Team Bhp At Leh. Anyone Interested?

Sha · 13th July 2009, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Hi Sha, whats the Leh-Tso Moriri Driving time?

Its 230 Km from leh it took us about 6-7 hour, road is good till Sumdo Village after Mahe but from there around 30-40KM is gravel road.

MileCruncher · 13th July 2009, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

1. I am not saying skip Srinagar. All I am saying is on the last day there move to Sonamarg.

2. If Sha did Tso Moriri to Keylong in 13 hours you need to add Keylong Manali and Pangon Tso to Tso Moriri to this. Thats is why I was saying do not plan to do it in a day.

3. More Plains will come on the way which ever route you take back to manali.

My suggestion is take your time and enjoy. As you said there can always be next time to see one or two more places. But you will rue it if time is constrain.

Plan to do Pangong Tso to Sarchu in a day and then Manali (or even beyond) next day.

So can I do say Udhampur - Srinagar in 1 day and then next day Srinagar - Sonmarg

SAHIR.KITTUR · 13th July 2009, 13:10

Please can somebody tell me, when does the Srinagar - Leh road open in early 2010 ?

MileCruncher · 13th July 2009, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAHIR.KITTUR

Please can somebody tell me, when does the Srinagar - Leh road open in early 2010 ?

I think Srinagar Leh road through Kargil remains open through the year. Its only the Manali Leh which closes down from October.

tsk1979 · 13th July 2009, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

I think Srinagar Leh road through Kargil remains open through the year. Its only the Manali Leh which closes down from October.

No, even Srinagar Leh highway closes in winters, however it opens sooner than Manali Leh.
Opening time is determined by weather for both roads

SAHIR.KITTUR · 13th July 2009, 13:27

How early can we find out this, 2/3 weeks prior ? I will have to travel from Doha Qatar well in advance to make this dream trip.

anupmathur · 13th July 2009, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

So can I do say Udhampur - Srinagar in 1 day and then next day Srinagar - Sonmarg

Srinagar to Sonamarg is only a 2½ hours drive.

hvkumar · 13th July 2009, 13:40

Once Zoji La gets snow, the Srinagar-Leh road is closed, as it is with Rohtang Pass on the Manali side.

In peak winter, the road to Sonmarg also closes down after Gund for a few days, depending on the severity of the snowfall.

In case you plan to take a leisurely Srinagar-Sonamarg drive, don't forget to visit Ma Vaishnodevi's sister Kheer Bhavani temple at Tulla Mulla next to Ganderbal (a 5 km detour) or Manasbal Lake (also off Ganderbal).

MileCruncher · 13th July 2009, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by anupmathur

Srinagar to Sonamarg is only a 2½ hours drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Once Zoji La gets snow, the Srinagar-Leh road is closed, as it is with Rohtang Pass on the Manali side.

In peak winter, the road to Sonmarg also closes down after Gund for a few days, depending on the severity of the snowfall.

In case you plan to take a leisurely Srinagar-Sonamarg drive, don't forget to visit Ma Vaishnodevi's sister Kheer Bhavani temple at Tulla Mulla next to Ganderbal (a 5 km detour) or Manasbal Lake (also off Ganderbal).

I intend to start from Udhampur very early so that am able to reach Srinagar by late afternoon. Evening will be reserved for Shikara Ride on the Dal Lake.
Next day will push off to Sonmarg and night halt there.

I understand Sonmarg to Leh is doable in a day so we will that.

hvkumar · 13th July 2009, 14:12

Bear in mind that the Jawahar Tunnel between Banihal and Qazigund opens at only 730 am.
You should spend some time in the gardens of Srinagar, maybe before you leave for Sonamarg.
Sonamarg to Leh is quite a long ride and not the best of ideas. Theoretically, possible if you are going to be a wild driver, but you will miss out on so many places en route:
- the war memorials at Dras
- the Maitreyi Buddha at Mulbek
- the monastery of Lamayuru
- the spectacular Indus Valley views at Saspul and Nimmu
- the Magnet Hill.

So, a more sedate drive would mean a stop over at either Kargil or better still Lamayuru.

pramods · 13th July 2009, 14:48

To add if get stuck at Zoji La, then making it to Leh would be tough in one day, I experienced 4+ hour delay at Zoji La and it was snowing hard all the time, which made crossing the opposite side vehicle that more difficult once the jam was cleared!

-Pramod

jack33 · 13th July 2009, 15:06

@HVK,Is Jawahar tunnel timings fixed ?.That means my plan of starting from Delhi at 12.30pm and reach Srinagar by 5am is not possible.Any good hotels to stay in Banihal and Sonamarg?

hvkumar · 13th July 2009, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack33

@HVK,Is Jawahar tunnel timings fixed ?.That means my plan of starting from Delhi at 12.30pm and reach Srinagar by 5am is not possible.Any good hotels to stay in Banihal and Sonamarg?

530 PM - 730 AM - that is the time when Jawahar Tunnel is closed to traffic.
No question of driving through the night to Srinagar beyond Jammu.
Lots of places to stay en route - JKTDC at Kud, Patnitop and Batote, all befor teh tunnel. And I think also in Ramban or Banihal, although am not sure of that. Ideally, if you are able to cross Udhampur, you can stay at Kud/ Patnitop which has lots of private hotels too.

That will also ensure that you are hardly 1-2 hours from the tunnel and you can whiz through early when it is open. Once open, traffic movement is slow, with heavy trucks and the crazy Sumo taxis, etc.

Sonamarg also has some hotels, check out pramods travelogue, he had mentioned some named there

anupmathur · 13th July 2009, 15:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

I understand Sonmarg to Leh is doable in a day so we will that.

Hey, Anirudha, seems you did not read this!

Quote:

Originally Posted by anupmathur

And, BTW your departure time from Sonamarg (for Kargil) is not of your choosing - the Army decides when the civilian vehicles from Sonamarg will move. The road to Zoji La is single lane!

MileCruncher · 13th July 2009, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by anupmathur

Hey, Anirudha, seems you did not read this!

Oops Anupji, my bad

13th July 2009, 13:10	#393
SAHIR.KITTUR BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Belgaum / Doha Posts: 300 Thanked: 117 Times View My Garage	Please can somebody tell me, when does the Srinagar - Leh road open in early 2010 ?
	() Thanks

13th July 2009, 13:27	#396
SAHIR.KITTUR BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Belgaum / Doha Posts: 300 Thanked: 117 Times View My Garage	How early can we find out this, 2/3 weeks prior ? I will have to travel from Doha Qatar well in advance to make this dream trip.
	() Thanks

13th July 2009, 13:40	#398
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,368 Thanked: 3,467 Times	Once Zoji La gets snow, the Srinagar-Leh road is closed, as it is with Rohtang Pass on the Manali side. In peak winter, the road to Sonmarg also closes down after Gund for a few days, depending on the severity of the snowfall. In case you plan to take a leisurely Srinagar-Sonamarg drive, don't forget to visit Ma Vaishnodevi's sister Kheer Bhavani temple at Tulla Mulla next to Ganderbal (a 5 km detour) or Manasbal Lake (also off Ganderbal).
	() Thanks

13th July 2009, 14:12	#400
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,368 Thanked: 3,467 Times	Bear in mind that the Jawahar Tunnel between Banihal and Qazigund opens at only 730 am. You should spend some time in the gardens of Srinagar, maybe before you leave for Sonamarg. Sonamarg to Leh is quite a long ride and not the best of ideas. Theoretically, possible if you are going to be a wild driver, but you will miss out on so many places en route: - the war memorials at Dras - the Maitreyi Buddha at Mulbek - the monastery of Lamayuru - the spectacular Indus Valley views at Saspul and Nimmu - the Magnet Hill. So, a more sedate drive would mean a stop over at either Kargil or better still Lamayuru.
	() Thanks

13th July 2009, 14:48	#401
pramods BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Nagpur Posts: 993 Thanked: 858 Times	To add if get stuck at Zoji La, then making it to Leh would be tough in one day, I experienced 4+ hour delay at Zoji La and it was snowing hard all the time, which made crossing the opposite side vehicle that more difficult once the jam was cleared! -Pramod
	() Thanks

13th July 2009, 15:06	#402
jack33 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: kochi Posts: 127 Thanked: 9 Times	@HVK,Is Jawahar tunnel timings fixed ?.That means my plan of starting from Delhi at 12.30pm and reach Srinagar by 5am is not possible.Any good hotels to stay in Banihal and Sonamarg?
	() Thanks