[Ddrive]

I agree that, flying into Ladakh is not game in here but driving is. What to do ?

Many travelogues in TBHP and numerous posts on my facebook wall initiated the interest in me to go on a drive to Ladakh someday. Yet that was so faint and just a distant wish as it involved a lot of time and money. Money can be had, but time? I work in a private company and I certainly cant afford to go on leave for 15+ days citing a pleasure drive. So I never allowed any sort of an urge or itch or something like that to occupy my mind and make me seriously think about doing a drive to Ladakh.

Then came this opportunity. I was asked to go to Delhi on some work with to & fro airfares paid, (Oh yes, I'm bound to do it). The date to be in Delhi is 29.9.2013 Sunday. 2nd October is Gandhi Jayanthi holiday and had 2 working days in between. So if I apply leave for those 2 days, I'll have 4 days off.

Checked the airfares on websites and found that the lowest fare for Chennai-Delhi stood at Rs.4700 whereas for Chennai-Leh it was just Rs.6163, so booked it. The fares for Leh-Chennai stood at a handsome 12000+, so booked the return journey as Srinagar-Chennai at a price of Rs.6700. Lets do Leh-Srinagar overnight on a canon ball taxi run.. thought I, which later ended up booking one more flight Leh-Srinagar at Rs.3800. So the total fare came around 16700, out of which Rs.7000 will be from out of my pocket... not a bad deal. Food, Accommodations, and local conveyances extra, no big deal either.

Moreover the season is ending and the passes will soon be closed. I sure know that within a time frame of 2 days I cant visit each and every location what I see in those travelogues, but ofcourse can have a pinch of what it feels like in Ladakh. Its now or never.

Finally it looked like "Me too gonna see some Ladakh"

Thanks for reading... I'm pleased to share some of my photos.

[Ddrive]

Day-1, Chennai-Delhi.

Just leaving Chennai


Over the Delhi Skies.


Took to the city buses and went for a round around in Delhi.


Prefered spending the night at IGI-T3




Day-2, Delhi-Leh

IGI-T3 - Gates open for Leh - Boarding time 5.15 am.


Onboard Delhi-Leh, Over the mighty Himalayas.


Smokey Clouds and Snow-Clad Peaks.


Reaching Leh (Guess this place)


Taking rest towards acclimatization... At my room in Leh.


The room had this beautiful view, through the window.


Some Apples by the window.


Went for a walk around Leh city, in the evening.


Met this agent and booked a seat in a taxi for a shared trip to Pangong.


Called it a day.
I must wake up early tomorrow as the taxi leaves at 6.30am to Pangong.
The weather was moderate at night and the sleep was peaceful.

[Ddrive]

Day-3, A Drive to Pangong Tso.


The drive begins at dawn.


At breakfast. Seen in this photo are the Khans and Deepaks, the folks who shared the other four seats in the Xylo.


Then starts the Run to the Hills... Somewhere near Karu.


Travelled through that famous Z-Road enroute.


Reaching the snow-levels.


The Xylo hits Chang-La.


Me at Chang-La.


Driving down the Chang-La heights, We come to this colourful valley.


A walk in the valley ends up in an ambush by these little ones.


A closer look at these Beavers... they want some food.


Further down comes the Yak meadows.


Yaks up close.


One for the my coverpic


The Deepaks at Pangong lake.


Time-out at Pangong.


The return drive, at sunset.



And the evening and the night ends my last day in Ladakh.

Its true I've seen just a part it and there is so much left to be seen. This quick trip however has rekindled the interest stronger than before to do a vast drive and check out all those beautiful places in this territory someday for sure. For now it is one for the bucket-list

I left Leh, the next morning.

[Technocrat]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to Travelogues. Thanks for sharing!

[Vihari]

Originally Posted by Ddrive

Travelled through that famous Z-Road enroute.
Attachment 1152699

And the evening and the night ends my last day in Ladakh.

Its true I've seen just a part it and there is so much left to be seen. This quick trip however has rekindled the interest stronger than before to do a vast drive and check out all those beautiful places in this territory someday for sure. For now it is one for the bucket-list

I left Leh, the next morning.

David, you have the 'most perfect' 'Z' photograph till date.

It is really nice to see that you simply went to Ladhak by flight, that too alone and enjoyed the trip. No hassles.

Thanks for the photos. Seen some on HV Kumar forum but on T-BHP its different.

- Sai

[motomaverick]

Nice and crisp account of your 2 day visit to Ladakh, so when did you complete your work Which is the Hotel that you stayed?

[Jeroen]

Very nice.

We spent some five days at Leh, Lahdakh a few months ago. From all our trips around India we found this one the most impressive. I recognize a lot of the places on your pictures. One small comment, your beavers are marmots. We saw them at a distance and they were very shy. Amazing you could get so close.

Here's our Leh story: http://www.india.jeroendorrestein.co...h,_Ladakh.html

Jeroen

[Ddrive]

Day-4, Srinagar.


On Day-4, I was in Srinagar and was able to squeeze in a quick Shikara ride on Dal Lake. Here are some pictures:


A wide area, the boatman said, this is called the Golden lake.


Parked beauties !


A Petty shop in the middle of the lake.


People live in these colorful houses


A Jetty at night.



The End - Thanks for reading

[parik_ind]

This is what is making the most of time. I have always wanted to visit Leh but have been planning this mega 3 week trip and cant seem to get it out of my head. I know its not going to happen for at least one more year so quick trip like yours should be possible.

Thankfully, I don't have an issue with time (nice boss ) just the wife's time.

Nice pictures man.

Parik

[Ddrive]

Originally Posted by Vihari

David, you have the 'most perfect' 'Z' photograph till date.

Wow! that was a huge compliment, thanks so much Vihari.
Thanks for being first to reply.

Originally Posted by motomaverick

So when did you complete your work Which is the Hotel that you stayed?

My work was such, i did it within no time
I stayed in Hotel Jorchung, Leh.
And yours is a superb travelogue... Im reading it.

Originally Posted by Jeroen

One small comment, your beavers are marmots. We saw them at a distance and they were very shy. Amazing you could get so close.

Thanks Jeroen, for the correction about the Marmots.
May be they are shy, but we were able to go so close to the level of even touching them. So sad, they were just craving for some food and got dejected seeing we had nothing in our hands to offer. Thanks for the link to your Leh story, read it fully, it was nice. Come down south sometime, you'll love it too !

Originally Posted by parik_ind

Nice pictures man

Thanks Parik, and wish you all the best for a Ladakh 2014

[motomaverick]

Originally Posted by Ddrive

My work was such, i did it within no time
I stayed in Hotel Jorchung, Leh.
And yours is a superb travelogue... Im reading it.

Ah! Hotel Jorchung is pretty highly recommended in forums, we tried to get booking there but it was full, so we stayed 2 parallel roads away at Changspa Road, Hotel Omasila.

[dhinchak]

I have seen many people say, "I will one day go to Ladakh and I'll go on a bike!". And, 90% of these will never go! Planning to go to Ladakh is one thing, which coincidentally everyone does these days. But, only a handful manage to go there.

Not everyone has the luxury of driving to Ldakh on their own due to time and vehicle constraints. A big salute to you to go to the place many people just dream about after reading many of the travelogues on public forums. Booking tickets for Ladakh all alone, for such a short trip shows your dedication and love towards the place. And trust me, since now you have had a taste of a bit of Ladakh in full 3D you will be longing to go there again. And, hopefully that next time would be soon!

Cheers!

[raguprasad]

Wow Ddrive, When most think and think and just think of going to Leh, you did it in awesome way. It sounds like simple, clear and crisp & most importantly unplanned (much like coincidence when you got an official trip to Delhi). But I could see that you planed and executed it silently & efficiently. Way to go.

[Vihari]

David, at the back of my mind, I always had this thought posted above by 'raguprasad'.

Yes, it is wonderful that you simply took a flight, alone and went to Leh, saw the place, enjoyed and came back with memories.

Now I feel that we are idiots, to simply keep thinking years together of a visit by driving there, (becuase many have driven there) and ultimately never do the trip.

- Sai

[venkatt1800]

D drive, nice to see one not waiting for the "Perfect Trip" and making use of whatever opportunities the work schedule allows. Congrats on your Ladakh trip. The pics are really appetizing. Hope one day I can see Ladakh in flesh at least on a condensed trip just like yours. By the way, was it difficult for you to adapt to the sudden altitude change or is just an overstated concern?