[Red Panda]

Wow. Just brilliant. I truly admire the way you narrate and photograph your travelogues. And it keeps getting better. I am so charged up and restless to go on another trip. You keep me inspired and motivated.

[Max63]

Wow What a TL and lovely photographs. The descriptions are crisp and well described. I am planning a round trip from Mumbai to Leh - Ladakh - Kaza in June 2018 entering from Srinagar and coming out from Shimla. This will help me a lot in my adventure.

Cheers.

Keep revving

Subrata

[behaln]

Excellent travelogue, your car is SHERDIL and so are you. Beautifully written with so many pictures.

[varoon9999]

Oh boy !! "Pranams" to the puny cute little Hyundai Eon and to both of you.

Spectacular log and equally palatable photographs, I have been deferring my Spiti plans 'year on year' but after reading your log my itch is back to do this circuit. Hopefully in 2018 I get to touch this side of Himalayas.

[Safedriver76]

[quote=sayakc;4321168]What more can be said Soumyajit!
Several adjectives have been used to describe your trip and I don't think I can add anything special. Both of you have nerves of steel to take a hatchback - time and again - to routes where very few dare to take! Keep going and keep sharing such experiences with us.


Hi Safedriver,
Unless I am gravely mistaken, I think I know you. Do you stay in Lake Gardens?

Every day when I return back from my morning walk, riding my Enfield, I see you riding your steed to your office (?). BTW, we met/interacted near Dilip Mukherjee's tea stall (Southern Avenue) sometime back when you came with a friend of yours. Rings any bells?



Cheers!
Sayak[/QU

sayakc you are absolutely right in spotting me .Yes i stay in lake gardens and we often bump into each other on the road.

[Cool_leo_guy]

I'm awestruck and dumbfounded.Spiti in an Eon.
You fellows are the real Lionhearts.
Kudos to you. Rated your TL a 5 star as it is the most that is allowed.
Keep travelling and inspiring. Cheers.

[ssambyal1980]

The stories of the mountains never cease on Team BHP. Whenever I return to the forum after a break a new adventure is always on the offing in the travelogues. Excellent travelogue mate. An arduous Himalayan journey and that too in a humble 'Eon' Hats Off!!! Your travelogue revived the old memories as we too covered the same Himalayan route in a 'Swift Dzire' (Petrol) way back in October 2015, well beyond the official road closure date of 15th November. The only exception is that we forwent the drive to Chandratal Lake as the tourist season to visit it was well over by then.

You too will agree that the route from Kaza to Manali is the most treacherous Himalayan route with the Batal-Gramphoo stretch being virtual nightmare with just a dirt track in the name of road strewn with big stones. We heaved a sigh of relief after we reached Gramphoo and were finally on the Keylong-Rohtang-Manali Highway. Have driven to Ladakh in Swift Dzire last year and found the Manali-Leh Highway a cake walk in comparison to the Manali-Kaza Highway. Nonetheless would love to drive again on this stretch but strictly on an SUV. What inspired us to undertake this adventurous and ardous journey was an travelogue by a fellow BHPian who went on the same route in an 'i10'. And now with a trip by you on an 'Eon' many more will be inspired. 5 Stars for your courageous effort. Cheers Keep posting. GODSPEED.

Would like to share our experience of Spiti Adventure. Here's the link to the travelogue:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ure-sedan.html

And the travelogue which inspired us for the trip:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...rip-spiti.html

[gearhead_mait]

[quote=BlackPearl;4319903]Mind boggling will be an understatement! I can't imagine going to those places with a hatchback ..QUOTE]

Thanks Blackpearl. Your travelogue on Spiti was a ready reference for us in terms of vital information. The fact that you all liked the travelogue is nothing less than a special star for us!

Originally Posted by PointZero

Simply Speechless and as BlackPearl said you really deserve a special * for these kind of trips.

Thanks for sharing ..

Thanks PointZero! I must say that your Nepal adventure was truly exceptional.

Originally Posted by Samba

I was driving when i got the link of your travelogue, i stopped at a road side Dhaba, ordered my food, opened the link and saw the photographs at the first glance. Logged in and rated 5*! Came back home and read it in one go. An hour well spent or rather awesomely spent!
Though awesome will be an understatement for both, this trip & travelogue. Hats off to you and your wife's courage. You guys rock.

Thanks Samba! Your Etios has already seen terrains that are unimaginable for majority of Sedan owners. All the best for your trip next year. Waiting for different view of Spiti from your lens.

Originally Posted by saishivaj

Kudos to you sir, for successfully completing this treacherous journey in a hatchback. And hats off to Sherdil for dealing with everything that the Himalayas threw at it with aplomb. Some of the bits had me at the edge of my chair!
Wonderfully narrated I must say, it had me hooked to the thread from the past hour or so.
Rating it 5 stars.

Thanks Saishivaj! It's nice to hear that you liked the flow of the travelogue.

Originally Posted by parambyte

Amazing! We too had driven to Spiti via Kinnaur exactly one year ago from Mumbai! What a beautiful place! I hope it doesn't get over commercialised.

Thanks parambyte! I thought once not to write a travelogue on the Spiti circuit as I fear that it would have the same fate as Ladakh is facing now.
But, couldn't stop myself from sharing the beautiful experiences with you all!

Originally Posted by //M

Woah I can't even imagine Spiti on a hatchback, that too driving all the way to Tashigong and then upto Chandratal. But you guys have been inspirational.
I have been on my Enfield to all these places and have always wondered if I can take our young-hearted Honda City to Spiti or should I leave it for the little-older Honda CRV. But I guess after seeing this travelogue, I can definitely vote for the City.

Originally Posted by SajiNSalin

Congratulations on a spectacular achievement and equally impressive narration and photography. Your experience is truly wonderful.

Let no one be under the impression that this is easily doable in a hatchback. Unless you are very careful, you underbody will be severely damaged and even with the best of care damage to the vehicle is very much possible. Sedans are worse, because of the insufficient ground clearance and approach and departure angles. It would not be wise to take a Honda City over there. Hatchbacks are better in this regard.

Kinnaur and Spiti are very much alive in our memories and we are waiting to go back there. A parikrama around Chandratal lake is soul filling and the stillness of the place the ethereal beauty is simply unforgettable and I rate this as one of the high points of my life. In you next visit, do spend some time in Chandratal and go for a prikrama if possible. It should take you about 2.5 hours.

The apples we bought in Kalpa were the best we have tasted, and incredibly cheap at Rs 500 for a packet of 10kg. Never knew apples can taste so good, and look at what happens when we buy them in cities.

Thanks //M and SajinSalin! I agree with SajinSalin regarding the risk of driving a sedan to Spiti and complete the whole circuit. But

//M - You have driven to Kashmir taking the Mughal road (as far as I remember) and as far as Wular lake, so definitely I can say it would be doable in your Honda City. But please take care on the route post Kunzum pass.

SajiNSalin - I will definitely keep the Chandratal Parikrama in mind when I travel next. And yes, the apples of Kinnaur are awesome. We don't get to taste this in our city.

Originally Posted by Lone Ranger

Your signature says it all man. I am in awe of what you've accomplished. All too often I think we get caught up in "if I need to do this, then I need to buy that". You've done such a fantastic trip in a regular no frills hatch. Next time I catch myself thinking "I need to get myself a good 4 wheel drive vehicle to do road trips" I am going to remind myself of this thread!

Thanks, Lone Ranger!

Originally Posted by Safedriver76

I was eagerly waiting for this post from gearhead_mait ever since i met him at Shaktigarh on the last leg of his epic trip.It was indeed an honour to meet this special TBHPIAN from Kolkata and his equally enthusiastic better half.We had clicked a picture of our chanced meet.I was waiting to upload that picture once the travelogue got posted.So here it goes.Cheers Supratim.

Hey, thanks a lot!
I was expecting this post from your end. It was nice meeting you and your family at Shaktigarh. I am very bad at remembering names and I mentioned your name incorrectly in the last post. Please pardon me for that.

Originally Posted by gmhossain

I don't have enough words to describe this travelogue of yours! Simply splendid . I know, this is an understatement but at this odd hour I am speechless after reading your travelogue.

Keep travelling, keep writing and keep smiling!

Cheers,

Thanks, gmhossain! Nice to hear from you. Try this circuit in your steed, you will not regret.

Originally Posted by sayakc

What more can be said Soumyajit!
Several adjectives have been used to describe your trip and I don't think I can add anything special. Both of you have nerves of steel to take a hatchback - time and again - to routes where very few dare to take! Keep going and keep sharing such experiences with us.
Sayak

Thanks sayakc! I read about your Silk route drive. It was simply majestic.
Where to for the next trek?

Originally Posted by Red Panda

Wow. Just brilliant. I truly admire the way you narrate and photograph your travelogues. And it keeps getting better. I am so charged up and restless to go on another trip. You keep me inspired and motivated.

Thanks a lot, Red Panda! I am yet to go through your Tlog on Goa. Is it Live already?

Originally Posted by Max63

Wow What a TL and lovely photographs. The descriptions are crisp and well described. I am planning a round trip from Mumbai to Leh - Ladakh - Kaza in June 2018 entering from Srinagar and coming out from Shimla. This will help me a lot in my adventure.

Cheers.

Keep revving

Subrata

Thanks Subrata!

Originally Posted by behaln

Excellent travelogue, your car is SHERDIL and so are you. Beautifully written with so many pictures.

Thanks Behaln!

Originally Posted by varoon9999

Oh boy !! "Pranams" to the puny cute little Hyundai Eon and to both of you.

Spectacular log and equally palatable photographs, I have been deferring my Spiti plans 'year on year' but after reading your log my itch is back to do this circuit. Hopefully in 2018 I get to touch this side of Himalayas.

Thanks Varoon!

Originally Posted by Safedriver76

sayakc you are absolutely right in spotting me .Yes i stay in lake gardens and we often bump into each other on the road.

World is a small place!

Originally Posted by Cool_leo_guy

I'm awestruck and dumbfounded.Spiti in an Eon.
You fellows are the real Lionhearts.
Kudos to you. Rated your TL a 5 star as it is the most that is allowed.
Keep travelling and inspiring. Cheers.

Thanks Cool_Leo_guy!

Originally Posted by ssambyal1980

The stories of the mountains never cease on Team BHP. Whenever I return to the forum after a break a new adventure is always on the offing in the travelogues. Excellent travelogue mate. An arduous Himalayan journey and that too in a humble 'Eon' Hats Off!!! Your travelogue revived the old memories as we too covered the same Himalayan route in a 'Swift Dzire' (Petrol) way back in October 2015, well beyond the official road closure date of 15th November. The only exception is that we forwent the drive to Chandratal Lake as the tourist season to visit it was well over by then.

You too will agree that the route from Kaza to Manali is the most treacherous Himalayan route with the Batal-Gramphoo stretch being virtual nightmare with just a dirt track in the name of road strewn with big stones. We heaved a sigh of relief after we reached Gramphoo and were finally on the Keylong-Rohtang-Manali Highway. Have driven to Ladakh in Swift Dzire last year and found the Manali-Leh Highway a cake walk in comparison to the Manali-Kaza Highway. Nonetheless would love to drive again on this stretch but strictly on an SUV. What inspired us to undertake this adventurous and ardous journey was an travelogue by a fellow BHPian who went on the same route in an 'i10'. And now with a trip by you on an 'Eon' many more will be inspired. 5 Stars for your courageous effort. Cheers Keep posting. GODSPEED.

Would like to share our experience of Spiti Adventure. Here's the link to the travelogue:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ure-sedan.html

And the travelogue which inspired us for the trip:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...rip-spiti.html

Thanks, Ssambyal! Yes, yours was among the few travelogues that were available in the internet. I have gone through both the logs thoroughly.
It takes courage and big heart to take a sedan in that terrain. Kudos to you people!

[Red Panda]

Originally Posted by gearhead_mait

Thanks a lot, Red Panda! I am yet to go through your Tlog on Goa. Is it Live already?

Yes Goa TL is up. here is the link.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...uti-swift.html

Cheers.

[Vishnuk]

Originally Posted by gearhead_mait

Day 1 - Kolkata to Allahabad
Day 2 - Allahabad to Chandigarh
Day 3 - Chandigarh to Sarahan
Day 4 - Sarahan to Chitkul
Day 5 - Chitkul to Nako
Day 6 - Nako-Gue-Tabo-Dhankar-Kaza
Day 7 - Kaza-Key-Kibber-Tashigang-Kaza
Day 8 - Kaza-Chicham-Losar-Kunzum Pass - Chandrataal
Day 9 - Chandrataal-Batal-Gramphoo-Rohtang Pass-Manali
Day 10 - Manali to Karnal
Day 11 - Karnal to Varanasi
Day 12 - Varanasi to Kolkata
.

Wow ,double that for doing this trip on an Eon as a couple without any other car for company. Hats off to you!
I did the spiti valley trip on a Bullet sometime back with a couple of friends, in pretty much the same route (just that we started at via Manali and ended via Chandigarh) with a few additional locations. I know how deserted most part of the route is & how unpredictable those Nallah's can be. Can't imagine taking them on, in a hatchback.
Amazing pictures, seeing them made me very nostalgic.
Thank you for sharing.

[sinharishi]

Hats off to all 3 of you! Congratulations on completing the trip

I literally had sleepless nights thinking about the stretch between Chandrataal and Manali days before our trip to Spiti which never happened

Thanks for sharing the pictures, I cannot wait to make attempt no. 2 in 2018!

[Paradiddle]

Fantastic trip, excellent write up and amazing photographs! Congratulations and thank you for sharing!

Hoping 2018 is the year when I finally make this trip!

[me_sid]

This is just amazing! Hats off, guys. Convey my best wishes to Monosree, and tell her not to indulge into high altitude spot jumps after Coca 200 .

Regards,
Sid

[maheep007]

1. Wonderfully written, elaborate detailed well pictured and documented. You took the pain to stop at multiple places and capture the moments n feelings, n wrote down very well here, youre a very good writer !
2. A lion heart you are, and the tiny cute car with a heart of a jaguar, i might think 10 times doing same with family n a hatch, you both husband n wife are brave, very well tuned with each other and have lot of confidence and love, congratulations.
3. You are an inspiration to many out there, go, live your dreams. That includes me
Brilliant in every sense, best wishes !!

[SS-Traveller]

You just accomplished a double marathon - first, the trip, and then the second marathon was posting the travelogue in such minute detail. It took me 4 days to read through everything and appreciate each of the pictures, going through the travelogue bit by bit.

If you'd driven an SUV, a 4wd, or even an Alto or Omni, I would probably have scrolled through much faster. This was an extreme test of your driving skills as well as the durability of your car in a region where Hyundai's service support (unlike Maruti / Mahindra) is practically zero, and Hyundai ought to celebrate the achievement and award you with gifts such as an extended warranty & free services.

The two of you are really, really brave souls; may you always have that undying spirit to travel to remote areas, through arduous roads, ignoring poor climatic & altitude conditions. Twenty years from now, you'll probably read through this travelogue and wonder how you even contemplated doing this! I'm wondering already... how did I ever think of doing a trip like this?