When do you plan to go Mik? Rohtang would hopefully be open by the last week of April by the look of things. Right now, you would be permitted only uptil Gulaba

Shimla - Chakrata, you can easily do. Any other details u require on this route, feel free to ask.

Vaibhav

Mik,

Very nice pics yaar. M all charged up now for April trip......... I'm confused b/w two places:

1. Delhi - Manali - Rohtang - .....
2. Delhi - Shimla - Chakrata - .....

Help me please!!!
My idea is to have a satisfying ride at the end.

I was googling for it and found out that there are actually camps there. So overnight stay is possible i guess

Chandratal: Beauty Unbound

Looks absolutely out of this world! I cannot even imagine how wonderful the lake would look during sunrise/ sundown. Is there any option of staying there? How far is the nearest accomodation from there? Any idea?

He he
I was in a similar predicament till Google devta came to my rescue.

Check out this photograph
CHANDRATAL, SPITI, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I guess it will help in making up your mind

Mik,

Very nice pics yaar. M all charged up now for April trip......... I'm confused b/w two places:

1. Delhi - Manali - Rohtang - .....
2. Delhi - Shimla - Chakrata - .....

Help me please!!!
My idea is to have a satisfying ride at the end.

One addition for a Kumaon ride from my side. Strictly 3 days.

Day 1 : Delhi-Moradabad-Nainital(avoid kathgodam route. Take the bazpur road route)-almora-binsar-bageshwar
Not exact: But almost 400km.
Day 2: Bageshwar-Chakori(Awesome ride. One of the best i have been through)- Ghat-Pithoragarh(Ghat to pithoragarh is also superb)
Not Exact: But almost 250km.
Day 3: Pithoragarh-Delhi.
500 km approx.

Will post some pics from home. This was on old xbhp.

There are often occasions when we manage to club a day or two alongwith the weekend which can give us a window of riding out of Delhi to find biking freedom. I am trying to create this for people who can talk about such possibilities with their knowledge and experience.

Here we are looking for destinations which are more than just Jaipur and Agra which ofcourse exist... but we are looking at slightly offbeat places. Off the beaten track.

1.One such destination would be Chakrata as seen and neatly elaborated here by our Aryan in his thread here: http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/6...ikers-way.html

2.If you are looking to ride fast straights and curves on the Aravalis and get some Royalty to visit, you can have a look here: http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/6...arh-mahal.html
It is true that I did that tour on a Sbk, but you really do not need a Sbk to do such a tour. You can easily do it with any bike really. This will not take you more than 3 days as you will get from the narration above. You can get rooms from 4K/Night/room upwards if you are looking at the amount you are going to spend. Every moment spent in this place is quite interesting. Do not forget to pack your swimsuits.

3.Another possibility would be to head towards Himachal:
Day1: Delhi-Manali
Day2: Manali-Rohtang-Gramphu-Chandratal, photographs and back.
Day3: Chill, maybe Nagar etc.
Day4: Manali-Delhi.

My take, do not stay at Manali. I always say this. But it is worth it. Stay at Vashist, 5kms away from the Lajpat Nagar type hustle and bustle of Manali and its teeming tourists.

ust remember that Gramphu-Chandratal is NOT easy. But I am sure, with your enthusiasm it will be fine. Just preparing you mentally. Once you reach Chandratal, you will realise that you should be carrying an extra battery set and 4 more GB of space!!!

And if you plan to stay put at Vashist, there is a lovely Water Fall. It is called Jogini Falls. There is one lower and easy access. That is not the "Real" fall. That is the touristy one. For the real Jogini Falls, one has to make an effort to get up there. Takes a good hour of walking. But then again... every metre walked is worth its weight in salt in sweat and tears!

4.For those willing to exploit the desert and the dunes can have a look here http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/6...une-quest.html Now this took 4 days through some great rocky terrain, lot of nice landscapes of arid vegetation of acacia, some dunes and some more if you go to Sam Dunes, 40kms beyond Jaisalmer or to Khuri Village... and then maybe do a camel ride and let your bike take a well deserved rest.

I will put this post up to begin with and I hope others will add on...