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“Travelling gives an artist the inspiration he needs to create art.”
Somnath Mukherjee,a Bangalore-based musician, who travelled to Ladakh with Thrillophilia, firmly believes in this philosophy. The artist is fond of travelling and exploring new places. “I manage to take some time out every now and then from my schedule to travel. Travelling helps me relax and revitalize my mind and body. It does not matter if I’m travelling solo or in a group, it is always exciting to explore new places and capturing them in my camera,” claims Somnath.
When asked as to why he chose a bike trip to Ladakh, he replied, “Ladakh is the king of landscapes. I wanted to experience the thrill and excitement of driving on the highest motorable roads. Besides, I couldn’t afford to miss an opportunity to visit places like Sonamarg, Kargil, Khardung La, Nubra, Pangong Tso, and Tso Moriri.”
Let’s live Somnath’s journey through his experience!
The Heaven-ly Beginning
Somnath landed in Srinagar – The Paradise on Earth. From there, he was to be transferred to Sonamarg. On the way to Sonamarg, he enjoyed river rafting in Sindh River. After reaching Sonamarg, he spent the rest of the day exploring the breathtaking meadows and gushing streams surrounded by towering, snow-capped mountains. Somnath and the fellow travellers, who would be accompanying him on his exciting journey, retired for the day as the big day was just a night away.
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Riding The Beasts
Somnath had an exciting start of the day as it was time to begin the crucial part of the journey where 20 Royal Enfield 500cc bikes would be accompanying them. The group was headed to Kargil through the high altitude roads where the Himalayas kept them company, filling their souls with joy. On their 120 km bike journey to Kargil, they passed through Zoji La and halted at Zero Point until they reached the destination in the afternoon. Somnath was thrilled to find out that he was accommodated at a room with a view of the river and mountains.
The following day, Somnath – along with the fellow bikers – left for Leh, full of zeal and excitement. “The road was smooth and scenic, and it was fun riding there. We took a few halts to visit popular places like Kargil War Memorial, Indus-Zanskar confluence, Magnetic Hill, and Gurudwara Patthar Sahib. We reached Leh in the evening, checked in to our hotel and left to visit Shanti Stupa. Its architecture and the view of Leh Town from up there did away with our tiredness,” he tells.
The Rough Ride and The Raw Beauty
The group bid adieu to Leh and carried on with the journey to embrace what was coming next. The curvy and steep narrow roads with temperatures in minus –the most thrilling part of the trip was here. Somnath and the fellow riders were riding towards Khardung La.
Against all the odds, they reached the top safe and well, but that wasn’t the end of the thrill. While riding down Khardung La, it started to snow, making riding even tougher. Although, the daredevils made it, and the next destination was the valley of double-humped camels – Nubra Valley.
“The landscapes on the way were just breathtaking, so we halted every now and then to freeze those moments through in our cameras,” says Somnath.
Up next, Pangong Tso waited for them with its azure waters and unbelievably beautiful scenery. Visiting Diskit Monastery on the way, the group reached the lake to soak in its unmatched glory, stood there and clicked lots of pictures. As they were accommodated in tents by the lake, it became a memorable night for Somnath.
Off They Go Again!
Leaving Pangong Tso behind, after a bumpy ride of almost 200 km, the next stop was Hanle where the group tried their hands on astrophotography to capture the Milky Way in their cameras at night. The real journey is all about moving forward constantly. So, the following morning, they ignited their engines and left for Tso Moriri – another jewel in the crown of Ladakh. After an uneven ride of almost 160 km, the sight of the pristine lake filled them with ecstasy, and their weariness vanished magically.
“The crystal clear blue waters and the mighty mountains in the backdrop – the beauty of Tso Moriri is beyond words. One cannot get enough of it,” describes Somnath.
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The Reverse Lane
The return journey had begun. Somnath and his new friends left early morning as Sarchu – their next stop – was long way from Tso Moriri. To reach Sarchu, they had to ride through a road that was both partly horrible and partly smooth. Picturesque landscapes lay down on both sides of the road but by now, Somnath was too tired to care about clicking pictures. The group, filled with exhaustion and the memories of the days gone by, reached Sarchu in the evening, and put an end to the long day with a much-needed sound sleep.
“The following day, we set off for Jispa, which was the shortest ride as compared to the previous days. After passing some water streams, halting at Deepak Tal and Baralacha La, and clicking some pictures, we reached Jispa and rested in the tents we were accommodated in,” says Somnath.
The day that followed was their last day of the trip with Royal Enfields. They rode to Manali, witnessing some lush green valleys and scenic mountains en route. After reaching Manali in the afternoon, they explored the famous attractions in Manali – Hidimba Devi Temple, Mall Road and Old Town.
The trip was almost over, and Somnath was still stuck in the thoughts of all the moments he had spent during the trip. The life that awaited him after was in stark contrast with the life he had lived during the trip. He was going to miss these days full of spontaneity and surprises – the bus next day would take him back to a life is predictable and monotonous. But he was happy that the life gave him a chance to experience it and to make lifelong memories and friends.
Highlights of the Trip
Somnath tells that the entire trip was beautiful throughout, and each and every moment he spent in the land of high passes holds a special place in his memory lane. “Riding for 9 days in the high elevation roads amidst the Himalayas makes it hard to choose a memorable experience over another one. However, if I were to choose the best moments, they would be riding to Khardung La as it gave me a sense of victory and witnessing the pristine Pangong Tso as the sight was truly magical,” tells Somnath.
He further adds, “I and my fellow riders spent some funny moments during our post dinner sessions when we all would gather. There were some awkward moments also; the major one was slipping off the bike twice.”
After a thrilling, fun-filled bike trip to Ladakh with Thrillophilia, Somnath’s bucket list has North-East India, Munnar, Kashmir and Europe on top.
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