What a long strange trip it has been.....LADAKH

My story about my ride to the roof of the world.

This was one long awaited trip of my life. I think if not everybody,most of the people while growing, would at least have once or more dreamt of one such trip.

Riding to Leh-Ladakh on motor bikes. Bikes........mountains.....snow all around....heaven....

This time when I was thinking of life as a passing thing, had thought of many things which can be done to rejuvenate myself. A long 10-12 days trek to explore the Himalayas on foot. A long 4 week mountaineering course in the Himalayas. A group organized trip to the Himalayas, Leh-Ladakh in SUV's , etc.

Nothing materialized for me, trekkers with whom I wanted to go, didn't want to take me along, as I had no experience. Almost 2 months ago, I was able to zero in to going to Ladakh on motor bikes. This got into my mind as Shail, my younger bro, who had now shifted to Jodhpur, had last year only bought the new cruiser in town, the Bajaj Avenger. I had ridden it, and me and my wife, both loved the ride. It was extremely comfortable for ride, is a heavy bike, at 152 kg unladen weight, the curves used to feel very smooth with a pillion as well.

So, the final decision was, that I shall be going for the the Ladakh region on the motor bike. I applied for 2 weeks leave in April itself. The leave was to be during the June'08 month.

The route to Leh region is generally closed for around 8 months. The snowing in that region is heavy and the BRO(Border Road organization) maintains the roads, clears the snow off them, opens the roads around June 1st-2nd week and maintains them upto 15th Sept.

Vital stats for the ride :

Riders
Prem Arora on Bajaj Avenger 180 cc, 2007 model from Delhi
Atul on a Honda Unicorn from Benaras
Haider on Pulsar 150 from Kanpur

Travel Duration : 14 days

Total Distance Covered : 3027 kms

Major events : One bad fall in a river near Srinagar.
: Firing near Hazratbal dargah, while we ere there

Night Halts : Hoels, tents, town houses, govt guest houses, etc.


Total Fuel expenses : Rs 3600/-

Rest all(food, hotels,bike repairs,etc) : Rs 4400/-

Trip preparation : Rs 25000/-

Trip Fun : Infinite

While you go through this, all the photographs are in small size. This is because, the first page doesn't take too long to open up. To show enjoy the photographs, you would need to click on them. Cheers...

Day 1 : Delhi - Chandigarh

Day 2 : Chandigarh - Simla

Day 3 : Simla - Bhawa Nagar

Day 4 : Bhawa Nagar - Pooh

Day 5 : Pooh - Banjar

Day 6 : Bajnar - Sissu

Day 7 : Sissu - Sarachu

Day 8 : Sarachu - Leh.

Day 9 : Thiksey, Hemis and Bike repairing

Day 10 : Leh - Mulbekh

Day 11 : Mulbekh - Sonamarg

Day 12 : Sonamarg - Batote

Day 13 : Batote - Chandigarh

Day 14 : Chandigarh - Delhi.