussed about my wish to ride to Umling La Pass and new route to Ladakh via Shinkun La - Zanskar - Singe La - Sirsir La Pass. I expressed my wish to ride to these places. My wife encouraged , supported and motivated me ride to my wishlist. We finalized the plan and I booked train ticket for 18.5.2022 to Delhi. It was sudden plan. I need to collect and pack my luggage. I also need to service my my Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS motorcycle for the ride. I had only 3 days in hand to prepare route plan and chalk out everything.
I calculated day wise plan and calculated kilometers for each day. As Leh - Umling La- Tso Kar - Keylong was 880 kms, I need to carry petrol in jerry cans.
I fitted my old petrol jerry can carrier of 2014 in my bike.

My bike was serviced and checked properly by Cuttack Bajaj Service center head Mr SABAS KHAN properly.
It was ready on 17th May evening.

On 17th May ,2022 my luggage was packed in evening. The big bag on left was having helmet, riding jacket, jerry cans, leg guards, Riding gloves etc. So when ride will start, I will have only two bags to be fitted on bike at Delhi.

My starting Kms on 18th May,2022 was 53010.

I reached Bhubaneswar Railway Station Parcel office and booked my bike as luggage at Parcel office. It took around 2 hours and it costs me Rs. 2,810 in total. This is how it looked after loading inside luggage van of Rajdhani express.

This is how bike looked after reaching at New Delhi Railway Station on 19th May,2022

On 19.5.2022, I was ready to ride from New Delhi Railway Station, with my luggage tied on bike.

I filled up petrol at a BPCL petrol pump near Railway station.
Does not my bike look happy ? It was shining and looking happy for this ride.

The temperature was around 41 degree and it felt too hot to ride in the peak summer. This is how I saved myself from heatwave ...tying a wet Gamuchha(small cloth) over my mouth and nose. This technique was told to me by a villager in 2014. It is very effective in summer rides.

This is me with my friend Panshul Mehta at AMBALA.

I reached Ambala in evining and spent time with my friend Panshul.

click HEREfor next update.

**sajalsheth** · 07-02-2022, 05:13 PM

Originally posted by xBhp View Post

Topic approved.

Thank you xBhp

**sajalsheth** · 07-02-2022, 05:25 PM

Date:- 20.5.2022, Day 3 :- Ambala to Kullu

I started from Ambala to reach Manali by evening. But saw a beautiful village called Trakara near Kullu. So I decided to stay here only.
Saw a homestay called "Beas View Homestay" and stayed there. It had good view of mountains and Beas River.

I stopped here after hearing soothing sound of water and took a short break.

This is Trakara village, few kms before Kullu.

Fresh Air made me happy and energetic.

My bike also looked happy even after a long ride for the day.

This is that Homestay where I stayed for that day. This picture was taken on next day morning.

This homestay had gardens with lots of fruit trees and after going little down, I could reach Beas River.

River Beas

I sat here hearing the soothing sound of river water for a long time.

This placed refreshed my soul.

View from homestay during dusk.

Night view of village. Felt as if I was in galaxy.

This is a compilation of videos at Trankara, Kullu

And these two videos were taken from GoPro

click HERE for next update.

**sajalsheth** · 07-04-2022, 11:06 PM

Date:- 21.5.2022, Day 4 :- Kullu to Jispa :-

As per golden rule of acclimatization , I had planned to increase height of my night stay place slowly. Hence I planned my next stop at Jispa. It is at 10,500 feet.
It was very near and I started for Atal Tunnel via Manali. After breakfast, I saw many people paragliding in sky.

Suddenly I thought of going for Paragliding. At counter no 199 , I parked my bike and paid Rs.2,500 for paragliding.
They took me on a vehicle to mountain top, which was 12 kms from my parking place.

This is Shera Bhai, my pilot for this Paragliding.

This is the starting place at hilltop.

The video of my Paragliding was shot in my gopro.

Here are some memorable moments for me while on air.

This is River Beas.

This mountain was my starting point.

You can see Kullu Manali highway on left bottom.

The ground blow is my landing place.

My pilot was an expert and he landed me safely.

This is landing ground near River Beas.

Had a small traffic jam of a different kind, while reaching back from Landing field to Paragling counter, where my bike was parked.
Click this"LINK"

A break before Atal Tunnel.

This is Atal Tunnel , South portal.
Kindly note that no petrol jerry cans are allowed on bike , at entry point.

It was a nice experience to pass through Atal Tunnel, which is highest tunnel of world at 10,040 feet.
It is longest tunnel at 9.02 KM.

This tunnel connects Manali with Lahaul, and has been recognised as the world's longest single tube highway at this height by the World Book of Records, London.

Posing, after Coming out at North Portal of Atal Tunnel.

After passing by a scenic route, I reached Sissu.

Sissu waterfall and lake is very beautiful.

I topped up petrol at New Petrol pump at Keylong. Old favourite, Tandi petrol pump had long queue.

I reached at Jispa, Himachal Pradesh.
I stayed at this home stay. It costed Rs.1000 for a double bed room.

My homestay from nearby green ground.

I had Lunch and dinner at this place.

I spent my evening near river side of Bhaga River.

Jispa had good mobile network and I could do videocall to my family.

Chortens at Jispa

This video gives 360 degree view of Jispa from river side.

This was the temperature at Jispa.

Coming up ...next.... Shinkun La Pass , Gonbo Rangjon

Click HERE for next update.

**sajalsheth** · 07-10-2022, 12:40 AM

Date:- 22.5.2022, Day 5 :- PART 1) Jispa to Purne via Shinkula Pass

Today I was to ride on new road to Zanskar ie. Shinkula Pass and Gonbo Rangjon route.
Today was auspicious day to tie Tibetian Flag.
I tied new Tibertian Flag on bike.
Rule is to tie blue flag on left to yellow flag on right.

This is how my Pulsar 200 NS looked after wearing new Tibetian Flat. It was 7 AM and I was ready to ride.

I reached Darcha at 7:20 AM & had breakfast here. Here I met some riders who stayed in tent near open area near Bridge.
They were also planning to go till Gonbo Rangjon. I had not taken post paid SIM for mobile. so my mobile will work till here only. Then again my mobile will work on 28th May , ie after 7 days.

After crossing bridge, Police check post noted down my details. Then I reached the starting point / diversion of Shinkun La Pass.

Time for a selfie. There road from here is newly built.

I could now see snow on mountain top.

This area was Chika and saw a water stream.

This is Jankar Sumdo village, where there is a helipad. I saw one small eatery there. There were many construction workers from Chattishgarh and Bihar here.

The snow capped mountain were now parallel to me. And road were very nice.

This was the first view of snow.

As I rode further ahead , more and more snow was there.

There were very few tourist on this new route.

Snow became more nearer.

Weather was good and road was tarred.

I was moving slowly, enjoying the snow on mountains.

The road ahead.

White , brown and black with blue sky.

Moving further ahead, the snow was more and it was everywhere.

I was happy to choose the right season for this ride.

but the good tar road ended few kms before Shinkun La Pass top.

but a construction worker told me that road making will continue and in future we will get good road till top.

This was the scenic route with snow wall. I came from this route.

It was feeling like a snow world in a fairy tail.

Time for a selfie with bike , with snow wall road in background.

Now moving further the road became bad with slush and snow melted water on road. The snow wall on both side was making it look good.

I was careful and looking for black ice on road. I was riding very snow now.

riding inside snow world

Now there was more snow on road. It was partially melted and while riding it was making crushing sound.

At 10.15 AM, I reached Shinkun La Pass at 5045 meter.

Shinkula Pass or Shinkhun La Pass is at 16580 feet.

This was first pass of this trip.

Time for another picture .

only a cab was there with two tourists.

Otherwise this is a route, where you will not find many tourists.

The freezed lake in background must me Shinkula lake.

..... coming up... in Part 2) Gonbo Rangjon.

**sajalsheth** · 07-10-2022, 12:45 AM

Date:- 22.5.2022, Day 5 :- PART 2 ) Gonbo Rangjon

Now I was entering J&K. Kurgiak is the first village if you enter Ladakh / J&K via this route.

Then I started descending towards Lakhong village. But the descend was very difficult due to snow melting water on road will big pebbles and small stones on road.
At one place my bike skid and there was a fall.
I tried to pull bike up, but could not do due to luggage on bike.
I had no choice but to wait for some tourist or biker, who can help me lift the fallen bike.
After around 45 minutes a tempo traveler came and helped me.

There after I was riding more slow and was stopping more. I reached Lakhong village at 12 PM. The bike was dirty due to that fall. But no damage to bike.
Only left mirror was twisted. I was lucky and thanked God for that.
You can get maggie and some pack food at Lakhong. A shop of Tenzing was there with 5 -6 houses of workers.

River Kurgiak chu was flowing and this was my first view of Gonbo Rangjon mountain.

It was difficult to recognize this holy mountain from here.

This is how Gonbo Rangjon look from below.

There were numerous water crossing on the way

Now this holy mountain look different from here.

I was very delighted to see this mountain as it looked different and holy from here.

" GONBO RANGJON "
.
A holy Sacred Mountain between Shinkhula Pass & Kurgiakh, Purne ,Zanskar. This can be seen far from 15+ kms , when you travel from Kurgiakh side.
And a story:-
Once upon a time, there was a little boy, who was born in a big joint family. While growing up, he realised that big families is not his thing, and he wanted to stay independently.Not far from them, but away from the family, independently.
His family members were not so happy with the idea.They told him how they have always stayed together, and how it is how it has been running in the family.They told him, it wouldn’t be easy to stay alone.
They told him, there’s a harsh world outside, not safe, not friendly, not conducive for staying alone.
But the little one had made up its mind. And he left for staying independently.
And here it is...Mount Gonbo Rangjon (Gonbo Ronjon).
It’s not just a mountain.It represents strength. Determination. Perseverance. It represents how one can be different, or choose a different path for self. It represents how you can follow your heart and stay strong.
It represents many of you out there.
Reply, if you could relate to the mountain, or want to stay independently going ahead. Or do you prefer staying with the family.
That’s the story that crawled its way in my head after looking at this majestic mountain, that stands alone.
(Story by Saurabh Sabikhi./TRIPOTO).

SOLO TRAVELERS & RIDERS like me can understand the true meaning of Determination, Perseverance, inner Strength & follow the heart & stay strong.

ॐ मणि पद्मे हुम्

Gonbo Rangjon was looking as if Lord Buddha is doing meditation. See this :-

And for those who gaze at this mountain from a particular angle at a particular time you can see the image of Lord Buddha on its river facing slopes !

There were tents there and many yaks.

Determination, Perseverance, inner Strength & follow the heart & stay strong , is the meaning of Gonbo Rangjon.
Or self emerged God.

I was riding towards Kurgiak and stopped again for some pictures.

This was a dream come true to see Gonbo Rangjon.

Before this road was made, locals and travelers used to trek here.

I spend a hour here and enjoyed the view and serenity.

This is a compilation of small videos I took in Shinkun La and Gonbo Rangjon.

I crossed Kurgiakh village. There was a check post but not one was present there.
I rode towards Purne. As my plan was to stay at Purne village.

Google Maps show that you need to go on route toward west of Kurgiak chu river. But the road to the east of river. This is new road.
Do not take any road which goes towards or crosses river. I saw jio cable being layed in some places on road. I saw 1-2 camp site and eateries on road. But all were closed.
So I took a small break and had some biscuits for lunch.
I reach Purne at 3PM.
River Kurgiak Chu meets river Tsarap Tso at Purne. There are 2-3 home stays here.
I stated at Dolma Campsite and homestay. There is mobile network at Purne. I took homestay lady owner's mobile and informed my family about my where about.

Coming up .... NEXT .... trek to Phukhtal Monastery and ride to Padum.

click HERE for next update.

**sajalsheth** · 07-18-2022, 09:23 PM

Date:- 23.5.2022, Day 6 :- Purne to Phuktal Monastery trek, Ride to Padum

After having breakfast, I started for Phuktal or Phukthar Monastery.
According to locals, it is just 1 hour trek from Purne. You can go to Monastery from Purne or from CHAR Village, which is opposite side of Purne.
But Purne side is short and good trek road.

But from Purne it is 2.6 kms vehicle road,
then park your vehicle
& tough trek of 4.06 kms or 2 hours or 7000 steps.

Ancient Phuktal Monastery, Zanskar is the only Monastery in Ladakh that can be reached only by foot. It is built around a natural cave & looks like a honey comb. It is also called Honey Comb Monastery.
It is said to be 2550 years old. It had a sacred spring of holy water, but after 2017 it became dry.
This Monastery has a school also with around 25 monks.

I reached to the parking area at 9AM, after riding 2.6 km ride.
These are luggage of Monastery, which will be taken to Monastery via mule.
Two monks were arranging this.

From here the 4.06 kms long trek starts.

The trek is up and down and goes side by side of Tsarap River.

**sajalsheth** · 07-18-2022, 09:24 PM

View of this blue river makes you feel good.

Happy me to see such a clear river water.

I was tempted to take a dip here.

**sajalsheth** · 07-18-2022, 09:25 PM

But just washed my face with this cold water.

Feeling was great to see such a blue water.

I don't know how such a blue water becomes muddy when it reaches Nimu, Confluence point of River Zanskar and Indus.

**sajalsheth** · 07-18-2022, 09:26 PM

I was trekking slowly and enjoying water.

After one hour of walk, I could see a bridge on river.

**sajalsheth** · 07-18-2022, 09:26 PM

This is a wooden base hanging bridge on Tsarap River

That road opposite side or river comes from CHAR Village.

I reached on bridge at 10.25 AM.

**sajalsheth** · 07-18-2022, 09:27 PM

This is east side view.
One can see the Gate of Monastery and the old hanging bridge.

West side view.

I was excited to see the Monastery gate.

**sajalsheth** · 07-18-2022, 09:27 PM

But it was again half kms up hill trek.

River view is the happy factor in this entire trek

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Umling la pass

[Photo Feature]: Umling la pass

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