Best of Leh

Highlights

Day 0

• Riders arrive at Delhi; bikes still in transit.
• Ripped off at a hotel. 2,500 bucks for staying for 7 hours. Desi cola sold for 200 bucks.
  

Day 1

• Bikes arrive in Delhi.
• Pulsar 220 has major issue. Takes whole day to rectify.

Day 2

• Start from Delhi. Sleepless whole night. Halt at dhabha for 2 hours to get some sleep.
• Meet new rider, Pankaj.
• Kiran's bike fumes under the fuel tank. We strip the bike to fix the issue ourselves. Pankaj parts and proceeds.
  
• Halt at Mandi for the night.
  
• Delhi to Mandi – 500 kms – 3 AM to 8:30 PM

Day 3

• Start from Mandi. Allen takes 'power nap' in the middle of the road for 15 minutes. Reach Manali in 2 hours.
• Buy 4 two liter Pepsi bottles, and pour out the Pepsi to carry fuel.
• ATMs not working until 11 AM. Cash in high demand.
• Allen falls sick inhaling petrol fumes. Rest at Manali for the day.
  
• Mandi to Manali - 100 kms - 3:30 AM to 6:45 AM

Day 4

• Start from Manali and cross Rohtang Pass. First experience of ice and stream crossing.
  
• Meet new riders, Ashish and Komal.
• Cross Tandi, last fuel station. Next one 365 kms ahead.
• Cross Baralachala. Cross the toughest and deepest stream with bare feet.
• Halt at Bharathpur; the highest camping location in Ladakh. Approx. 16,000 ft. above sea level.
  
• Manali to Bharathpur – 198 kms – 4 AM to 7 PM

Day 5

• Freezing early in the morning. Hard time getting ready. Ashish is sick. Komal stays back with him.
  
• Cross the 21 Gata Loops.
• Allen's bike breaks down. In the middle of nowhere. 8 hours of travel away from cell phone signal or any spares.
• After 3 hour wait, some bulleteers offer help and manage to move on.
• Halt at the next immdiate camping location, Pang. Visit Army camp for some medical attention.
  
• Bharathpur to Pang – 100 kms – 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Day 6

• Head out of Pang. Cross Moore Plains, a cold desert at 16,000 ft.
• Cross Taglang La, the World's second highest motorable road.
• Vegetation from Rumtse. Finally at Leh!
  
• Pang to Leh – 180 kms – 8:30 AM to 4 PM

Day 7

• In and around Leh.
• Visit Leh Palace, fort and some shopping.
• Procure permits to visit other places around Leh.

Day 8

• Apar's bike punctured. Rides pillion on the 220.
• Head to Pangong Tso Lake.
• Cross Chang La, the World's third highest motorable road. Free tea at the top, provided by the Army.
• Allen's bike breaks down again. Manage to temporarily fix and move on. Reach Lake in the afternoon.
• On the way back, Allen's bike gives up at the top of Chang La. Bike pushed back 60 kms to Leh.
  
• Leh to Pangong Tso and back – 300 kms – 6:30 AM to 8 PM

Day 9

• Start late to Khardung La.
• Reach the top of the Pass pretty easily. Finally, traveled the World's highest motorable road.
• GPS shows 800 ft. lesser than the altitude marked at the top Khardung La.
• 220 clutch cable snaps while tightening. Replace spare
  
• Leh to Khardung La and back – 150 kms – 12:30 PM to 6 PM

Day 10

• Start the day with drizzles. Prepare for rain ride.
• Pass through the Magnetic Hill.
• Some exoctic snow capped moutains seen on the way. Snow appears silver and clean due to the rain the previous night.
• Halt at Kargil for the day.
  
• Leh to Kargil – 220 kms – 9 AM to 6 PM

Day 11

• Head towards Srinagar.
• Caution message at a place: CAUTION! You are under enemy observation.
• Visit the Drass War Memorial. Drass; the coldest inhabited place (-60 deg.) in 1995.
• Pass through some of the most exotic valleys of Kashmir.
• Reach Srinagar in the evening.. Chikkara boat ride in the Dal Lake.
• Kargil to Srinagar – 200 kms – 7 AM to 4 PM

Day 12

• Foggy roads in the morning.
• Allen and Kiran overshoot 50 kms without realizing. Have tea and get back on track.
• Meet at few Tamil army men.
• Kiran drops bike due to weight. Front brake level replaced.
  
• Srinagar to Jammu – 300 kms – 4:30 AM to 5:30 PM

Day 13

• Highway ride back to Delhi. Sync up every 100 kms.
  
• Jammu to Delhi - 600 kms - 7:30 AM to 8 PM

Day 14

• Spend at Delhi. Inquire packers and movers and fix up deal.
• Visit India Gate. Pick up some stuff from Imran's place.

Day 15

• Head back to base.
  

4 guys, 15 days, 2900 kms, 18380 ft. above sea level.
BEEN THERE DONE THAT!

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