[nkrishnap]

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

awesome to say the least. I heard there is a new alignment on Zozila now for the up convoy? did you take that new route? That board at Drass is at the market? If you want to see the actual spot where that record breaking temperature was recorded, its at the Drass transit camp, slightly on the left side and on a small spur about 20 meters from the Transit Camp Gate. If I remember correctly the temperature reading was about -30 or so. Need to check.

Nope the new alignment was actually filled with land slides and yet to be cleared. So the only road that was open was the good old route.

[wanderernomad]

Originally Posted by nkrishnap

Nope the new alignment was actually filled with land slides and yet to be cleared. So the only road that was open was the good old route.

The good old route haha. . Do you know at times the vehicles could not continue up with the full load so they used to make the passengers get down and walk alongside.

[nkrishnap]

Decision Time

After check in to the hotel at Kargil, we had dinner at one of the hotels on the Main road which turned out to be disastrous. My wife had a stomach upset and was feeling very tired and de-hydrated. Temperatures were soaring at Kargil at well over 35 degrees even at 10 am which added to our woes. We visited the government hospital at Kargil which was not equipped to deal with patients it is supposed to be.

With the medicines we had carried, tried to get the situation under control, however, it did not help us. I put her on the ORS solution and decided to halt at Kargil itself to see if the situation improves. Simply rested in the hotel for rest of the day and a 10 min stroll on the dusty main road of Kargil.

The next day morning too the situation though a little better, was no way in a state to continue the journey further. After a long hard thought, the decision was made. We would drive back to Srinagar and my wife would be flying back to Bangalore

Kargil to Srinagar

With the decision made, the luggage was packed, and put in the boot. However, before we started our journey back, I had to drive a few kms towards Leh and come back. Call me stupid, I did drive about 10 kms and returned.

A few pics of Kargil town.





Refueled at the IOCL bunk in Kargil and returned to the hotel. Finished the checkout formalities and the journey towards Srinagar started. With the usual stops at the check-posts and the ascend towards Zozilla pass started.

A few pics en-route.







The road condition at Zozilla Pass













The traffic jam







We continue after losing close to an hour





Checked in to Hotel Malik Palace right opposite to the Dal Lake at 6 pm. This hotel had a Cafe coffee day in the same premises too and did fulfill my coffee requirements. The air tickets to Bangalore was booked and it was time to retire for the day after the dinner.

Srinagar to Pathankot

With the tickets booked tickers for 2 pm flight to Bangalore on the Indigo airlines ensured a leisure morning. Checked out from the hotel at noon and reached the airport. There were multiple security checks done and finally dropped them off at the airport and started the drive towards Jammu at 1.30 pm. By the time we reached Anantnag, it was already 3.30 pm. We made quick progress and drove nonstop till Outskirts of Jammu. Stopped over for dinner and decided to drive up to Pathankot for the night halt and the rain gave us company from Bari Brahmana till Pathankot.

Pathankot to New Delhi.

We started the 6th August morning with the aim to drive as much as possible and reach Jaipur. However, the weather had other plans for us. The rains still not relenting, we made slow progress and near Jalandhar had brunch at Havel. And continued towards Delhi.

With the GPS guiding us, we took the Grand Trunk road and entered the Ludhiana city. Another decision that went bad. The Grand trunk road was water logged and the end result is that a good 2 hours spent in the traffic jam. What this traffic jam ensured was that the carpets in the car got wet due to water seepage which was not noticed earlier until the speakers conked after we drove around 60 kms beyond Ambala. The water had entered the Amplifier which was placed under the front passenger seat.

We decided to drive to Delhi and Halt for the day. On the way, called up Kashyap Fiat and booked an appointment to make a temporary fix for the water seepage. We retired at Hotel Stallion in Okla around 11 pm.

To be contd..

[nkrishnap]

The Return Journey

At Kashyap Fiat

Reached the service center at 9 am and the service advisor attended to us after 15 mins and prepared the job card. I explained what needs to be done and obliged and ensured that the water in below the carpets were sucked out and put the side panels in place. A complimentary car wash also done.

A few snaps of the vintage car kept on display









An interesting seat



I was out of the service center by 12 noon and with the hotel just about a couple kms away, we reached had a quick lunch and had a nap for about 2 hours. The next marathon run for the trip was decided that we will drive to Thane to Hotel Ibis.

Okla Delhi to Navi Mumbai - 1413 kms - 25 hours 30 mins (includes 1 tea break, 1 dinner break, 1 breakfast break , 1 lunch break and a power nap break)

Checked out of the hotel and started out journey at 5.45 pm. The peak hour traffic did not help us one bit, by the time we reached Jaipur it was already 10 pm. We stopped over at one the highway dhabas a few kms after Jaipur for dinner. The owner of the dhaba was a friendly chap who had come to this place 15 years back and set up this dhaba and earning his living ever since. We continued driving not before we refueled at the IOCL bunk close by and drove till 5.30 am and felt like I was not able to concentrate perfectly. Pulled over at one IOCL bunk and took a power nap for around an hour.

Continued driving and stopped over for freshening up and breakfast at one of the resorts on the outskirts of Udaipur.

The drive continued after breakfast and steady pace ensured we were making good progress. Reached hotel Darshan a few kms after Vadodara on the highway lunch on the NH 8 close to noon. With a not so heavy lunch and lassi it was time to be back on road, the roads were quite free up to Baruch and then the traffic sort of slowed us and the drizzle too did not help in keeping the pace up.

Refueled the car at the HPCL bunk near Baruch as the fuel was almost running out. Then it was a nonstop dash to Hotel Ibis in Navi Mumbai

Checked into Hotel Ibis at 7.15 pm. A quick shower and a tasty dinner and it was time to retire for the day in the cozy bed.

Navi Mumbai to Bangalore - 982 kms - 16 hours

With around 1000 kms left in the journey, we had planned to start early around 4 am to ensure we don't get stuck in the traffic. However, the comfortable bed ensure we wanted to catch up some more sleep. This ensured we started by 9 am after the complimentary breakfast. The traffic being heavy, we made slow progress and entered the Mumbai Pune expressway. With heavy traffic it was only slow progress from here on till we reached Katraj Bypass.

We stopped for the lunch break at Hotel Nataraj around 1.30 pm. A good hour used up in relaxing after the taxing slow drive and the lunch. Refueled at the BPCL bump and the drive continued. The drive from here till Kolhapur is nothing to write home about with hoards of two wheels occupying the left lane and slow moving vehicles such as the 800's, TATA Ace occupying it. It was a frustrating drive till we crossed the Karnataka border. The traffic eased up considerably. The good highways ensured we made good progress till Kittur.

A few pics near Belgaum









The Vikasa Soudha





It was dusk time, so pulled over till it went completely dark. A refreshing 45 min power nap ensured we were charged enough to reach Bangalore. Refueled for the penultimate time at a HPCL bunk near Haveri. The nonstop run to Bangalore started from here.

Reached the HPCL bunk on the Bellary main road and topped up the car and headed back home. Reached home at 1 am. Left all the luggage in the car and just hit the bed.

The drive lasted for 15 days, covered 7,298 kms from door to door traversing 8 states.



The trip cost with the break up for accommodation, Fuel, toll, etc coming up soon

[Sommos]

Originally Posted by nkrishnap

Journey Leg 5 - Srinagar to Kargil Continued

The twist in the tale coming up next.

That indeed was a sad ending.
Feel bad that the journey had to be abruptly end because of health ground. However, appreciate your decision to end the journey at Kargil and come back.

When I read your post "Twist in the tale" the idea that came to mind was some sort of landslide or other natural calamity that blocked your progress.

[nkrishnap]

COST DETAILS

The overall cost for the drive up to Kargil is summarized in the table.



Note:
1. The Boarding & Lodging includes the room service and tips.
2. The transit cost includes the helicopter charges (Vaishnodevi Temple), Auto and other fares wherever used.
3. Car Misc includes cost of 3 car washes, tips given to the security and checking air pressure

HOTEL REVIEWS

Note: Wherever hotel website not available I have included the link from the other sides.

Mewar Inn - Udaipur

An excellent budget hotel with the rooms very good. Did not have food at the hotel. Very friendly room service guys. Only grouse here is parking which is on the road opposite to the hotel. However, since the traffic is low and security available there should not be any worry.

Link to the website - Hotel Mewar inn, Udaipur, Rajastha, INDIA ::
Booked Via - Cleartrip.com
Personal Rating - 4.5/5

Hotel Bluemoon - Amritsar

A good accommodation with not so great room service. The food was great but the arrogance show by the room service guy is ridiculous. I was asked to order breakfast with no menu given. My option was to skip it just for the arrogance.

Link to the website - Blue Moon Hotel Amritsar
Booked Via - Cleartrip.com
Personal Rating - 3.5/5

Hotel Devi Mahal - Katra

An excellent accommodation and lovely food and hospitality. Though not rated a star hotel, the service quality was very good. Good parking facility

Link to the website - Hotel Devi Mahal
Booked Via - Cleartrip.com
Personal Rating - 4.5/5

Hotel Season Palace - Srinagar

Good accommodation and hospitality. No restaurant available at this place. Parking facility available.

Link to the website - Hotel Season Palace, best hotel in kashmir, top hotel in srinagar, hotel near dal lake
Booked Via - Makemytrip.com
Personal Rating - 4/5

Hotel Greenland - Kargil

Good accommodation and hospitality. No restaurant available at this place. Parking facility available.

Link to the website - Hotel Greenland Kargil, Hotels in Kargil, Kargil Hotels, Hotels in Kashmir
Booked Via - Walkin
Personal Rating - 4/5

Hotel Malik Palace - Srinagar

Good accommodation and hospitality. Restaurant and CCD available at this place. Parking facility available.
Link to the website - Hotel Malik Palace Srinagar, Hotel Located in Boulevard Road Srinagar, Budget Hotels in Srinagar
Booked Via - Walk in
Personal Rating - 4/5

Hotel Satyam - Pathankot

Bare Basic accommodation. Parking on the road side and no dedicated parking.

Link to the website - Book Hotel Satyam in Pathankot
Booked Via - Walk in
Personal Rating - 2/5

Hotel Stallions - New Delhi, Okla

Excellent accommodation and hospitality. Lovely food, round the clock room service will all the menu items available on request. Parking on the road side and no dedicated parking.

Link to the website - Hotel Stallions
Booked Via - Walk in
Personal Rating - 4.5/5

Hotel Ibis - Navi Mumbai

Excellent accommodation and hospitality. Lovely food, Parking facility available

Link to the website - ibis Navi Mumbai hotel - Book your budget hotel in NAVI MUMBAI
Booked Via - Walk in
Personal Rating - 4.5/5

If any specific information is required, kindly post the queries. I will revert with the information subject I have those.

[ampere]

Very detailed log Nkp and captured to the last detail ! Sad that you had to return. But there is always a next time.

Who knows? A 1.6 MJD Linea perhaps ?

[nkrishnap]

Originally Posted by ampere

Very detailed log Nkp and captured to the last detail ! Sad that you had to return. But there is always a next time.

Who knows? A 1.6 MJD Linea perhaps ?

Do not give me bad ideas. You never know, I might simply follow the hint you have given