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“There is no other place in this universe as serene as Ladakh. You must experience in person to get to know what I felt. Ladakh-Bullet-Camera is the ultimate combination for Nirvana,” says Vijay indulged in reminisces of the trip he took recently from Manali to Leh on a bike with Thrillophilia.
Resting peacefully with the nostalgia of one of the greatest adventure trips that he took, Vijay was living in Chennai when he decided to take the most talked about the trip of the traveler’s world. Since his birthday was falling during the trip, he decided to tag his friend along with him and super celebrate the day at a place that he had been planning to visit for a really long time.
The Trip:
Vijay and his friend finally booked their flight from Chennai to Delhi from where the dramatic journey started on the day when these travelers commenced from Delhi via a luxury bus organized by the tour operators. The infamous fog of Delhi brought with it a little trouble in paradise where the bus had to run at a low speed comparatively. Added to it, was the mighty chance of a landslide that took place en route Manali.
Vijay Says, “The morning in Delhi was foggy and once the fog was lifted off, we could see the steep downhill on which the bus was crawling through. Also, you don’t make it to Ladakh unless you get caught in at least one landslide. Ours was a minor one and we finally reached Manali after 15 hours of the ride.”
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After reaching Manali, the travelers visited the Devi Temple and hot springs nearby and post a shopping stint and indulging in a lip-smacking session of chaat, fritters, tea and hot gulab jamun, they parked themselves in cozy guest houses for the ultimate ride the next day.
Things To Do In Manali: https://www.thrillophilia.com/things-to-do-on-a-manali-trip
The next day onset with a bit twist as the travelers were told that due to heavy snow, there could be facing difficulty in riding and so they had to be taken to Ladakh via an SUV. So far, the adrenaline rush was so high among the trippers that this setback was a minimal one and they all agreed to travel to the first stop: mighty Rohtang La.
Cozy inside, once Vijay stepped outside in the cold weather, he got the gist of the majestic snow for the first time, the chilling cold winds and low oxygen level that truly made him realize what it was to be at such a height. Coming from a city where the minimum temperature in winter is the 20-degree max, this was an outrageous experience for Vijay. But this was just the starting of the trip.
After lunch, he along with his friend and other travelers crossed Keylong and reached Jispa in the evening. The tents were set and on his birthday, Vijay got the chance to witness something for the first time. “Post dinner, as I came out of my tent, I was taken aback by the scene. Yes! Millions of stars and our milky way were visible through naked eyes and I lay there on the cold soil and gulped down the spectacular view. It was out of this world and one of the best moments of the trip.”
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The longest day of the journey was the one where the cab driver woke up late to start the trip, one of the travelers was diagnosed with AMS while another got chicken pox and had to return home and after all the uncalled emergencies, curvy roads, scenic views, unmatched beauty, Vijay passed Baralacha La, the 2nd highest motorable pass, Pang and reached Leh. After heavy lunch at Leh, Vijay and other travelers were welcomed with the shiny, beasty bikes for the ultimate riding experience. Vijay explored the local markets, War Memorial, the famous 3-idiots school and of course, the Magnetic Hills and its mystical power.
“The day arrived when I rode on Khardung La. Each and every kilometer I clocked, the excitement to be on the K-Top grew in me. Finally, about 2 Km from the K-Top, it finally happened. It started to snow! I took the photo of a lifetime and moved towards Hanle and took a camel ride. It was smelly.”
Vijay’s most adventurous experience was waiting around the corner when the troupe after visiting the Diskit Monastery and passing Chang La Pass, was on their way towards the popular Pangong Tso lake. Close to 50 Km away from the lake, Vijay was left back to take a few pictures of the sunset when the rest of the riders continued only to find that his bike wouldn’t start. It was getting dark in the evening and he found the fuel tank to be empty. After 20 minutes of nail-biting wait, and no phone connection, he met the pickup vehicle that helped him refuel his tank and after riding in cold weather for 2 hours, he reached the campsite. In the night, Vijay says, “The view of the entire valley even in the night was splendid. I and my friends captured some of the best shots of the entire trip that night.”
The morning view of the Pangong Tso Lake was the most enthralling view that Vijay had seen. Though a bit skeptical at first about the popular lake, the view blew his mind completely and he was awestruck to see the beauty on the last day of the trip. The group headed back to Leh and from there towards Manali wherein they were hit again by a landslide and had to wait for over 4 hours for the road to get clear.
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Final Surprise:
The trip hadn’t ended for Vijay. With an entire day to spare, he took the dare to do paragliding in Manali from a height of 9000 ft and 7500 ft both and the reward was life-changing. The feel of wind gushing between the arms and making you feel like a bird is what Vijay recalls as the best feeling that he had on the last day that added a cherry on the top.
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Things to consider before the Trip:
According to Vijay,
- Landslides and traffic jam are common in these areas. Keep your plan flexible
- Ride bike, preferably bullet
- Camp at Pangong Tso. It is a beauty queen that you must keep for lifelong memories
- Try paragliding in Dobhi Valley
- Besides Pangong, capture the beauty of another lake Tso Morriri
- Buy stationery items for children in Leh schools
- Do not underestimate mountain sickness or AMS and take the medicines as prescribed
- Shop at Bazar Road in Manali as compared to Leh for cheaper prices
Words for the Readers :
“One thing is for sure that Ladakh is a drug. It is contagious’ it is dangerous. Once you have tried this, you will get addicted to it. I must confess that I am addicted to the mountains. I can hear them calling to me every day, every hour and every minute. While I say this to you, I have booked my appointment for my rehab- the Spiti Valley.”
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