[arun_josie]

Nice write-up, mpksuhas! For a moment I thought another XUV5OO has accomplished the Leh/Ladakh circuit. Nice pics there.

How is the current situation on the Taxi union Vs Self drive/private car issue?

[ravib]

Super Suhas. Great write-up !

You are an inspiration for those who love to travel all over

-Ravi

[mallumowgli]

Whoa!! That was out of the blue!

Excellent log - detailed and well written. 5 stars is a given!

Waiting for your road trip to Leh now

(psst : Nelliyampathy is still calling...)

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by hyd_traveller

I start on coming Sunday from Srinagar and plan to taxi it to Leh via Kargil and fly back.

Great!!
Hope you have a great time. From what I heard, weather has improved since last week. There was another flare up related to taxi issue last week in Kargil. However, things are fine as of now.

Originally Posted by arun_josie

For a moment I thought another XUV5OO has accomplished the Leh/Ladakh circuit.

No, not yet

How is the current situation on the Taxi union Vs Self drive/private car issue?

There was report of non Leh taxi (I guess Kargil taxis) damaged in Leh and subsequent protests in Kargil last week. Things peaceful as of now I guess. For private vehicles no issues.

Originally Posted by ravib

Super Suhas. Great write-up

Thanks Ravi.

Originally Posted by mallumowgli

Waiting for your road trip to Leh now

Thanks. The issue is, even I am waiting for Leh trip since past many years

(psst : Nelliyampathy is still calling...)

Yup. Was thinking of the same couple of days back. Will call up and discuss.

[paragsachania]

So finally you got Leh'd !

I remember our discussion when we met one of the Sunday regarding your planning

Lovely photographs and every time I see a Leh Travelogue, It makes me feel like writing one from our last year's drive. Hopefully I should start penning one soon.

[RedDevil_KP]

Neat & crisply written Suhas. I finished the travelogue in one go . Some of the pictures are phenomenal & well captured. Also good to know the entire trip was incident free, knowing the recent conditions at Leh.

[vinitbhavi]

What a well written (read detailed) travelogue. I loved the part where you have a link to each location of the area on the maps. I love reading maps and it was a treat. So much so that I read it in one go through the better part of the night. Kudos to you, hoping you can drive there in your xuv soon and who knows maybe I join you in mine someday.
Rating it at 5 stars that it deserves.

[Stryker]

Very well written travelogue, Suhas. You have also managed to captured the beauty of the place, although no photo will ever do justice to some of the scenery around these areas.

[nivatakavacha]

That was a wonderful travelogue Suhas! I am also going to Srinagar and Leh next month and I was wondering if you can answer a few questions I have:

1) How did you book the taxi to go from Srinagar to Leh? Did you do it after reaching Srinagar? Which service did you use?
2) How much did the taxi fare cost for 2 days? (from Srinagar to Kargil, Kargil to Leh)

Thanks in advance!

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Hopefully I should start penning one soon.

Well, one should be out of driver seat to write a travelogue

Yes, after the discussion with you had an inclination for a marathon drive. However, dropped the plan since it was our first trip to Leh.

Originally Posted by RedDevil_KP

Also good to know the entire trip was incident free, knowing the recent conditions at Leh.

Thanks RedDevil.

Yes, though we didn't face any issues. The same was always there in back of our mind, a bit of a damper on the trip.

Originally Posted by vinitbhavi

Kudos to you, hoping you can drive there in your xuv soon and who knows maybe I join you in mine someday.
Rating it at 5 stars that it deserves.

Thanks. Have read about your upgrade plans to XUV or Fortuner earlier. Awaiting news on that.

Originally Posted by Stryker

although no photo will ever do justice to some of the scenery around these areas.

Exactly. Photos does not do justice. Also, many of my photos came out bit harsh since we reached many locations, especially Pangong Pso in afternoon.

Originally Posted by nivatakavacha

1) How did you book the taxi to go from Srinagar to Leh? Did you do it after reaching Srinagar? Which service did you use?
2) How much did the taxi fare cost for 2 days? (from Srinagar to Kargil, Kargil to Leh)

Thanks.
Since our Srinagar sight seeing and Leh drop was done by our friend, I have not quoted the rate. Since taxi driver was his cousin we got a preferred rate.

However the usual rate for 1 day Srinagar sightseeing the rate is around Rs.3000 and that for Leh drop with one night stay at Kargil is around 18K.

Both rates quoted is for Innova including driver expenses. Scorpio or Xylo you will be available around Rs.2000 less.

I can PM the driver details if you want. You can get drivers without much issues, unless you want any specific driver. Which you will have to book in advance.

[vinitbhavi]

hii suhas yes its almost been decided about going with the XUV considering all factors. Wanted a bigger car than the SX4 but the fortuner will just be a pain in mumbai traffic, besides other points in favour of the xuv. However the plans for XUV will have to wait as i will be out of india for a couple of months from september. Expecting the new version (in Diwali) comes with the autobox. Hoping to hear from your future travelogues soon.

[FuelInjector]

Much awaited thread after our PM
What a brilliantly written and detailed travelouge. It will defintely help future generations to come. Do let me know when you are going to take oyur optimus prime up there. I would love to join in.
About the taxi situation - heard from other friends who took their "Own bikes" there. It is rather unfair to do something like that in a free country. Just imagine taxi's in kerala start complaining about maintenance costs due to incessant monsoon rains and dont allow any vehicles in that belt. Anyways, am pretty sure this would be solved soon.
The pass and valleys look very reflectory, horizons match the landscape and clouds easily gel with the lakes.
Thanks for sharing.

[NPV]

Just WOW! @suhas, excellent travelogue with so much detail and lovely pictures. Thanks for sharing
Loved the Summary post - too good, you simply summed it up so crisply!

I still dream about the possibility of driving to these places....miles to go before I drive.

[Ddrive]

Omg.. Comprehensive, detailed, passionate and a very well summed up one. The road report from Srinagar to Leh is one of the best, a reference travelogue I would say. Voting 5 stars.

[AutoInt]

Thank you for the excellent travelogue . Based on your experience in this thread taking taxi from Srinagar to Leh could be a real good option that I can consider.

I know you mentioned a hatch back can do this with careful driving, do you think a Vento TDI can do this circuit?

I like the summary "Is it worth" as some of us have this question and your inputs here is helpful.