Hello Frenz, Leh, Ladakh is one of the must travel road in India, Leh & Ladakh the land of high passes located in Jammu and Kashmir. Traveling to this place needs quite a lot of planning and also I / my friends would say an invite from the mountain god.. You need to take precautions else you might get into some serious trouble.
I don't say I am an expert rider, I am still a kid to the riding family but I just followed the riding rules which made my travel smooth. One day I just planned to ride for Leh and started goggling, checking blogs and various links which helped me to plan my travel without any hassle. I wanted to ride from Bengaluru but due to time constraint I shipped my bike in train from Bengaluru to Delhi ( Duronto Express). I traveled in the same train and my friend came in flight from Bengaluru to Delhi as even he had got limited leaves in his office. We halted for a day in Delhi took rest and started next day early morning from Delhi to Leh, I have given the travel break up below which might help you to plan your travel accordingly. This travel was during Sept 14th 2013 to Sept 27th 2013
I would suggest not to do advance booking in any of the hotels as they might charge you high price and you never know the condition of the hotel, its better to take a look and then choose your accommodation which will also help you in bargaining the price and the price you pay will be worth it
Day 1. Started early morning around 5 AM from Delhi and reached Manali ( 585 KM) around 8 PM, night halt friends had already arranged for accommodation in one of the hotel in Manali. (it was quiet a long travel if you have enough time try to halt in chandigarh and then start to Manali.)
Day 2. Started From Manali around 10 or 11 AM towards Keylong which is 120 KM from Manali, reached keylong around 6 PM in the evening took a room in one of the hotel got fresh and rest, night halt in keylong and started to Pang next day. This is the only place after manali to find ATM, vehicle service station, first aid medicines and so on, do check for the basics and then start accordingly. (Just 10 KM before Keylong you will get a petrol bunk which is the only filling station / gas station which you will find near keylong and the Next petrol bunk will be in Leh. So make sure you full your tank and carry some in the container to be on the safer side.)
Day 3. Had breakfast in one of the hotel started from Keylong and we reached Pang which was around 185 KM, horrible road, few pot holes, water logging, slippery road, please do mind your riding else you might be in serious trouble. The Land Scape is amazing which will blow you completely. The weather was very cold in Pang it reached approx -5 to -6degree in the night. halted in tented accommodation the aunty was very helpful as soon we arrived help us to warm up our hands on the kerosene stove prepared tea and provided blankets to warm up.
Day 4. Had breakfast and started from Pang to Leh which is approx 180 KM. Pang is one of the high altitude place I had AMS (Acute mountain sickness) was not able to eat anything in morning had lil fever but took medical help from the local and started to Leh, reached around afternoon to Leh searched for hotel and rest for the day. ( Contacted hotel reception to arrange for Inner line permit to travel to Khardung-La and pangong Lake without which you will not be allowed, it can also be obtained from District commissioner office)
Day 5. Started early morning to Khardung La which is the highest motorable road in the world, 18380 Ft. back to leh, Leh city visit dinner and rest
Day 6. Started early morning around 6AM to Pangong Tso lake which is approx 160 KM from Leh city, the lake is in between India and China. Only 1/4th of the portion of lake is in India the rest 3/4th in China. the lake is dark blue in color which is the most wonderful lake I have ever seen in my life. while returning from Pangong lake I met one of the person who had come all the way from Bengaluru / Bangalore on his CBR 250 bike solo. I was shocked to know he traveled all way alone on his bike, we became frenz spent some good time and we joined together for the rest of the travel. Back to hotel took rest dinner at Punjabi Rasoi in Leh city and back to hotel. For more information on traveling from Bangalore to Leh you can visit his blog which is given below.
http://bangaloretolehsolo.blogspot.in/
Day 7. Had breakfast started from Leh to Srinagar rode approx 425 KM and reached around 7.30 PM in Srinagar city ( Jammu Kashmir) halt at Sringar.
Day 8. Started early morning from Srinagar to Jammu which was approx 310KM, near vaishno devi temple first puncture on the back wheel of my bike had to stop over to get that fixed from the local mechanic and then started to Jammu, found a good Punjabi restaurant on the way halted for lunch and reached Jammu around 4 PM. Due to lack of time constraint had to ship my bike in train from Jammu to Delhi and Delhi to Bengaluru / Bangalore and me traveled along with the bike in same train.
The Total travel duration from Bengaluru to Leh, Ladakh and back to Bengaluru was approx 13 days which includes bike shipping to and fro in train.
Recommended things to carry for this travel.
I don't say I am an expert rider, I am still a kid to the riding family but I just followed the riding rules which made my travel smooth. One day I just planned to ride for Leh and started goggling, checking blogs and various links which helped me to plan my travel without any hassle. I wanted to ride from Bengaluru but due to time constraint I shipped my bike in train from Bengaluru to Delhi ( Duronto Express). I traveled in the same train and my friend came in flight from Bengaluru to Delhi as even he had got limited leaves in his office. We halted for a day in Delhi took rest and started next day early morning from Delhi to Leh, I have given the travel break up below which might help you to plan your travel accordingly. This travel was during Sept 14th 2013 to Sept 27th 2013
I would suggest not to do advance booking in any of the hotels as they might charge you high price and you never know the condition of the hotel, its better to take a look and then choose your accommodation which will also help you in bargaining the price and the price you pay will be worth it
Day 1. Started early morning around 5 AM from Delhi and reached Manali ( 585 KM) around 8 PM, night halt friends had already arranged for accommodation in one of the hotel in Manali. (it was quiet a long travel if you have enough time try to halt in chandigarh and then start to Manali.)
Day 2. Started From Manali around 10 or 11 AM towards Keylong which is 120 KM from Manali, reached keylong around 6 PM in the evening took a room in one of the hotel got fresh and rest, night halt in keylong and started to Pang next day. This is the only place after manali to find ATM, vehicle service station, first aid medicines and so on, do check for the basics and then start accordingly. (Just 10 KM before Keylong you will get a petrol bunk which is the only filling station / gas station which you will find near keylong and the Next petrol bunk will be in Leh. So make sure you full your tank and carry some in the container to be on the safer side.)
Day 3. Had breakfast in one of the hotel started from Keylong and we reached Pang which was around 185 KM, horrible road, few pot holes, water logging, slippery road, please do mind your riding else you might be in serious trouble. The Land Scape is amazing which will blow you completely. The weather was very cold in Pang it reached approx -5 to -6degree in the night. halted in tented accommodation the aunty was very helpful as soon we arrived help us to warm up our hands on the kerosene stove prepared tea and provided blankets to warm up.
Day 4. Had breakfast and started from Pang to Leh which is approx 180 KM. Pang is one of the high altitude place I had AMS (Acute mountain sickness) was not able to eat anything in morning had lil fever but took medical help from the local and started to Leh, reached around afternoon to Leh searched for hotel and rest for the day. ( Contacted hotel reception to arrange for Inner line permit to travel to Khardung-La and pangong Lake without which you will not be allowed, it can also be obtained from District commissioner office)
Day 5. Started early morning to Khardung La which is the highest motorable road in the world, 18380 Ft. back to leh, Leh city visit dinner and rest
Day 6. Started early morning around 6AM to Pangong Tso lake which is approx 160 KM from Leh city, the lake is in between India and China. Only 1/4th of the portion of lake is in India the rest 3/4th in China. the lake is dark blue in color which is the most wonderful lake I have ever seen in my life. while returning from Pangong lake I met one of the person who had come all the way from Bengaluru / Bangalore on his CBR 250 bike solo. I was shocked to know he traveled all way alone on his bike, we became frenz spent some good time and we joined together for the rest of the travel. Back to hotel took rest dinner at Punjabi Rasoi in Leh city and back to hotel. For more information on traveling from Bangalore to Leh you can visit his blog which is given below.
http://bangaloretolehsolo.blogspot.in/
Day 7. Had breakfast started from Leh to Srinagar rode approx 425 KM and reached around 7.30 PM in Srinagar city ( Jammu Kashmir) halt at Sringar.
Day 8. Started early morning from Srinagar to Jammu which was approx 310KM, near vaishno devi temple first puncture on the back wheel of my bike had to stop over to get that fixed from the local mechanic and then started to Jammu, found a good Punjabi restaurant on the way halted for lunch and reached Jammu around 4 PM. Due to lack of time constraint had to ship my bike in train from Jammu to Delhi and Delhi to Bengaluru / Bangalore and me traveled along with the bike in same train.
The Total travel duration from Bengaluru to Leh, Ladakh and back to Bengaluru was approx 13 days which includes bike shipping to and fro in train.
Recommended things to carry for this travel.
- Bike should be serviced if you are taking your own bike, make sure you inform the service center or mechanic about your travel so that they will do some additional pre checks while servicing your bike. (Would suggest to replace tube if it has more than 2 punctures and to carry additional spare of tube for emergency, you can ignore this if your vehicle has tubeless tyres..)
- Carry a spare of clutch wire and fuse especially Enfield riders, it would be handy in case of emergency
- Foot pump with vehicle basic puncture tool kit
- First aid medicines & cotton roll
- Torch, candle, lighter, book, pen, camera with charger additional battery, matchbox, muffler, sunglasses
- Toiletries which should also includes cold cream lip balms and so on
- Hand gloves, winter wear, jackets, shoes, military socks, sweaters, pullovers to keep you warm.
- other than Airtel none other telecom network will work in Leh & Ladakh city.
- Saddle bags to carry luggage, bungee cords, waterproof cover for your saddle bags, umbrella
- Avoid smoking and drinking during the travel, it might affect you in breathing problems
- Do NOT carry excess amount of cash which might invite you unnecessary troubles, instead withdraw whenever needed from ATM
- DO NOT over speed or race, Leh and Ladakh is to enjoy the beauty of the nature and the landscape a small mistake might cost your life
- DO NOT litter or use / throw plastics
- DO NOT travel after 7 PM
******* Pics and videos yet to upload will be doing it shortly ********
