Biking to Leh

July 25, 2012 WEDNESDAY

Time to ride on the worlds highest motorable pass called Khardung La. We started biking early. Khardung La is 35 kms ahead of Leh and the road is quite better as compared to the road that we covered from Manali to Leh. The place is not that cold unless and until the wind do not blow. We were lucky to have enough sunshine that day. We met many bikers in the way since we left Leh early morning at 0700 Hrs. There are many places in the way from where you can get beautiful photos. As you reach Khardung La, you feel like standing on the top of the world. It’s cold there but still you will find Indian Army there serving the nation. On Khardung La there is the world’s highest cafeteria. I and my brother climbed on the mountain nearby. There was no visitor there and we can see all the visitors below us. Sitting on the snow covered mountain and the whole area was covered with snow. It was a sunny day and still cold. Be careful while climbing on the snow covered mountains because anytime your legs can get into the holes. There are stones below the snow and you have no idea of how deep the hole is. Don’t forget to get beautiful clicks there. After Khardung La we started rolling down towards Diskit. Before Diskit we stopped for showing the permit letter to the authorities and moved forward. You ride along with the Nubra Valley as you move towards Diskit. Human habitation is everywhere. Be it the most inaccessible parts of the world. Somewhere we were able to see greenery and that made some parts of valley really beautiful. You will find many restaurants in the way where you can stop for a while and eat. This is how we reached to Diskit which is much more beautiful as compared to Leh. A small village which is much peaceful as compared to Leh. There is a beautiful monastery on the top of a hill which is really very beautiful. Finally we reached the sand dunes of Hunder and surprised to see sand dunes in between snow covered mountains. Many tourists were there and I was so disappointed to see the pollution created because of the tourists. Polythene bags and empty alcohol bottles disappointed me a lot. On top of that I and my brother met a local guy who was charging visitors saying that he is charging on behalf of Jammu and Kashmir government. The receipt that he was giving did not had this written anywhere and finally he told us that he is a local guy who is collecting money for the welfare of the local village but there was no welfare at all. There was a fair at Hunder when we reached. People were dancing in their traditional dress but the worst part was that there was gambling and alcohol use in open. Me and my brother walked on the sand dunes and clicked some beautiful photos and then met the group of south Indian guys who met us last night. We all decided to hire a hotel together and we both went ahead of Hunder as one of them already had word with a hotel owner. When we reached there, it was bit dark and the hotel owner changed his words. He was charging more to what he has committed. All guys were so tired that they accepted the deal and only me and my brother quitted and decided to drive 15 kms back to Diskit. It was dark and the way was confusing. Still we found the route and drove back to Diskit where we found a beautiful and clean room in 200 Rs. It was Eagle Guest House and it is run by a lady. It was almost 2230 Hrs and we both were hungry. Fortunately we got a restaurant open on the road connecting Hunder and Diskit. That guy cooked delicious spicy noodles for us. Each bowl costed us 70 Rs but the quantity of noodles was good. We decided to go back Leh on the same day but unfortunately we did not made it because it was too late and all the local drivers recommended us not to go back as the way gets too bad in night. In case you get caught by a landslide or any emergency, you don’t get help.

Suggestions for today are:

Start biking as early as possible because most of the tourists will leave early and you can have safe driving if you start early.
Carry drinking water with you because you will pass through high altitude area and you may have sun burn and dehydration at the same time.
For those who suffer from altitude sickness should carry medicines and oxygen cylinders.
Make sure you get your petrol tank filled with enough petrol and also carry a can of petrol.
Khardung La is cold so carry warm clothes with you.
Hunder has sand dunes, so make sure you carry clothes according to that.
For those who take alcohol, the sad news is that you wont find any liquor shops in Diskit or Hunder. A vendor sells liquor in black in Diskit but they charge too much for that.
Make sure you carry bike spare parts and other necessary items regarding motorbike repair.
Carry the copies of the permit papers and your identity proof with you as you need to submit the copy of permit paper at the check post after coming down of Khardung La.

GALLERY

(Please click on the image to enlarge it)

(There are videos after the photos)