[mohang_j]

Wonderful photos and travelogue 1100D.

[1100D]

Originally Posted by TheIndian

You drove at super pace.

We left Pangong (somewhere between Lukung & Spangmik) at about 7.30 am and reached Hanle at about 5.30 pm - 6 pm though with time lost at Chushul & with many photo shoot halts.

Wasn't going too fast, only thing is that, on this leg we did not stop for snaps. Otherwise it was like a 9:15am start from Spangmik, 12:30pm at Chagga La and around 2:45 to Hanle. More or less in line with what we were told before.

Originally Posted by Raps

Wonderful log, loved reading and going through photos.

Am just back from Ladakh last weekend, missed out Marsimik La, definitely felt like being present back there from your phatos.

For us we planned to reach Hanle via Chushul, but the Army checkpost had different plans for us, Though we expected this but tried convincing them which went in vain .

Returned back via Tangste to Leh.

Thanks! Looks like we were lucky in being stopped by the police at Chusul. I guess we should let people know the importance of taking the left at the first fork before entering Chusul, its sort of a Make or break feature.

Originally Posted by ajitkommini

Fantastic, enthralling travelogue as usual! Thanks so much for this. I'm counting the days till my 4wd scorpio is delivered. A trip to Kolkata in the new car is planned around Sept. / Oct., so maybe we can meet up there, what say?

Thanks and congrats on your 4wd scorpio, but should I ask, was it not better to have waited till the new one (expected to be much more refined and surefooted) comes out?

Originally Posted by mohang_j

Wonderful photos and travelogue 1100D.

Thanks So much Mohang_j

[ajitkommini]

Originally Posted by 1100D

Thanks and congrats on your 4wd scorpio, but should I ask, was it not better to have waited till the new one (expected to be much more refined and surefooted) comes out?

Well, I did consider it briefly, but I'm not sure what niggles and issues would crop up in a new vehicle (even if its a facelift). A known devil is better than an unknown god for me in this case. Also, looks-wise I prefer the current model to the new one (based on spy shots etc.) Mahindra tend to over-bling their products IMO and I fear the new model will come with dollops of ugly "plastichrome" and tacky add-ons.

[deepv]

Originally Posted by 1100D

...
So here was the altered trip plan.

Attachment 1254912

...

Anirban .. thts some itinerary!!
Great travelogue .. informative & inspiring.

-Deepankar

[JoseVijay]

Amazing, wonderful and one of the most detailed Ladakh travelogues.
Your style of description with pics was awesome.
Your thread deserves 5 star 1100D

[JASMEET MATTOO]

Fantastic pictures and writing!! Really like the pictures of Marengo near the Pangong lake and the picture of the running horse!!! Delightful read!!!

[Babuda]

Superlative! Excellent write up, beautiful pictures, unquestionably 5 star quality - really enjoyed going through it; and your daughter is turning out to be quite an accomplished photographer

[me_sid]

In one word, spellbound. Well, your enthusiasm for driving is well known in the Kolkata circle, but this streak in photography is something new. Vaguely could manage that your weapon of choice is a Nikon. Once again congratulation for completing this trip safely, and yes what a trip.

[Traveller Nayak]

very well written and keeps one glued to the thread! I am scheduled to start 30th August from Delhi and after having read this today morning it has been difficult to focus on work . The bit on oxygen can was an eye opener. Thanks for the wonderful pictures too! Cant wait to see through my own eyes. On a related note - what camera did you use? I noticed a Cannon Power Shot in one of the picture.

[AtheK]

This is what Dreams are made of, many congratulations for undertaking this, I type this with a bit of envy, but at the same time I promise myself that I will be there too.

Great pics and brilliant narration. Thank you!

[alfaromeo1984]

Super pics sir. Must have been a dream come true. Just seeing pics of MARENGO in those beautiful landscapes just stunning. Read the log in the entire log at one go. Cheers

[1100D]

Originally Posted by ajitkommini

Well, I did consider it briefly, but I'm not sure what niggles and issues would crop up in a new vehicle (even if its a facelift). A known devil is better than an unknown god for me in this case. Also, looks-wise I prefer the current model to the new one (based on spy shots etc.) Mahindra tend to over-bling their products IMO and I fear the new model will come with dollops of ugly "plastichrome" and tacky add-ons.

But one thing to note with the present scorp will be, that, they made a few silent upgrades to the chassis of the present one and iteratively they went on adding remedies to counter problems introduced by making changes to an existing chassis (if you note, the new Scorpio has NVH damper, precariously hanging from the right side of the rear axle). Besides, the present vehicle has and will have a very short life-cycle run till the new one comes out, so with lower number of cars, demand/availability of its specific spares might turn out an issue (the stress is on the word "might").

The all-new scorpio will have a new chassis and one that promises better ride and handling (and marginally better space) package.

My intent is not to discourage you, but just to put this in your mind upfront as you might still have time.

Originally Posted by deepv

Anirban .. thts some itinerary!!
Great travelogue .. informative & inspiring.

-Deepankar

Originally Posted by JoseVijay

Amazing, wonderful and one of the most detailed Ladakh travelogues.
Your style of description with pics was awesome.
Your thread deserves 5 star 1100D

Originally Posted by JASMEET MATTOO

Fantastic pictures and writing!! Really like the pictures of Marengo near the Pangong lake and the picture of the running horse!!! Delightful read!!!

Originally Posted by Babuda

Superlative! Excellent write up, beautiful pictures, unquestionably 5 star quality - really enjoyed going through it; and your daughter is turning out to be quite an accomplished photographer

Originally Posted by AtheK

This is what Dreams are made of, many congratulations for undertaking this, I type this with a bit of envy, but at the same time I promise myself that I will be there too.

Great pics and brilliant narration. Thank you!

Originally Posted by alfaromeo1984

Super pics sir. Must have been a dream come true. Just seeing pics of MARENGO in those beautiful landscapes just stunning. Read the log in the entire log at one go. Cheers

Thanks all of you. The frightening thing about writing the Ladakh experience was the fact that, with so many Ladakh travelogues always in the circulation, its quite natural on part of the audience to just give it a miss thinking "oh no! Not another Ladakh story!"

Hopefully didn't hog too much of people's bandwidth, which is becoming increasingly precious these days.

Originally Posted by me_sid

In one word, spellbound. Well, your enthusiasm for driving is well known in the Kolkata circle, but this streak in photography is something new. Vaguely could manage that your weapon of choice is a Nikon. Once again congratulation for completing this trip safely, and yes what a trip.

Thanks So much.

There were two camera's, both are Canon, though for no apparent reason than familiarity.

Originally Posted by Traveller Nayak

very well written and keeps one glued to the thread! I am scheduled to start 30th August from Delhi and after having read this today morning it has been difficult to focus on work . The bit on oxygen can was an eye opener. Thanks for the wonderful pictures too! Cant wait to see through my own eyes. On a related note - what camera did you use? I noticed a Cannon Power Shot in one of the picture.

Yes, the one on my daughter is a Canon powershot SX40HS that I used to solely use. Surprisingly many pics that appear good are from this camera. The other one is a new Canon DSLR with which, I am still on a learning curve and also sufferred from sensor dust mid-trip. Being new to DSLR's, I did not have a cleaning kit available with me.

But then, there is only this much (or even if a lot more) that pictures can capture Ladakh in, but nothing beats being there, which no picture can convey. But thanks for the great words.

[premjit]

Super thread Anirban. Almost felt as if I am there itself, such was the brilliance of the pics and the writeup. Can't wait to hear more about in our next meet.

Regards
Premjit

[SRKHYD]

What an amazing trip and photography

For a guy who shivers to the colds of Hyderabad, seeing those photographs is enough to get some hot tea !

Thanks for sharing. Image# 3918 is the best one to my eyes.

[Styler]

Sharp, Crisp, gripping. Great Travelogue ! Thanks for Sharing.
You and your family have got memories of a lifetime.

I had two trips to Leh, First when my son turned 3 and my daughter was 8.
Next one was when my daughter was 10 and my son was 5 in 2010.

It is very difficult to decide on these trips with kids. You are never sure if they will enjoy the trip or it will just be an ordeal for them, driving all day in tough conditions.

What are your thoughts on this ?

Styler