[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

...had my Safari not been stolen.

but...

Ouch! Now how did THAT happen? When?

[v&v]

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

Well, the return journey is somehow always tiring as you leave the heavenly lands and get set to to return to the bedlam. Leh to Sarchu in less than 10 hours, considering the road conditions, I say you made good time mate. The last coupla sets of pics, especially around Sarchu, have reminded of my Ladakh travel big time. And it's nice to see so much snow on Tanglang La. Would have been traveling to Ladakh again in a fortnight, had my Safari not been stolen.

Anyway, awaiting the logs for the travel ahead from Sarchu.

Sarchu was beautiful with sun setting. Anyway what the latest news about your Safari ?

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

but...

Ouch! Now how did THAT happen? When?

I think this happened on either 9th or 10th, if i remember correct. He had posted a thread on it.

[v&v]

Day - 13 28th June - Tuesday - Sarchu - Manali

Were ready early as we were told that Rohtang might be closed from 11am-4pm for maintenance and expect high traffic after 4pm. Now on every Tuesday will be a maintenance day. Also a family from Delhi told that they were stuck for good 9 hrs at Rohtang and only could make till Jespa the previous day. Also there are 4 to 5 water crosses too of which some of them has high water flow. Some times the water level rises suddenly.


Start : 08:15
Barlacha pass : 26 kms 09:30 am. Roads bad. Tons of snow. Beautiful & monotone.
Zing Zing Bar : 22 kms 10:25 am Roads average.
Darcha : 25 kms 11:15 am
Jespa : 7 kms 11:30 am (Lots of staying option.)
Keylong : 23 kms 12:05
Tadi : 8 kms : 12:35 (IOC Pump)
Sisu : 23kms 13:05 (Roads are good)
Khoskar : 15kms 13:40 (We were stopped for 2 hrs) Lunch beak. Started again by 3.40
Rohtang : 20 kms 17:10 (Lot of opposite traffic). Heavy rain, land slide. Stuck again 1.5 hrs.
Manali : 55 kms 20.00 hrs : Club mahindra snow peak. (Roads after Marhi village is good but narrow)

Thanked god for the safe trip. 29th was rest day. 30th Morning we strated our last leg by 6.30 am and reached delhi by 7.10 pm. Uneventful drive. Swarghat had lots of craters. Traffic was light between Ambala - Panipath.

Some photos processed till Zing Zing bar

Gold drop camp


Shots while climbing Barlacha
















Suraj/Vishal Taal

[v&v]

More pics processed after Barlacha till Manali.






Some where after Sisu










Rohtang Top


Stuck after Rohtang for more than 1 hrs. Innova reversing as the stones were falling from right side.




Hotel room

[contactme27]

Good TV. Enjoyed the trip. did your kid felt any AMS sickness any time during your trip ?

[v&v]

Originally Posted by contactme27

Good TV. Enjoyed the trip. did your kid felt any AMS sickness any time during your trip ?

Thanks. There were no AMS issues with kid. I had mild headache on 1st day at Leh. At Khardung la my son complained headache ascending but were ok after the descend.

[v&v]

This bring an end to our epic leh trip. No post trip maintenance for our beast was required.

Now the summary of Trip
-------------------------

Total Distance : 3192 kms
Diesel : 266 ltrs @ Rs 11080/-
Average : 12 kmpl

Hotels stays : All meal plan - 3.5 pax
Srinagar : 14k for 2 nights (map)
Rest all was 9 nights @ 3500/- per night from Sonamarg till Sarchu : 31.5 k
Stay was all in A class hotels & Tents.
Manali was with Club Mahindra


Last few photos from Snow peak , manali

[lordofgondor]

Originally Posted by v&v

Sarchu was beautiful with sun setting. Anyway what the latest news about your Safari ?

Yeah, Sunsets at Sarchu are awesome. Especially when the peaks get lit by the remaining sunlight.

No news about the Safari mate, I guess it's a goner. Now am just waiting for the cops to send the closure report ASAP, get the insurance money and buy the Merlin.

[musafir_blr]

Hi friends,
I am planning to visit Leh during mid August. I plan to start on 15th August and the planned itinerary is: fly directly from Bangalore to Srinagar, night halt in Srinagar, next day Srinagar to Leh by road, stay in Ladakh for 4/5 nights and then back to Srinagar ( with a halt in Kargil on return if required). Now, a few questions:
1. I need to know whether Srinagar to Leh is doable by road in a day. (Time crunch, u see.) How are the road conditions and any deterrents I need to factor in before I confirm the trip?
2. It seems the whole of Kashmir is shut down on 15th August. So if I land in Srinagar late afternoon, will it be a trouble to reach the hotel?
Any suggestions/feedback would be helpful..

[v&v]

Originally Posted by musafir_blr

Hi friends,
I am planning to visit Leh during mid August. I plan to start on 15th August and the planned itinerary is: fly directly from Bangalore to Srinagar, night halt in Srinagar, next day Srinagar to Leh by road, stay in Ladakh for 4/5 nights and then back to Srinagar ( with a halt in Kargil on return if required). Now, a few questions:
1. I need to know whether Srinagar to Leh is doable by road in a day. (Time crunch, u see.) How are the road conditions and any deterrents I need to factor in before I confirm the trip?
2. It seems the whole of Kashmir is shut down on 15th August. So if I land in Srinagar late afternoon, will it be a trouble to reach the hotel?
Any suggestions/feedback would be helpful..

Srinagar - Leh is a good 16+ hr drive. Single day is very risky and tiring. Also the dynamic factors and the passes will slow you down. Enjoy the scenic beauty en-route and its better to do Srinagar - Kargil & Next day Leh.

As for 15th Aug better enquire with Hotel guys for the pickup.

[rkbharat]

Wonderful log and nice pics

Originally Posted by musafir_blr

1. I need to know whether Srinagar to Leh is doable by road in a day. (Time crunch, u see.) How are the road conditions and any deterrents I need to factor in before I confirm the trip?
2. It seems the whole of Kashmir is shut down on 15th August. So if I land in Srinagar late afternoon, will it be a trouble to reach the hotel?
Any suggestions/feedback would be helpful..

1 : Srinagar - Leh is very much doable in a day. We did Leh - Srinagar in a day, in my SX4, starting 5:00 AM from Leh and reaching Srinagar by 8:00 Pm with an hour of delay at Ghumri.

2 : I doubt you should have any problem reaching hotel on 15-August, but still patch up with hotel guys

[akp]

Hi V&V,

a fantastic travelogue. I of course read it right after you had posted - but I am going through it once again in order to finalize our plan this summer. The detailed break up of distances and times that you have provided are proving to be very useful indeed. So a big Thank You.

akp

[VineetSoni]

hello Sir

Very amazing travelogue with lots of details and very beautiful pictures.
thank you for so many details in such a brilliant read.

thank you