Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

15-16 ex Jammu are pretty sufficient for entire Ladakh circuit if everything go well.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

The situation here in J&K is a bit tensed right now. Today is strike in Jammu and in Kashmir also, there was strike for 2-3 days continuously. This is due to the incident at Baltal (Amarnath Yatra stop-point)
People going through this route should first confirm the situation before coming.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Thanks Nadeem , I am riding from Jammu on 15th August, will surely check the situation before leaving.

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Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Make it 16th or 17th.. As on 15th Aug, Kashmir valley will be closed (security bulls**t) and you would be reaching Srinagar in the evening.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

So, no chance of getting accomadation in Srinagar on 15th ? In that case I will arrive jammu on 15th and start riding on 16th morning .

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Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

I hope that you have a great trip up north. I would like to tell somethings my friend told me who just got back yesterday.

1. It is obvious that u'll be carrying spares but there is one specific part that u must carry. It is the wiring harness. Apache have a single electrical harness and if one of your components got short your bike will come to a standstill. My friend also took an apache and had a shot luckily he was in mandi and got a replacement but you don't take risk.

2. There are heavy rainfall in the keylong region so plan your trip accordingly and the road was also closed two days back due to landslide.

3. If you are carrying a DSLR well enough if not then go to a mechanic and get a bike charger installed as battery drops 2% EACH KM after rohtang.

And my condolences to a rider who died in front of my friend's eyes who lost control in a stream and went downhill

I hope you have a safe journey and mesmerizing memories.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Alternatively I may start riding at sunrise on 15th and head to Pahalgam spend the night there and then start riding towards srinagar on 16th , the idea is to avoid srinagar on 15th as there might be protests etc . On 16th I can head towards Srinagar spend some time at Dal lake in the morning and head straight to sonmarg . From 17th onwards I can follow my usual itenirary. Does it sound good ?

15th jammu-pahalgam
16th pahalgam -sonamarg
17th - sonamarg -kargil
18th- kargil - rangdum
19th rangdum -padum
20th padum - rangdum
21st - padum kargil
22nd kargil - Leh
23rd - leh
24th leh - nubra/hunder via Khardungla
25th nubra - leh
26th leh - pangong/spangmik
27th - pangong - hanle
28th - Hanle- Tso moriri ( if possible)
29- 30 -31 reach chandigarh

This is just a tentative itenirary .
I am not sure which route to take and what to do on the last 3 days . I will be flying back on 31st from chandigarh.

Please let me know how feasible this itenirary is , I dont want to rush to places , I dont mind skipping a few if I have to Enjoying the journey is the priority.

Thanks
Tariq.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

You will get accommodation, but the situation can get pretty crazy sometimes (hopefully not anymore).
As you said, start for Srinagar on 16th.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Mik as of now your itenirary looks perfect f
to me . I am trying to squeeze in Nubra as well since I have around 16 days and I will be flying back from chandigarh instead of Delhi .

Thanks again.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Yeah.. You could do Leh-Nubra(wherever you drop anchor)
and then next day (wherever you drop anchor)-Pangong (using Wari La or Agham Shyok route)

Also, saw your dates. I would advise you not to be anywhere near the Kashmir valley on 14th/15th Aug this year. This year the valley has been angry and you could easily lose a day or two due to any untoward situation. In case your dates are frozen - stick to main highways and preferably not do pahalgam. My thought is that pahalgam is primarily a diversion from Anantnag. In case there is some protest you could be holed up there for a day.
Alternatively, If you stay in a prominent hotel on the outskirts of Srinagar - atleast you can make an exit before any stone pelting/curfew situation and also cross Ganderbal quickly.
Best would be if you can reach Sonmarg on 14th (2.5 hours ahead of Srinagar. Jammu to Srinagar is around 8/9 hours)

Apologies if I sound a bit dramatic. We faced some scary situations this time so would want others to be extra careful

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Time restrictions at Sonmarga and Drass to cross Zojila Pass are now lifted. Vehicles can pass any time between these places.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Excellent news . Thanks saquib.

I have adjusted my itenirary to reach sonamarg by 14th evening .15th Morning I would be on my way to Kargil.
I have included Pahalgam as well thanks to the movie highway , the last scene was shot at Aru valley pahalgam , have been wanting to go there ever since.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Agham shyok route is pretty much doable apart from one river crossing after shyok village from where complete off roading starts for 20 km . Which is actually river bed. When I entered water to check it's dept before putting our bikes . My first foot in the water and it was till knee length and 2nd foot till chest for a 6.3" guy so we backed out as waited at the army post to think wht needs to be done next that's when after requesting the army personal . They loaded our bikes of a platform truck an helped it crossed the river . And trust me it's the best shortcut to reach Pangong from Numbra an we were directly in Durbuk


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Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Can you share some pics from this section????

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

I just got some news that manali is completely filled with water. Can anyone confirm. Attaching some pics. I am leaving tomm morning from Delhi

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