[purohitanuj]

"OM MA NI PADME HUM" : Hail! to the jewel in the Lotus

Completed a fast Delhi - Leh - Delhi trip in September 2015.
The schedule is listed below:
19th September : Delhi to Srinagar
20th: Srinagar - Sonmarg
21th: Sonmarg - Leh
22th :Leh Monastry (Part 1)
23th: Leh Monastry (Part 2)
24th: Leh - Pangong Tso
25th: Pangong Tso - Leh
26th: Leh - Keylong
27th: Keylong - Mandi
28th: Mandi - Delhi

Star of the trip: Scorpio S10 AT(Night Fury)


Prep: As the 1st service mark of 5K was not yet complete, thus I decided to get an oil and oil filter change just before leaving for Leh. While servicing, I was advised not to change the filter as new filters were leaking due to O ring issues. I obliged and just got the oil changed (at 2K).

Also AT cannot be towed with propeller shaft engaged; thus I learned how to dismantle the shaft using #14 spanner key.



Contacted HVK for a drive plan and also prepared the usual medic box, food items, and 2 x 20L plastic cans (but did not use them at all).

How did the AT perform?
Flawless! The fuel efficiency is also brilliant. I was able to drive from Tandi to Delhi in one tank! (including 3 hours of sliding on Rohtang!).
I have learned the trick to get the torque converter lock and drive!. Tall 6th gear meant that 100KMPH comes at a lazy 1900 rpm.

Some teasers now!

Dal lake ride!


Awesome feeling!


All colors in one picture..


Feeling proud and tall..


Some macro shot!


"Z" curves..


Fresh snow fall..


Sun shining over Pangong


Forget alps..


Will post day wise details in coming days.

[naveendagar]

Wow another Leh TL, congratulations Anuj for the feat. All travelogues towards Leh have my heart thumping and am all eyes to read more, waiting anxiously for your further updates.

Just a query, would you also mind throwing some light on how to dismantle the shaft using spanner key?

[ptushar]

Looking forward to this. Especially looking forward to the AT performance on this drive. The Scorpio AT is high on my list. It will help if you can comment on how the car performed on the steep slopes.

[purohitanuj]

Left Delhi at 4 am and had a (very) early breakfast at Murthal @ 5 am.
As per HVK's plan, we were to stop at Jammu and then carry on from Jammu to Srinagar next day.



Reached Ambala Haveli at 0930 hours



Nice green patch on the highway



Lakhanpur toll @ 1130



6th cog resulted in relaxed 100 kmph. This is the max speed for Indian highways.



Titanic view point @ 1940 hours


Interesting! Train on truck.

[purohitanuj]

Did a late start and planned to visit Dal Lake. As the drive for today was small, we planned to leave for Sonmarg by 1300 hours.

Some snaps:





What a view! I wish I could stay forever and I already feel poetic.







I think - Hot breakfast in middle of lake. Cant ask for more.



Wife thinks - Shopping in middle of lake, Cant ask for more.


Back lanes..


Our hosts.. Very polite and humble..


Snaps on route to Sonmarg:

[purohitanuj]

Zozilla to Leh via Karkil.

So this was a big day as we were to reach Leh today. Left early (5 am) to beat the traffic rush(if any).
During Zozilla pass, we had very close and tight situations due to incoming truck traffic; however AT's smooth and vast torque application posed no problem.

I always think how a DSG or AMT would behave in such situation where you have zero margin for roll and torque is required instantly to get moving. Anyway this can only be answered when I do the same route with a different gear box.

Now I would let the pictures speak

Whats ahead can only be discovered..


We had to wait on this section for 20 mins due to incoming private trucks.


Are we in a rock mine!?


Looking at the covered goals..


Finally reached one of the milestone.


Breathtaking wildness with a hint of beauty


What! how is this side so much green and clean..


Is this our country?


Rays welcome us


We pay our respect @ Zozilla war memorial


Kargil is here.




Respect!


Feeling proud and tall.


Carry on with the goals..







Modernization traces even here





Namika La





Finally - Welcome to Leh

[purohitanuj]

Day 4 & 5 were spent visiting almost all monasteries in Leh.
Pleaces we visited :

Shey Palace

Tiksey Gompa

Hemis Gompa

Stakna Gompa - The bridge is just wide enough for a Scorpio

Shanti Stupa

Rock museum (This is a not-so-well known spot and we had difficulty locating this)

[purohitanuj]

We planned to drive to Pangong and then to Hanle on the next day.
We had Hanle permits for 3 days but were unable to visit Hanle due to weather conditions. I was OK with it as I gives me a strong(er) reason to visit again

Clear skies got our hopes high.


However as soon as we started our climb toward Chang La, we saw this..


Clear on some patches..


The famous Z curve..


Fingers crossed. No snow chains.


Jam due to less traction ahead. Locals apply snow chains.. (We are tensed now)


Near Chang La


Colors of Chang La


Donation box?


My fav. picture


Contrasting colors.


These fail to find any traction.


Soft snow warn us..


Painting?




Grass is always greener on the other side..


Exposed to all elements




Marmots welcomes


Shows us his family


Some army guy thinks he can do whatever he wants.


Repeats even after being warned by some Marmot's researchers


Another family welcomes us


As they say - First impression is the last one


Less crowd


Night-fury poses strong in front of the stronger


Crystal clear


Sun shining over Pangong


Windy


We spend the night and then return the next morning with a smile and desire to visit again ( for Hanle)

[purohitanuj]

We start our way back to Delhi via Keylong - Manali

View from our hotel. What a view from the balcony.


Next road trip in planning..


Gompas on route.. We pray for blessings..


Snow!!


Alps are no match..


We pay our tribute by circling around..


Those look like a painting to me.. Cant wait to reach..


Little break..


Looks like 3D rendering


Nature at its best..


Snow white


LaChung La


Had lunch at Sarchu


This is the best section with the best views






Deepak Taal


This lady was walking with some wooden sticks for her stove. When we asked, she said that se has to walk around 6 Km for the woods and is only left with a differently-abled daughter.


Hotel Chandra Bhaga @ Keylong

[purohitanuj]

Keylong to Mandi was event-less except some major drifting over Rohtang. I wil lpost few videos of Rohtang later on; but in a nutshell, it was a mess with 1-2 foot of mud, slush.

















With this, I end this travel log and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this trip or on AT scorpio.

[GTO]

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

[Dhar's]

Originally Posted by purohitanuj

Star of the trip: Scorpio S10 AT(Night Fury)

This itself was enough to be glued into the travelogue!

Originally Posted by purohitanuj

With this, I end this travel log and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this trip or on AT scorpio.

Congratulations on your safe and happy Leh trip. Being a fellow Scorpio AT owner (albeit a 2012 model), it gives me more confidence in doing the Leh circuit in my Scorpio AT.

Thanks for the pointer about the training on dismantling propeller shaft. Could you confirm the placement of ATF cooler? On older Scorpios, it's placed in a very vulnerable location.

[purohitanuj]

Originally Posted by Dhar's

Being a fellow Scorpio AT owner (albeit a 2012 model), it gives me more confidence in doing the Leh circuit in my Scorpio AT.

Thanks for the pointer about the training on dismantling propeller shaft. Could you confirm the placement of ATF cooler? On older Scorpios, it's placed in a very vulnerable location.

Older AT is also equally capable. We have older 4wd AT VLX in the family; and it is a rockstar as well.

Sorry as I am not aware of ATF cooler location but while inspecting, nothing "venerable" caught my eye(other then some cables which were packed in tape later).

[LoneRidder]

Originally Posted by purohitanuj

This lady was walking with some wooden sticks for her stove. When we asked, she said that se has to walk around 6 Km for the woods and is only left with a differently-abled daughter. .

Lovely, loved the simple writeup with loads of photographs! Few pictures are are sure for desktop!

That was one great gesture from you helping the old lady. What did you do with the wooden sticks?

for Scorpio AT. Waiting for the videos!

[purohitanuj]

Videos of Rothang Pass - muddy section

https://youtu.be/ZTiSM4QzaLA

https://youtu.be/nuQCuuZozTg

My complete trip is recorded via Dashcam and will try to upload some to clear the doubts about AT.