[SS-Traveller]

to you for the successful trip!

Originally Posted by UniqueMods

Should have bought and taken a DSLR. The difference between the pics and the actual look is huge.

My thoughts exactly! But then, the 3D effect and the 2D photos don't quite match each other, do they?

BTW, what caused your brakes to jam up? Broken retraction springs? And how old is your car that it needed changing the rear brake shoes?

[UniqueMods]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

to you for the successful trip!


My thoughts exactly! But then, the 3D effect and the 2D photos don't quite match each other, do they?

BTW, what caused your brakes to jam up? Broken retraction springs? And how old is your car that it needed changing the rear brake shoes?

3D is always better. Next yr.

Car is 3.5 yr old and has run 40K km. the rear right break pad asbestos layer come off the metal holder (brake shoe) and got jammed between the two. The pads had never been changed before.

UM

[UniqueMods]

July 15th Day 7 – Leh to Khardung La – 2hr to go and another 2hr to return to Leh.



40 km for Leh. Leh to Khardung La, Good roads with some bad patches.


Cold and feels like Heven above the clouds. The beauty and the fact that you made it only adds to the excitement. Hot Maggie and Black tea is a bonus.
I hadn’t plan to go to Nubur. Wanted to, but the leaves were limited.

[UniqueMods]

July 16th Day 8 – Leh to Pangong Tso (turned back from zingral), then to Sarchu
The first disappointment of the trip was that I was not able to make it to Pangong Tso.
It was snowing and with fog like conditions, I had to return from Diesel road, about 2-3 km ahead of Zingral. There was 1 ft of snow on the road and 10 ft visibility. I decided not to risk it.

I shall return. I will return. Nubur and Pangong Tso is the inspiration for the next trip.

Since we were early and had visited the Leh points already, I decide to head to Sarchu the same day.


Morey Plains can be difficult if you don’t pay attention to the sand ahead. Saw a truck and a camper van stuck in the soft terrain. I managed to get through without getting stuck by keeping up the momentum and staying on truck made tracks. Did have 2 instances where the car started to slow down, as I crossed softer sand patch, just keep going in 1st gear and hope for the best. This is an isolated area, but you do cross another vehicle every 5 min. People here are extremely friendly and help out. Please always carry a Tow Cable and 2 Wooden Planks as a further assistance.

[rkbharat]

nice pics

But are you sure about 1 ft of snow on the way to Pangong, kind of impossible at this time frame

[lordofgondor]

Hey UniqueMods, don't worry about the quality of the pics mate. After all, they're captures of Ladakh and can't disappoint! And quite a few have nice composition.

Sad to hear about the Pangong episode, join the gang. (me's already a member).

The pics of Chang La remind me of the time when I was there. The pass does get a good amount of snowfall even in July. In July 2009, I had to wait for sometime as the bulldozer was clearing the snow on the road. Wasn't the road being cleared when you're there?

[Sunney]

UM's narration made us bold enough to do Leh in Linea, no Raviji?
After all we have the bottom Sump to scrap with any cruel hump, when we tempted to look out 'sight-seeing' while at wheels

Seeing the roads I think those bad patches are better than Kerala's roads after Monsoon, no much to worry !

[UniqueMods]

Originally Posted by rkbharat

nice pics

But are you sure about 1 ft of snow on the way to Pangong, kind of impossible at this time frame

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

The pics of Chang La remind me of the time when I was there. The pass does get a good amount of snowfall even in July. In July 2009, I had to wait for sometime as the bulldozer was clearing the snow on the road. Wasn't the road being cleared when you're there?

Hope that answers your question.

There was snow till my cars bumper and getting stuck on the grill. the bulldozer was there but being just my wife and me, i decided not to drive in heavy fog. Couldn't predict how the condition would be on the return leg.

I shall be back to cross Chang La and reach Pangong Tso...

Originally Posted by Sunney

Seeing the roads I think those bad patches are better than Kerala's roads after Monsoon, no much to worry !

Ehh.. I havent clicked any snaps of the really bad roads. No time to do that then. Linea will cross, but please don't go with a mindset, that not a single stone will touch the under body.

More pics to come, of the Big Scare.

UM

[MadTiger]

Originally Posted by UniqueMods

Updating Driving time.

July 9th Day 1 - Mumbai to Ajmer - 1050km – 3am to 7pm – aggressive driving
July 10th Day 2 - Ajmer to Pathankot – 900km – 5am to 8pm – aggressive driving
July 11th Day 3 - Pathankot to Srinagar – 250km – 8am to 2pm – relaxed driving
July 12th Day 4 - Srinagar rest and sightseeing – 50 km in city
July 13th Day 5 - Srinagar to Kargil – 200km – 6am to 3pm - relaxed but careful driving
July 14th Day 6 - Kargil to Leh – 230km – 6am to 3pm - relaxed but careful driving

UM

Hi,

This is just too much exciting and thrilling.. I will be taking even a smaller car. So need a couple of more information from you.

The distance from Srinagar to Kargil and Kargil to Leh which are the point were fuel will be available. Thanks in advance.

[fazalaliadil]

UniqueMods,

A very well documented and informative thread. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,

[UniqueMods]

July 17th Day 9 – Sarchu to Manali

Nalla Crossing 1

Nalla Crossing 2

2nd Puncture

While Nubur and Pangong Tso are the inspiration for the next trip, Rohtang La is the deterrent.
Never take a small car to Rohtang.

No matter how many army men and truck drives tell you that it’s easily doable, it’s not easy and will take a bit out of the car.
I was counting how many hits and scrapes the under body was taking, I reached 45 and then things got a lot worse.

Loose mud, muck, and 1.5ft deep truck tracks where I can’t follow. I would just bottom out. 1 tire in the track and the other on the center raised channel but, kept getting the car stuck if I slow down. Plus the car kept changing directions and required constant correction. I almost veered towards the cliff twice. And trying to stay near the mountain side, while on full acceleration in 1st gear cost me a running board. Front bumper, right running board were repaired when back in Mumbai.
Add all this with Fog, Heavy rain and it was already dark at 8pm, I was in a scary situation.

Never will I ever cross Roghtag in anything less than a 4x4 high ground vehicle.

I am surprised and thankful to the amount of abuse my poor Bluee ( Santro ) took, but didn’t give up and kept going.

The 2 Rotang snaps are not mine. But it will give an idea to how bad it can get.

This snap is not clicked by me. Just for reference of the condition.

This snap is not clicked by me. Just for reference of the condition.

July 18th Day 10 – Manali Rest and sightseeing
Next day’s wash and checkup at Manali, actually reveled the extent to which the mud had covered the radiator, fan and also found fist size stones sitting in the engine bay.
There was belt noises, excess fan noise and a ticking noise on turning. The cause of all this was mud and sand in the engine bay. And good 2 hr diesel wash at Manali, took care of all the noises.

Poor Bluee

Beatutiful Manali.

Some much needed rest after the previous days effort.

July 19th Day 11 – Manali to Ambala -
July 20th Day 12 – Ambala to Udaipur
July 21st Day 13 – Udaipur to Mumbai
The rest was uneventful and we were home sick.

Heading Home.

Funny this is, while going the encouragement to keep driving for a 1000km/day, was the excitement to see Leh Ladhak. While returning the encouragement was to get home as early as possible.

[Styler]

Great trip UniqueMods. Congratulations!

You are a really courageous couple to have done this.
Even if you damaged your car a little, you can always get it back to shape.
The memories of this trip will last you forever. 20 years down, your kids will look upto you when they see these pictures and hear about your trip.
Congratulations once again !

Styler

[UniqueMods]

Originally Posted by Styler

Great trip UniqueMods. Congratulations!

You are a really courageous couple to have done this.
Even if you damaged your car a little, you can always get it back to shape.
The memories of this trip will last you forever. 20 years down, your kids will look upto you when they see these pictures and hear about your trip.
Congratulations once again !

Styler

Thanks, the cars already repaired.
There are going to be a lot more trip to Leh ladhak... this was just the start.


====================


Hotel info i Had collected form various forums.
Info is a bit jumbled up, but may be useful to fellow members planning a trip.


Sarchu camps - should reach before 3 pm
Camp Himalayan Saga, Sarchu
Near Club House,
Manali, Kullu (H.P. - 175131)
Telefax: 0091 - 01902 - 251848
Email: travelinfo@himalayansaga.com
Price (July 2007) was Rs. 1200/- per two man tent
Very comfortable, considering the hostile environment.
Hospitality rating: Very good
Hot water supplied in 2.5 ltr JUGS

LEH
=====
Hotel - Kidar Guest House
Behind Hotel Mandala,Lower Tukcha, Fort Road, Leh 01982, India
Contact person: Jigmet
Tel: 09622963234
Costs: 700 - 1500 per room per night

Hotel holiday ladhak
side-road of Fort Road
Tel: [91-1982] 257-403, 251-600 Mobile: 9419178929 fax: 255-146
Email ID: hotelholidayladakh@yahoo.com

Hotel somoriri

NUBRA plateau
====================
Hundar hotel
Habib Guest House
Contact 01980221039, 9469177178
Costs: 400 - 800 per room per night.

diskit — Siachin guest house


Pangong Tso - Hotel
===================
Eco Huts @150 per room
Or 30km before Pangong at Tangste, there are many guest houses.
Or guest house at Spangmik

Tso Moriri - Hotel
=====================
Korzok (Tso Moriri)
Nomadic Life Camp
Contact Person: James
Tel: 01982267321; 09419178984; 09419341687
Email: nomadic.life@yahoo.com; gdorjey@yahoo.com
Costs: 2500-3500 INR per room per night, including dinner & breakfast

Mentok Guest House
Korzok (Tso Moriri)

SISSU near keylong
HOTEL TRIVENI.
Rs.500 for room with double bed.
Cntact number is 01900263044 and mobile number is 9418204944.

Hotel Valley View at Keylong -
Keylong-leh, leave at 5am, take a million pics, and have dinner in leh at 9pm
01900-222666
Directions: Main market. Take a right into the market, ask for the old circuit house. Just opposite it, you will see this wonderful hotel
Rate: 300 for ground floor double bedroom.

Hotel Chandra Bhaga, Keylong
Dorm - 15 beds - Rs 150/- each bed
DBR - 12 rooms - Rs 1000/-
Suite (2 DBRs) - 3 nos. - Rs 1600/-

Tented accomodation in Jipsa
Ranging from 800 Rs to 1300 Rs depending upon the type of tent & facilites, including all meals thrown in.
hundred or so meter after Ibex.

Ibex hotel at Jipsa
Overpriced.
clean and all facilities.

Tents at Jipsa
located a km before Ibex and will hit you on your right when going from Manali to Leh.
Swiss tents with attached toilet: 600 after bargaining
Normal tents: 400 after bargaining


Udaipur
--------
1300/- rupees at Aashna/Aashiana palace.


chandigarh
------------
Stay at Anandpur Sahib. Its around 2 hours from chandigarh

CITCO's Hotel Parkview in Sector 24
There are many hotels in Sector 17 and there is one line full of hotels in Sector 35 and 22

hotel "Park View":
Cool hotel and safe parking for your bikes/vehicles
Single room costs:
Rs.950 bucks(AC)
Rs.650 bucks(Non-Ac)
Has rooms from 650 bucks-3000 bucks.
Has a decent restaurant downstairs though food may be charged a little bit on the higher side.
PRos:Five minutes from NH-21 turn at chandigarh


Kargil
===========
JKTDC is a good place

Carvan sarai

Hotel Siachen, right in the town of Kargil 2400 per day.
the Best in kargil

Hotel D ZojiLa close to the Army Mess, which is about 1km away from the main town - 01985232360


Tso moriri
===============
Nomadic life camp @2009 Bargained to 300 bux a night in july this year.

Tsomoriri Resort in Korzok - Gave me a best price of 1500 Rs with attached toilets


Jammu
=================

There are a few hotels in the vicinity of the railway station
Hotel Shivam Lodge
Opp Railway station
Near Care-n-Cure hospital, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu
(Opposite the Exit gate and the police post).
Tel: 0191-2477030, 0-92054-32534
All rooms are AC, some have LCD screens
Tariff: INR 2280 - 2480
Ask for a 30% discount

In the same block:
Hotel Satyam
Hotel Shri Amarnath
Hotel Divine


Diskit, Nubra
=============
Hotel Olthang,
Enough Parking space.
Clean room and toilet
No TV, only in kitchen, that's where I was most of the time.
Gyser for Hot Water, but was not working, boiling water provided in bucket, was ok for me.
Food was good, we had dinner, snacks and breakfast there.
Paid 300 Rs per room per night
@2010 There was a guy named Rinku who quoted Rs 2000 for a room, we bargained and brought it down to Rs 600, he would not bargain anymore.


Sand Dunes Guest House at Diskit
The owner is quite friendly and the rooms are very well mantained. We gave 400 bucks for a night (3 people)
The food cooked by the in-house cook was one of the most scrumtuous food i have ever had. Price...70 bucks per person.

Hunder
============
"Himalayan guest house" in Hunder
Rs 600 (room with loo)
Himalayan Guest House
contact person : Mr Ghulam Hussain
His mobile : 9469177470



Srinagar
===============
Srinagar goes, my personal favorite is Hotel Aziz,

Jhelum near the Zero Bridge - 2001 and 2002 at Rs 1,300 a day for a double bedroomer



Leh
=============
Galwan guest house. its on the shanti stup road, changspa.
i was told bout it by Iranian friends i met in rumtse. costed rs 300 double bed , hot water , lot of greenery around.
food available for rs 60-80 ,
really nice and clean place.


Hotel Sun n Sand in Leh is situated on Changspa road and is a budget guest house.
I had stayed in Hotel Sun n Sand along with the 12 members of BCMTouring’s 2007 ride. The hotel is decent, though it does not have a parking, one can easily park a dozen motorcycles in front of its entrance which is located slightly off the road.
Rooms are decently sized, clean and have attached toilet, however hot running water is only available in the morning. Hotel also has a small garden where one can sit in the evening and relax.
Room rent: Rs.250 in September 2007

=========================
==========================


Here is a list of guest houses in Leh
-------------------------------------

Most of these guest houses has Single as well as double rooms.

General range of tarrif
For single Rs. 50/- to Rs. 300/-
For Double Rs. 150/- to Rs. 500/-


Padma Guest House & Hotel
Ghairghair,
Fort Road
Leh
01982 - 253072 / 252735 / 252414

Old Ladakh Guest House
Nr. Royal Palace,
Leh
01982 - 252951 / 09419178321

Alimjan Guest House
Fort Road
Leh
01982 - 250314

Ashoka Guest House
Main Tukcha Road,
Leh
01982 - 252725 / 252938

Asia Guest House
Changspa
Leh
01982 - 253403 / 9419178689

Auspicious Hotel
Shak
Leh
01982 - 253687 / 252153

Barath Guest House
Nr. Hotel Mandala,
Fort Road,
Leh
01982 - 253029 / 9419370739

Chandan Guest House
Changspa
Leh
01982 - 253169
Delhi-26111568

Glacier View Guest House
Upper Tukcha Road,
Leh
01982-253503

Harmony Guest House
Bh. Hotel Mandala,
Fort Road,
Leh
01982-252705 / 251472

Jamspal Guest House
Nr. K-Sar Hotel,
Fort Road,
Leh
01982 - 251272

Kidar Guest House
Bh. Hotel Mandala,
Lower Tukcha, Fort Road,
Leh
01982 - 252046 / 09419179029

Lakrook Garden Guest House
01982 - 252987

Mahey Guest House
Main Tukcha Road,
Leh
01982 - 251262

Olden or Golden Guest House
Fort Road,
Leh
01982 - 252513 / 94191 77716

Semskit Guest House
Fort Road
Leh
01982 - 252890

Span Guest House
Nr. Hotel Noble House
Fort road,
Leh
01982 - 252540

Sum Role Guest House
Fort Road,
Leh
No Phones

Sun flower Guest House
Nr. Indian Airlines Office,
Leh
01982 - 252489

Thangkop Guest House
Bh. Hotel Mandala,
Fort road,
Leh
01982 - 253699 / 265490

Yarts Guest House
Main Tukcha Road,
Leh
01982 - 253102 / 9419242504

Udaipur
--------
Mayur Guest House, Udaipur or Himmatnagar 177 km form udaipur
Room Rent INR 1000/- (Including 1 extra mattress)
Food was ok

Panorama Guest House (Udaipur, India)
Hanuman Ghat, O/s Chandpole, Udaipur 313001, India
Phone No. : +91-294-2431027
800 for room


Ambala
-------
Hotel Batra Palace, Near Ambala Cantt. Rly. Stn.
Ph: 91-171-2640159, 2643502, 2632580,
Room Rent : INR 1700/- for AC room with 1 extra mattress


Jammu
------
Hotel Rajdhani, Jammu
Lane No. 2, | Sant Market, Below Gumat,, Jammu City 180001, India
9419183176
Room Rent : INR 1200/- for AC room with 1 extra mattress. The service here was decent.


Kargil
-------
Caravan Sarai, Kargil
Address Dak Banglow Road, Kargil, 232278
Phone 91-1985-232-278
Office 01985 - 232721
Room Rent : INR 2000/- for 4 bedded room, Good vegetarian food.


Leh
----
Hotel Horizon, Old Road,
Chulung,Leh,
+91-01982-252602
Room Rent : INR 1,300 for room with extra mattress, hotel had parking space for 3-4 cars



Ajmer
------
Hotel - Khadim
Near Central Bus Stand, Near Savitri College
Civil Lines, Ajmer
Contact Person: Mr. Nand Singh, General Manager
Mobile: +91 9829070369
Tel: +91 145 2627536 / 2627490


UM

[UniqueMods]

My route files
Map (courtesy of fellow member vardhan.harsh).

UM

Originally Posted by Sunney

UM's narration made us bold enough to do Leh in Linea, no Raviji?

Sure, UniqueMods's experience and advice are useful inputs for our proposed Leh expedition. Yes, I would be driving Srinagar-Leh-Srinagar in my Linea in September 2011 avoiding Rohtang Pass/Keylong altogether.