Himalayas is definitely an obsession for any bikers. After accomplishing Spiti Circuit, we were eagerly waiting to take the Dream Himalayan circuit covering Srinagar - Leh - Manali. This time again we connected with Deyor camps and registered with them to ride on this route
What to say about the experience of this ride, it had everything a biker would expect like :-
Outstanding Sceneries
Beautiful Mountain Passes like ChangLa Pass, TanglangLa Pass, Zoji La Pass BaralachaLa Pass, Khardungla Pass
Amazing lakes like Pangong, Surajtal etc
Dangerous and Curvy roads
Snow Capped Mountains
Dry Terrains of Nubra Valley, Siachen Glacier
Stream crossing
No wonder this is a dream route for bikers
Team : Team of 6 Riders. Myself, Ramesh Babu, UdayKumar, Anand, Ram Kishore and Shanmugam
Day 1 : Bangalore to Srinagar
Day 2 : Srinagar - Zojil La Pass - Kargil
Day 3 : Kargil - Leh
Day 4 - Leh - KhardunglaPass - NubraValley
Day 5 - NubraValley - Thang - Nubravalley
Day 6 : NubraValley - Pangong Lake
Day 7 : Pangong Lake - Leh
Day 8 : Leh - More Plains - Sarchu
Day 9 : Sarchu - Jispa
Day 10 : Jispa - Manali
Day 11 : Manali - Delhi - Bangalore
Day 1 - Bangalore to Srinagar - 22June2023, Thursday
It was on Thursday morning we were ready to fly to Srinagar and our flight was at 9.15AM. Shanmugam was planning to join us in Srinagar because he was travelling from Dubai. We all reached Airport by 7.00AM and had a quick breakfast and onboarded the flight with lots of excitement.
It was quick pic in the airport and we were fully excited for the adventure.
We reached Srinagar by around 1.30PM and headed to the hotel. On the way we had some work with Anand's friend who is in Srinagar police department. We met him to give some sweets and had a discussion and then left the place to reach hotel by around 2.00PM. Shanmugam was waiting for us in the Hotel and he had a quick introduction session with all riders travelling from Bangalore.
We visited Dal Lake in the evening, i must definitely say this is a beauty which holds its fame. A wonderful lake situated on the backdrops of mountains. also we were amazed to see wonderful development's happened in Srinagar. After completing Dal Lake, had some authentic food nearby and reached hotel by around 9.00PM.
Beautiful DAL Lake
Day 2 : Srinagar to Zoji La Pass to Kargil - 23June2023, Friday
It was our first day of the ride and the destination was to reach Kargil via Sonmarg and Zojilla Pass.
It was a crazy first day because we started our ride at 2.30AM as there was maintenance in Zoji La Pass from 7.00AM and all the vehicles were prohibited after 7.30AM. Infact we felt this was the best decision because we were able to reach Sonamarg by around 6.30AM and we could witness the mesmerizing beauty of Sonamarg with early morning mist. Words don't describe the beauty of these mountains in Sonamarg and Zoji La Pass.
Zoji La pass was one of the high passes with some deep cliff roads which was an adventure to ride on. Also the road to Kargil was wonderful and Kudos to BRO for having such efficient roads in such high altitudes. We reached Kargil by around 1.30PM and had a good lunch.
How can a ride be without a hurdles, while we were having lunch, we got to know that one of the fellow rider who was in other group met with an accident. This was a shocker and we came to know that the rider was safe, but with multiple fracture's. Ride should not start like this, but it happened. We just motivated among ourself and proceeded further.
We visited Kargil memorial in the evening and halted in Kargil
Mesmerizing Sonmarg
Myself, Shan & Babu
Myself, Shan and Uday
High Mountain Roads - Zoji La Pass
Day 3 : Kargil - Leh
We visited the Kargil Memorial the previous day and trust me, you get goose bumps once you visit the memorial and learning about the stories of the war. Also in the evening, we visited Kargil River walk road which was beautiful one.
We started our ride towards LEH at 7.30AM and we know it was dry route with scenic mountains. We had passed through wonderful dry mountains, cave like mountains and Straight Roads. Myself and Babu enjoyed a lot ripping on the curves. We reached magnetic Hills by around 4.30PM took a break for sightseeing.
Then finally we reached LEH in the evening around 6.30PM. It was a good accommodation provided by Deyor.
We went for sight seeing around LEH in the evening and we were surprised to see LEH being so beautiful and clean. Thanks to the people's civic sense and keeping their city so beautiful.
LEH is any time favorite place for me.
Kargil Memorial
Kargil River Walk Road
Beautiful Straight Road
Day 4 - Leh - KhardunglaPass - NubraValley
It was exciting day of the ride as we were planning to hit Khardungla and Nubra Valley.
After finishing the breakfast at 8.00AM, We started the ride taking the Khardungla route. As we started riding, we came across a major stream crossing and there was a huge traffic jam. Since we were in bikes we could go in small path and reached the stream. It looked like as if the glaciers melted in the morning and there was a huge flow of water. We crossed the river and it was the first major one which was good experience.
We started riding climbing khardungla and reached the peak at around 12.30PM. It was experience on its own and after reaching peak we had some sort of satisfaction, calmness and accomplishment. Aftre reaching top, many in the group had breathing problems including RAM and they had to leave immediately. We went around the peak, took some pictures and started riding down the Khardungla Peak. We stopped for lunch and we could see the excitement with everyone after accomplishing Khardungla.
After this it was dry mountains and we started riding towards Nubra Valley and reached Nubra at around 6.00PM. Later we had a good time in the evening having good talks and some drinks.
Khardungla Top
After Accomplishing Khardungla Top !!
Our Tent @ Nubra Valley
Day 5 - NubraValley - Thang - Turtuk - Nubravalley
It was kind of relaxed day as we did not have long distance to cover and also no packing was required. Our plan was to Visit Thang, Turtuk and return back to Nubra valley.
We started little late around 9.00AM and we were riding slowly so that we enjoyed the ride and mountains. There were multiple streams in this route and the gang was enjoying the stream crossing.
On the way we visited Shyok valley which is a part of Siachen and I would say this is must visit place. It gave us a glimpse of army life in those remote and extreme harsh weathers. OMG the bunkers they were staying are so compact and with weathers changing so rapidly, it would be difficult to stay even for a single day, but army stays in those bunkers for months together guarding the nation. HATS OFF to them!!.
We visited Thang Village and Turtuk Village which is the last village of India. We could see the Pakistan bunkers from here. Took some pictures and while returning, we visited a Monastery which was good one. Then reached the Nubra valley at around 6.00PM. Another wonderful ride to close the day !!
Somewhere in Siachen !!
Extreme Beautiful dry mountains !!
Day 6 : Nubra Valley - Pangong Lake
We know it was complete off roading for the entire journey of around 180KMs and we heard lot of experiences in this route and were excited to hit this road. We started at around 8.00AM post having breakfast and it was good start. It was amazing road and paradise for the off road lovers. It was very scenic with roads going by the side of the river and many beautiful landscapes. It had amazing stream crossing and one of the stream crossing was really adventure on its own. It was wonderful day of off-roading and many stream crossing.
We reached Pangong Lake by around 5.00PM and words cant describe the beauty of this lake. I would call this paradise on earth and it was such a beauty to watch and was very surrounded by mountains
We stayed in a good accommodation, and next day early morning reached Pangong lake for a good pictures. It was another memorable day.
On the way to Pangong Lake
Mesmerizing Pangong Lake
Famous Stream Crossing stretch
Day 7 : Pangong Lake - Leh
Pangong to Leh was route mixed with Mountain Passes, Offroad and many streams. We left morning at around 8.00AM and reached Chang-la pass at around 11.00AM. This was the second encounter of Snow for us and it was beautiful. We spent some good time in Chang La and rode to Leh. Reached Leh at around 5.00PM. It was a normal day with good riding.
Changla-La Pass route
Day 8 : Leh - More Plains - Sarchu
This is my anytime favourite route in the entire trip mainly because of the high Mountain passes like Tanglang-La and More Plains. As usual we departed LEH in the morning at around 8.00AM post breakfast. On the way we had to pass through the roads which is in between the mountains and it was like riding through the caves. It was amazing road to ride on and we stopped at many places for a good pictures. Then we reached Tanglang La pass and this stretch of the road has amazing passes with heavy snowfall which was beaty.
The best of them all are MORE PLAINS which is a stretch of around 60 Kms passing through the mountains. Thanks to BRO for getting such high standard roads in this plains. Riding through this plains is like riding through the heaven and this is one of my all time favorite road.
After passing through MORE PLAINS, we reached sarchu in the evening at around 7.00PM. It was the coldest place during the entre trip and night was toughest one. I had to wear 4 blankets and still could not beat the cold and we had breathing issues. But it was great experience.
The next day, we took new bikes in the morning with HP name plate and started moving towards Jispa.
My Tribute to Bike @ MORE PLAINS
Our Gang @ MORE PLAINS
Day 9 : Sarchu - Jispa
Jispa to Sarchu was a short distance one and here the landscape completely changes to beautiful green mountains. I love riding on the curves and this route gave me those thrills of riding through some amazing curves with beautiful scenic mountains. On the way we had to pass through the Baralacha-La Pass which was beautiful snowcapped pass. It was normal day and we reached Jispa at around 4.30 PM and It was wonderful tent to stay.
On the night we had a campfire and drinks party marking the closure of the trip. Here we introduced each other and had a good party until 12.00AM.
Beautiful Landscapes @ Jispa
Baralacha-La Pass
Surajtal Lake
Day 10 : Jispa - Manali
Jispa to Manali was the short distance ride of around 60KMs. We started little late at around 10..00AM and we had reached Atal tunnel by around 12.00Noon. Passed through the Atal Tunnel and reached Manali for lunch. we had a good lunch at Italian restaurant and we reached the hotel at Manali by around 3.00PM. It marked another wonder Himalayan adventure.
Another memorable ride to cherish.
Beautiful scenic mountains of Jispa
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