Re: Chandigarh Leh Manali, August 2015

Lovely pictures there, and what an interesting mix of bikes there in your team!


Thread reopened.

Re: Chandigarh Leh Manali, August 2015

Trip for this year was marked for Bhutan or Sikkim with all eagerness and anticipation but my good old friend Deepak along with his set of friends had planned out a road trip from Chandigarh to Manali via Leh. He asked me to join in, but hesitated taking the offer knowing fully well that it would alter my trip plans for the year. A month before the trip, I eventually gave in to the temptation of ‘getting Leh’d’ and decided to join them. The choice I was then given was that I could either bring/ride my own motorbike or be a fellow passenger in my friend’s 4 wheeler. Chose the latter for two reasons – firstly my bike was fairly new that I still needed confidence riding with on those hilly terrains and secondly the money for bike transport, fuel, repairs and extras would bump up the overall trip cost over by 20k which I was not prepared for.

Trip schedule, route maps, hotel/camp stay bookings and vehicle transportation were prepared, done and handled by Vish, while Deepak put forth the cost estimates/break-up and co-ordinated with us all. A final confirmation of 9 guys with 3 on bikes and rest split in two 4-wheelers. Vehicles for the trip – Deepak’s Mahindra Xylo, Sanjiv’s Toyota Fortuner (that was already at Chandigarh), Vish’s Triumph Tiger XRX, Kiran's Yamaha FZS-FI and Pramod's RE Desert Storm were prepped and dropped off for transportation two weeks in advance. Some of us even paid a visit to Decathlon (sports saviour) to purchase stuff/gear for the trip.

Learning from my last year’s trip, packed accordingly getting my backpack to weigh just 9kg, apart from my warm jacket and the handy waist pack from Cramster that held my jimi wallet, mobile phones, power bank, camera, essentials and more.

Friday, 31 July 2015
Days closed in and soon found ourselves at the Bengaluru airport all set to go. Landed at Chandigarh airport, shared taxis to get to the purposeful and practical – Ginger hotel. Vehicle owners got delivery of their vehicles to the hotel and had their vehicles checked and set for the journey ahead. In the evening, we walked down and spent time at the close by Elante mall and later dinner at the pub was fun that had us gulping down draught beer aplenty.

Saturday, 01 Aug 2015
In the morning, baggage were packed and stowed away into the vehicles, fuel filled up full tank, we set out driving out of Chandigarh towards Jammu. Couple of short tea breaks along the way as we drove passed Hoshiarpur and then Pathankot. Route was rather boring but we had to cover it. At Vijaypur (just before the toll booth and about 12km before Jammu), we halted for the night at an impressive hotel by the highway.

Sunday, 02 Aug 2015
We packed up breakfast from the hotel just so we could start early. Drove passed Jammu, then Udhampur and to stop at the scenic Patnitop for a break and photo session before we headed on towards Srinagar. Drove through small towns some of which were manned by the military more than usual. One small village had just about every shop there selling cricket bats, followed by another village that sold Kesar. Nothing more of interest till we neared and reached our hotel of stay at Srinagar. Had typical Kashmiri food to our fill at a renowned restaurant there.

At the entrance to the hotel at Vijaypur


Our bikers unloading their panniers for the night


Patni Top


Somewhere along to way to Srinagar


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Monday, 03 Aug 2015


Traffic halt at ZoziLa top


At the Kargil War Memorial


View from camp site at Kargil


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Tuesday, 04 Aug 2015
In the morning after breakfast, we all decided to check out the military base that was close to the border and so we drove/rode up to Hunderman village and met the military personnel there. Shortly after, we headed back down and onwards. By 2:15pm, we reached the small town of Mulbekh where by the main roadside stood a huge boulder with the statue of Buddha engraved into it. Had a quick lunch at the close-by restaurant, by which time the two Spanish ladies on cycles turned up. After taking few photographs of the temple, we continued on and climbed up to NamikaLa (altitude 12198 ft) by about 3:30pm. Continued on further up till we got to the FotuLa top (13479 ft). By about 6:30pm we stopped at Khalste for a tea break. Then, on reaching Leh we settled into the hotel of stay.

Army base at Hunderman village top


Buddha Temple, Mulbekh


FotuLa Top


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Wednesday, 05 Aug 2015
The plan for tomorrow was to drive up Khardungla, but news from local sources stated that Nubra Valley and KhardungLa were closed due to road fixing/repair. This changed our plans and we decided to do Pangong Tso first and if the KhardungaLa route opened by then we go ahead with it after. Meanwhile, we spent the day checking out the close by Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace and other monasteries. Later in the evening, a casual stroll to the local main market/shopping area.

View from nearby monastery, Leh


Shanti Stupa, Leh


View of Leh Palace from the market street, Leh

Re: Chandigarh Leh Manali, August 2015

Wow, that is big group for Leh. Please continue

Re: Chandigarh Leh Manali, August 2015

Great shots. Waiting for the rest!

Re: Chandigarh Leh Manali, August 2015

Beautiful pictures.

Re: Chandigarh Leh Manali, August 2015

Thank you itsmevini123, krishna77, koolsantosh22

So, I proceed with the rest of the travelogue below

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Thursday, 06 August 2015
The roads towards KhardungLa was still closed for repair and so we headed to Pangong Tso. Filled up 3 cans of diesel and 2 cans of petrol in our vehicles and started out. We neared Thiksey monastery, there was a road block due to water flooding over the road up ahead. So we stopped to a side and some of us decided to climb up to the Monastery. Was worth the effort. The others informed us of another route to be used and so did. As we neared Pangong Tso, we got sighting of the yak* and marmots**. Finally, reached the famous Pangong Tso and spent time by the lake side admiring it’s beauty. Night came and the sky was lit up with a gazillion stars and many constellations. A spectacular sight.

Friday, 07 August 2015
Was a return journey from Pangong Tso. We visited another monastery at Shey and later back to where we had camped.

Saturday, 08 August 2015
We got good news that the route upto KhardungLa is opened, so decided to do KhardungLa and return, ditching the camping at Nubra valley. We packed up our luggage, bid goodbye to the camp owner and his team. Started by 9:30am and by about noon, we reached to top. Some of us climbed up the hill by the side of the road for some pictures. It was not so easy, for we had to stop ever so often and breathe in. Having spend some 15-20 mins here, we drove back down into Leh town, stopped at this multi-cuisine open-air restaurant for a hearty lunch. Spent the rest of the evening just walking through the busy market streets in town.

Sunday, 09 August 2015
Today it was a drive to Tso Moriri. Smooth tarred roads on the highway till we past a few kilometers from Debring and a left lead towards Tso Moriri it was simply rugged off-roading all the way. We passed Tso Kar, Puga Lake where we could see the hot springs. A little further from here at Sumdo, one needs to take a right (which can be easily missed) that leads to Kyagar Tso. Past this and about 6km from Tso Moriri, you get to a Y junction. The left is tarred roads and is tempting to take but don’t. Take the right and the muddy road ahead leads to a small village of Karzok. With permission from the army camp there, we drive further to reach Tso Moriri. A lovely sight of the lake.

Monastery


Small poster put up at a tea stall on the way showcasing some of the idiotic tourists


On the way to Pangong Tso


Marmot (just lucky enough to get close enough to one)


Pangong Tso


Nearing to top of Khardung La


On the way to Tso Moriri


Horses grazing, on the way to Tso Moriri

Re: Chandigarh Leh Manali, August 2015

Just a look at the photos made me stuck to the thread like a fly stuck in honey. Looking forward to read more from you. Good riding!

Re: Chandigarh Leh Manali, August 2015

Monday, 10 August 2015
Spent first part of the morning along the lake taking snaps and then we headed back to Debring for a quick lunch. Then continued on, driving past Pang, Biskynala, NakeeLa (altitude 15547 ft.), the steep winding multiple hairpin bends of Gata Loops, Sarchu, while the Tsarap river flowed besides the road all the way till Sarchu. It was late evening and dark but the time we past the first overhead sign board stating we were entering Sarchu. Drove a couple a kilometres while we passed-by several camps until we finally reached the camp booked for us. Settled in, had dinner and a few drinks too.

Tuesday, 11 August 2015
From here we continued on, driving past Zingzingbar, the beautiful Deepak Tal (lake), further down to Keylong, Tandi, Sissu and then to stop at Khoksar for a filling lunch of Mutton rice and alu parathas. It was now towards Rohtang Pass. At the beginning of the climb, there was a land slide that needed to be cleared up, so another half hour halt before proceeding up to the top of Rohtang Pass that was partly covered with much fog with light drizzle that getting a clear view of the road ahead was seemingly difficult. Carefully drove down upto Marhi to stop for a hot pipping tea break. Then, we continued on to reach Manali by late evening.

The camp that was booked to stay for the night had river water wetting the grounds there, so we looked for an alternate online and booked one that showed on the maps as being in the city, but later we were all quite upset to realise that it was in fact about 14km away from the town of Manali. Drove up there and settled in for the night.

Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Up early morning, Deepak and I were out on a morning stroll, taking snaps of the flora and fauna around the resort of stay. When all turned up for breakfast, most of us decide to try out ‘Channa Batura’ which was in fact tasty considering the amount of ‘Dal chawal’, ‘Maggi’, ‘Parathas n’ pickle’ we have had throughout this trip. Later, we headed out to visit the famous Naggar Palace, which was built around 1460 and what’s most interesting here is it’s architecture – simple and yet robust.
Then after we visited the Nicholas Roreich art gallery. Here, Roreich’s distinct style is visible in all of his paintings, that which depict the varied mountainous terrain against the different colors of the sky. Svetoslav Roerich’s paintings unlike his father’s was more portrait oriented and impressive too. Devika Rani’s pictures gave the presence of her charm and beauty.

With couple of hours well spent here, we all headed to town for lunch and then spent some time and money on shopping of local handicrafts till about 7pm. Then in resort room party with some cocktails made by Pramod.

Thursday, 13 August 2015
Today was just a boring drive from Manali to Chandigarh. Somewhere along the way, Pramod’s RE had issues and had to stop. After much pondering, figured out that the engine oil compartment was close to being bone dry, apart from the brake fluid casing showing low. Deepak and Lokesh went ahead in the Xylo and about half hour later returned with a bottle of engine oil. It worked and we all continued on the boring route just to get to Chandigarh by evening.

Friday, 14 August 2015
Morning blues with thoughts of returning back to the ‘concrete jungle’ and ‘computing’ life. We get packed up, have breakfast, check out from the hotel and take booked taxis to the airport. Group photo of us there and we board the flight back to Bengaluru.

View of small village at Tso Moriri


On the way back from Tso Moriri


Past NakeeLa and on the way to Sarchu


Cyclists trying to cross the water flow over the road


Visibility or the lack of it, driving down from Rohtang Pass


Flora and fauna at manali


Naggar Palace, Manali


Agapanthus Lily in the garden at Nicholas Roreich art gallery, Manali


Evening sky as we near Bengaluru

Re: Chandigarh Leh Manali, August 2015

Awesome frozen mercury's photography.

Re: Chandigarh Leh Manali, August 2015

Mind-blowing!

Re: Chandigarh Leh Manali, August 2015

An awesome log, with diverse set of bikes. Great captures.
The FZ looks like the carb version, if it's the FI version, can you please throw some light on its performance in those terrains?

TIA