• News
    • News From India
    • News From Abroad
  • Features
    • Features
    • #100Motorcycles
  • Reviews
    • xBhp Official Reviews
    • Ownership Experiences
  • Forums
    • Who Are You
    • Travelogues
    • Help Me
    • Motorcycle Ownership Experiences
    • What Bike
    • Do It Yourself
    • Classifieds
  • Videos
  • Roadtrips
    • Roadtrips
  • Machines
  • Magazine
    • Submit an Article
    • xBhp Past Issues
  • Shop
  • Register
  • Follow Us
    • instagram
    • twitter
    • facebook
    • Youtube
  • #JKSmartRides
  • MotoSport
    • Racing
  • xBhp HQ
xBhp.com
Axor

Since '02 xBhp is different things to different people. From a close knit national community of bikers to India's only motorcycling lifestyle magazine and a place to make like-minded biker friends. Join us

Axor
Magazine
Castrol

Learn & practice evasive maneuvers.

Our Partners

  • News
    • News From India
      Supercharged streetfighters Kawasaki Z H2 and Z H2 SE launched in India

      Supercharged streetfighters Kawasaki Z H2 and Z H2 SE launched in India

      Hero MotoCorp and 1SPORTS to bring the Dakar Rally for viewers in India

      Hero MotoCorp and 1SPORTS to bring the Dakar Rally for viewers in India

      2021 edition of TVS Women’s One Make Championship

      2021 edition of TVS Women’s One Make Championship

      KTM conducts the first-ever KTM Pro Getaways in Hyderabad & Guwahati

      KTM conducts the first-ever KTM Pro Getaways in Hyderabad & Guwahati

    • News From Abroad
      Dakar Rally 2021: All the updates in one place!

      Dakar Rally 2021: All the updates in one place!

      MV Agusta Superveloce Alpine: Two legacies. One Motorcycle!

      MV Agusta Superveloce Alpine: Two legacies. One Motorcycle!

      110 bhp, 93 Nm, and 188 kg (kerb): The new Ducati Monster is here!

      110 bhp, 93 Nm, and 188 kg (kerb): The new Ducati Monster is here!

      Here's the Ducati Diavel 1260 Lamborghini, inspired by the Sián FKP 37!

      Here's the Ducati Diavel 1260 Lamborghini, inspired by the Sián FKP 37!

  • Features
    • Features
      The #xBhpUltimatePowerDuo: #MindNinja and #SoulRocket

      The #xBhpUltimatePowerDuo: #MindNinja and #SoulRocket

      Dawn of the Electrics: EeVe Ahava and Atreo

      Dawn of the Electrics: EeVe Ahava and Atreo

      #CEATxPlorer: Exploring the untraced North Bengal Himalayas

      #CEATxPlorer: Exploring the untraced North Bengal Himalayas

      Motorola razr 5G X xBhp

      Motorola razr 5G X xBhp

    • #100Motorcycles
      WATCH: The First Superbike: Honda CB 750

      WATCH: The First Superbike: Honda CB 750

      Bike 26: Ducati Diavel Carbon

      Bike 26: Ducati Diavel Carbon

      Bike 25: Royal Enfield Diesel Bullet

      Bike 25: Royal Enfield Diesel Bullet

      Bike 24: Mahindra Mojo

      Bike 24: Mahindra Mojo

  • Reviews
    • xBhp Official Reviews
      xBhp-InitialD starring Lexus RC F and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R

      xBhp-InitialD starring Lexus RC F and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R

      Husqvarna’s quarter-litre quiver: Vitpilen 250 and Svartpilen 250

      Husqvarna’s quarter-litre quiver: Vitpilen 250 and Svartpilen 250

      BMW 220d: Breaking tradition instead of the bank

      BMW 220d: Breaking tradition instead of the bank

      2020 Street Triple RS Review: Triumph'ant as ever!

      2020 Street Triple RS Review: Triumph'ant as ever!

    • Ownership Experiences
      Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSI Owner Reviews

      Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTSI Owner Reviews

      Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS Ownership Review

      Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS Ownership Review

  • Forums
    • Who Are You
    • Travelogues
    • Help Me
    • Motorcycle Ownership Experiences
    • What Bike
    • Do It Yourself
    • Classifieds
  • Videos
    Dawn of the Electrics: EeVe Ahava and Atreo

    Dawn of the Electrics: EeVe Ahava and Atreo

    Motorola razr 5G X xBhp

    Motorola razr 5G X xBhp

    #CEATxPlorer :: CEAT Zoom Rad X1 Review from Episode 1

    #CEATxPlorer :: CEAT Zoom Rad X1 Review from Episode 1

    Gear Up with TVS Racing Performance Gear

    Gear Up with TVS Racing Performance Gear

    India to Singapore :: Episode 36:: Singapore:: On Bajaj Dominar!

    India to Singapore :: Episode 36:: Singapore:: On Bajaj Dominar!

  • Roadtrips
    • Roadtrips
      India to Singapore :: Episode 36:: Singapore:: On Bajaj Dominar!

      India to Singapore :: Episode 36:: Singapore:: On Bajaj Dominar!

      India to Singapore :: Episode 35:: Singapore:: On Bajaj Dominar!

      India to Singapore :: Episode 35:: Singapore:: On Bajaj Dominar!

      India to Singapore :: Episode 34:: Malaysia:: On Bajaj Dominar!

      India to Singapore :: Episode 34:: Malaysia:: On Bajaj Dominar!

      India to Singapore :: Episode 33:: Malaysia:: On Bajaj Dominar!

      India to Singapore :: Episode 33:: Malaysia:: On Bajaj Dominar!

      India to Singapore :: Episode 32:: Malaysia:: On Bajaj Dominar!

      India to Singapore :: Episode 32:: Malaysia:: On Bajaj Dominar!

  • Machines
  • Magazine
    • Submit an Article
    • xBhp Past Issues
  • Shop
  • Register
  • Follow Us
    • instagram
    • twitter
    • facebook
    • Youtube
  • #JKSmartRides
  • MotoSport
    • Racing
      #tRacingTheRoots : A 4000 kms ode to racing in India: Episode 2

      #tRacingTheRoots : A 4000 kms ode to racing in India: Episode 2

      #tRacingTheRoots : A 4000 kms ode to racing in India: Episode 1

      #tRacingTheRoots : A 4000 kms ode to racing in India: Episode 1

      WATCH: Team #xBhpRacing Redux! Our second outing at the #FestivalOfSpeed

      WATCH: Team #xBhpRacing Redux! Our second outing at the #FestivalOfSpeed

      Tête-à-Tête with the 3 racers of Team #xBhpRacing

      Tête-à-Tête with the 3 racers of Team #xBhpRacing

  • xBhp HQ
To the ‘new’ world’s highest motorable road: Umling La!
Home
Touring

To the ‘new’ world’s highest motorable road: Umling La!

November 9th, 2017 Deepak Gupta Features, Touring comments

Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp

Seasoned tourer Deepak Gupta recently completed a ride to Umling La, recently crowned the world’s highest motorable road! These bunch of intrepid bikers did this ride in October, one month before the official announcement. He has made an awesome video of his trip. Check it out!

Here’s another feather for my helmet. The daddy of all passes, Umling La and Foti La. Umling La is the new world’s highest motorable pass now. Almost everyone knows my love for mountains and the itch to scale those high mountains passes.

With the same aim, we started our ride from Delhi. We were two riders me and Pruthu Mehta from Hyderabad and two people were travelling with us in a Mahindra Bolero, Hemant Uppal and Bhupal Manral. Having done Ladakh several times we decided to take the inner routes of J&K and live those autumn colours. We covered Mughal Road and reached a place I love, Gurez Valley and Tulail Valley. For the Kashmir section my good friend Jibran Kahan helped us a lot and showed the real beauty of Kashmir. Definitely heaven. Luck was favouring us and we did manage to visit Tithwal which happens to be the line of actual control between India and Pakistan.

Took the usual Kargil route to Ladakh and tried collecting information about Umling La. Trust me gathering information was as tough as scaling it! Now that it has found fame of being the highest motorable road the information is available on websites. Half of the people we tried sourcing information from had no idea about its existence!

With limited information, we were sceptical, however few friends Rohit Mishra, Amit Kumar, Sohail Khan, Sid Suneja, from Delhi joined in and then there was no looking back. We reached Hanle and stayed at my usual Padma Guest House. The weather was clear but the night was cold and uncomfortable. Nonetheless, we decided to move ahead.

The first target was Foti La (18124 ft approx) which from my experience is the toughest I’ve crossed till now. Scaling that height in just 28 kms was quite a task. There were points where we literally had to stop and give that lil push to our bikes. Loose gravel and sand made it all the more difficult.

Foti La to Umling La is another 30 km which I would say was quite easy as compared to Foti La. However, the happiness was short lived and we were welcomed by some of the craziest river crossings. After having ridden extensively in the Himalayas I do manage to find the best way to cross, however not without taking an underbelly hit on the Dominar. The 2nd one was a step forward and you’ll hear me chanting throughout the crossing in the video. There was a time I thought I won’t be able to make it but the prayers were answered and we did manage to cross. Time was not in our favour and it was almost 2 pm by the time we crossed our 2nd crossing, all this and we had to come down the same path for our night stay at Hanle.

Umling La is tougher but thanks to BRO the road is paved and we could manage to ride on it. Hairpin bends really test your balancing skills and the power. There was barely any turn when I was not pushing the bike with my feet, this is really the tough one and a real test of one’s riding skills. The 400cc was put to full use and thanks to the high altitude it does justify the bad condition. There were times when I couldn’t say anything, just managed to say ‘mmmm’ and then go breathless. The 19300 ft was not achievable without friends as crazy as me and of course the project Himank for marking their presence even in the remotest of the areas.

Total distance covered from Delhi to Delhi 4400 km. Total number of days on journey 22.

Route taken: Delhi-Jammu-Rajouri- Poonch- Mughal Road- Srinagar- Rajdan pass – Gurez- Tulail-Srinagar- Tosa maidan- Doodhpathri- Kalarooch-Lolab valley-Kupwada- Sadhna pass – Tithwal- Srinagar-Leh- Hanle- Fotila pass- Umlingla pass- Udungle- Norbula top- Hanle- Chushul- Rezangla- Spangmik- Upshi- Pang- Sarchu- Manali-Delhi.

You can watch the trailer here to whet your appetite:

And once you are ready for the main course, sit back relax and enjoy:

My YouTube channel link : www.youtube.com/XTREMEMOTOADVENTURE 

Comments

comments

  • Tags
  • Bajaj Dominar
  • touring
  • Umling La
Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp
Deepak Gupta

Deepak Gupta

Related Posts

The #xBhpUltimatePowerDuo: #MindNinja and #SoulRocket Features

The #xBhpUltimatePowerDuo: #MindNinja and #SoulRocket

Dawn of the Electrics: EeVe Ahava and Atreo Features

Dawn of the Electrics: EeVe Ahava and Atreo

#CEATxPlorer: Exploring the untraced North Bengal Himalayas Features

#CEATxPlorer: Exploring the untraced North Bengal Himalayas

Facebook Comments

xBhp Merchandise
  • Dec 2020-Jan 2021 Issue ₹125.00
  • October-November 2020 Issue ₹125.00
  • August-September 2020 (10th Anniversary Special Issue) ₹125.00
  • xBhp/Axor Speed of Thought Helmet ₹6,500.00
  • i, The Biker (Long Road) Tee ₹499.00
  • i, The Biker | We, The Power Tee ₹499.00
  • xBhp Edition Carbonado Vector ₹1,490.00
  • xBhp Edition Carbonado GT2 backpack ₹4,990.00
Latest Videos
Dawn of the Electrics: EeVe Ahava and Atreo

Dawn of the Electrics: EeVe Ahava and Atreo

Motorola razr 5G X xBhp

Motorola razr 5G X xBhp

#CEATxPlorer :: CEAT Zoom Rad X1 Review from Episode 1

#CEATxPlorer :: CEAT Zoom Rad X1 Review from Episode 1

Gear Up with TVS Racing Performance Gear

Gear Up with TVS Racing Performance Gear

India to Singapore :: Episode 36:: Singapore:: On Bajaj Dominar!

India to Singapore :: Episode 36:: Singapore:: On Bajaj Dominar!

Bike Reviews
xBhp-InitialD starring Lexus RC F and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R

xBhp-InitialD starring Lexus RC F and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R

Husqvarna’s quarter-litre quiver: Vitpilen 250 and Svartpilen 250

Husqvarna’s quarter-litre quiver: Vitpilen 250 and Svartpilen 250

BMW 220d: Breaking tradition instead of the bank

BMW 220d: Breaking tradition instead of the bank

2020 Street Triple RS Review: Triumph'ant as ever!

2020 Street Triple RS Review: Triumph'ant as ever!

Benelli Imperiale 400 BS6 Review: A charming chariot

Benelli Imperiale 400 BS6 Review: A charming chariot

BMW R18: Berlin’s pride is a cruiser of ‘Future Past’

BMW R18: Berlin’s pride is a cruiser of ‘Future Past’

BMW Z4 M40i: Z to the core and roadster to the brim

BMW Z4 M40i: Z to the core and roadster to the brim

Mahindra Thar: Is this the one that can stir a biker’s heart

Mahindra Thar: Is this the one that can stir a biker’s heart

2020 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V: Earning the badge of ‘Class’ Prefect

2020 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V: Earning the badge of ‘Class’ Prefect

Touring Showcase
Chasing our Dreams...

Mystified Spiti-fied: Delhi-Nako-Delhi: Benelli 302R

Impulsive Spiti - 2018

Exploring Bali on Scooter

A Guide for Touring on Motorcycles in India
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
  • Forums
  • Contact
  • Work with xBhp
  • Return Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • T & C
  • Back to top
logo

Since '02 xBhp is different things to different people. From a close knit national community of bikers to India's only motorcycling lifestyle magazine and a place to make like minded biker friends. Join the #17YearsOfxBhp Celebrations click here.

Axor

Our Partners

© xBhp.com 2019. All rights reserved.
Designed by xBhp