Better Leh'd than Never - a 3,004 kms round trip of a lifetime!

[simply_sunny001]

Originally Posted by suman

I must apologize for uploading so many clicks but I just wanted to share all that we saw on the way. And it had been ages since we'd done this route so I guess we went overboard

No way, we all loving these beautiful pics, so dont worry keep posting, i just showed to couple of my firaang colleagues and they were all wow for natural beauty in kashmir.

Originally Posted by suman

Matlab - aap ja sekte hain

Choice of Vehicle sometimes plays a rather wonderful part, and Safari enjoys a gr8 respect feeling among Indians.

Who would have stopped you.

[KSM-Vtec]

Originally Posted by suman

I must apologize for uploading so many clicks but I just wanted to share all that we saw on the way. And it had been ages since we'd done this route so I guess we went overboard

Very soon you may have to apologize for not uploading enough pics......keep them coming, many more pics are welcome

[suman]

Originally Posted by naman07

One question, did you encounter any hatchback also doing this trip or only SUV's ?

Can't remember crossing any except a Swift at Rohtang but I do know that a member on BCM Touring has done this route in his Spark. Started from Ahmedabad a few days before my trip. You should read his travelogue on that forum

[tsk1979]

A lot of people do this trip in sedans and hatchbacks. Unless you have an 160mm clearance vehicle(civic etc.,) things should be okay

[ramkya1]

Originally Posted by naman07

Congrats Suman ..........

One question, did you encounter any hatchback also doing this trip or only SUV's ?

Dr.Bharat from Baroda did it on a Sark in style though he had great difficulty in many sections. Read of a Ford Icon which did with lots of belly surfing on the ice, but came out fine. There are many accounts of sedans doing it in August/ Sep when conditions are not so hostile. However, if possible, it would be best to do it in vehicles with power and GC.

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[suman]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

A lot of people do this trip in sedans and hatchbacks. Unless you have an 160mm clearance vehicle(civic etc.,) things should be okay

Its at places like these where the sedans would need external help - as you can see, even SUVs/MUVs struggle

View from the other side - seemingly innocuous & innocent but quite tricky

[tsk1979]

But the safari does not struggle. You just engage 4L and carry on nochalantly maybe even tow out a couple of them!

[suman]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

But the safari does not struggle. You just engage 4L and carry on nochalantly maybe even tow out a couple of them!

Tanveer, I wasn't talking about a 4x4 Safari struggling - I was talking 4x2 vehicles, two of which you can see are stuck & had to be pulled/pushed out.

(Didn't waste a tow rope since there was ample man-power to push them out)

[rrsteer]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

But the safari does not struggle.

TSK, I for one, seeing for the first time such emotions towards Safari, coming from you

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by naman07

Congrats Suman on successfully completing this epic journey.

Pics are just too good, keep them coming.

One question, did you encounter any hatchback also doing this trip or only SUV's ?

Originally Posted by tsk1979

A lot of people do this trip in sedans and hatchbacks. Unless you have an 160mm clearance vehicle(civic etc.,) things should be okay

Read on BCM of someone doing it on their SX4 and came pretty well.

Originally Posted by suman

Its at places like these where the sedans would need external help - as you can see, even SUVs/MUVs struggle
Attachment 149783
View from the other side - seemingly innocuous & innocent but quite tricky
Attachment 149785

Were these 4x2 OR 4X4 SUVs?

Except GC a 4x2 SUV is as good as a sedan /hatchback isn't it ?

BTW did you have any problem of diesel freezing in the upper altitudes?

[sudev]

@Suman: Lovely write up thank god I was away and started reading it wonly now without having to bear the suspense of your "installments" ;-) Also there is nothing wrong with the pcis - you MCP!! ;-)

Originally Posted by ramkya1

This being closest to the Jawahar Tunnel, if it is possible to drive from Delhi to Banihal in a day (is it possible?)

It is possible to do an early morning 6AM start and be in Srinagar by 8PM. Did this in reverse few years back in an Esteem. AFAIK you can not cross Jwahar tunnel during night. It is opened only by 7~8AM.

To do this you would skip going to Jammu but from Samba take a right to Mansar and from there to Udhampur. This way you avoid havey rush traffic of the day around Jammu plus it is shorter.

[suman]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Were these 4x2 OR 4X4 SUVs?

See my post......

Originally Posted by suman

Tanveer, I wasn't talking about a 4x4 Safari struggling - I was talking 4x2 vehicles, two of which you can see are stuck & had to be pulled/pushed out.

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

BTW did you have any problem of diesel freezing in the upper altitudes?

No, I didn't face any issues with diesel freezing. The coldest place we stayed in overnight was Sarchu (minus 4 degrees) but the vehicle started up in the morning without any problems.

Originally Posted by sudev

@Suman: Lovely write up thank god I was away and started reading it wonly now without having to bear the suspense of your "installments" ;-)

Thanks Sudev, I have a mammoth task on my hands I think - too many days & too many pics

[Rudra Sen]

That spot!! Isn't it just before Pang?

[rishi_kapoor]

Hey Suman, I need that "Live to Drive" sticker...pleeeeeeaaassee. Also I saw a GPS on your windshield, which brand and how much help? I am doing research these days on GPS and cars around me in traffic actually think I am crazy with multiple GPS units mounted on my windshield

[suman]

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

That spot!! Isn't it just before Pang?

Well, well, well - Bingo! About 20-25 mins after Pang coming from Leh side. Here you go

Originally Posted by rishi_kapoor

Hey Suman, I need that "Live to Drive" sticker...pleeeeeeaaassee. Also I saw a GPS on your windshield, which brand and how much help? I am doing research these days on GPS and cars around me in traffic actually think I am crazy with multiple GPS units mounted on my windshield

Rishi, there's only one of them in the TBhp sticker bunch! The GPS I have is a Vortex Carrera (Binatone in the UK) - its marketed by Satguide & I'd picked it up for a little under 10k last December.