[ssambyal1980]

Originally Posted by lucifer1881

Not so long ago in a land close, close by....

Madness! The Elantra is 15 years old, and has been having issues. The engine switches off for no apparent reason. Error codes light up all over on the OBD. The car is mothballed for over a month.

In a desperate move, the throttle body controller is replaced. The car is serviced. She runs well, no problems. Lucifer has a chat with the old girl. She seems to understand him well. She will take him on yet another journey. She has the will. He hopes her heart is strong enough.

At the crack of dawn on 7 September 2018, Lucifer's spirits dip a little. The journey is arduous - it has brought tougher cars down to their axles and laughed at the 4x4 ability of jeeps. He loves the girl. She loves him. Sometimes, perhaps, love is all you need....

Excellent!!! Pushing a 15 year old sedan to the limits needs guts and with guts comes the glory. Most of the sedan owners are largely unaware of the capabilities of their cars and it's only after they test them they realise their true potential. And I can totally vouch for that being the one who had experienced it.

Your travelogue seems like a déjà vu as I relieved all the moments once again. Did Sach Pass and Spiti in 2015 and Ladakh in 2016 in a Swift Dzire (Petrol) and the car performed excellently every time and never let down.

In the same territories:

Kunzum Pass


No Man’s Land at Batal


Desolate Beauty at Chhatru


Top of the world at Khardungla Pass


The testing grounds in the Himalayas to which the Dzire has been subjected to so far:
1. Over the treacherous Sach Pass: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...fulfilled.html
2. Spiti Adventure: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ure-sedan.html
3. Ladakh Sojourn: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...uti-dzire.html

You have aptly remarked that the Kaza-Manali highway is the most treacherous highway with the 49 km Batal-Chhota Dara-Chhatru-Gramphu stretch being the most notorious one and every driver's nightmare. Infact Manali-Leh Highway is a cakewalk in comparison to Manali-Kaza Highway. Congratulations to you and your better half for this remarkable feat. Thanks for sharing. Rated 5*s.

Regards

[lucifer1881]

Originally Posted by coolmind

...regards to your wife...for the extreme support provided to you.

Thank you. This is an important point that I missed in my post. Not for no reason do they say that behind every successful man is a woman.

Originally Posted by abhikb

Great job Lucifer and team...

I suppose two people do make a team .

Originally Posted by ssambyal1980

...You have aptly remarked that the Kaza-Manali highway is the most treacherous highway with the 49 km Batal-Chhota Dara-Chhatru-Gramphu stretch being the most notorious one and every driver's nightmare. Infact Manali-Leh Highway is a cakewalk in comparison to Manali-Kaza Highway...

Yes, the Manali-Leh highway is a baby. Not only is the tarmac very good, there is also enough support available in case of breakdowns etc. The road from Karcham to Gramphu is very lonely,the loneliest I have been on, with no phone connectivity. And Chhatru to Gramphu is the stuff you find in Stephen King novels.

[rk206]

Hats Off, Lucifer!!

Riveting, Encapsulating, Breathless !!!!

and having done the Kaza-Manali stretch as recently as End July this year, I can confidently say "Bonkers" too.

Really really happy for you.

[AZ911]

What a great travelogue. Not rambling on for pages altogether and crisp short videos. You surely made us re-live your own journey in a way.
How's the car holding up after this challenge?

[lucifer1881]

Originally Posted by AZ911

...How's the car holding up after this challenge?

The car is in desperate need for a service. I have been superbly tied up. Will get it done this Saturday. Off the top of my head, the following needs to be done:

1. General service
2. Air filter replacement
3. Fuel filter replacement
4. Wheel alignment and balancing, and tyre rotation
5. Replacement of the wiper blades - the harsh sun, dust and frost has destroyed the rubber
6. General check-up and / or replacement of the alternator belt, compressor belt, etc

And a thorough wash

[Cyberdoctorind]

Originally Posted by lucifer1881

The car is in desperate need for a service. I have been superbly tied up. Will get it done this Saturday. Off the top of my head, the following needs to be done:

1. General service
2. Air filter replacement
3. Fuel filter replacement
4. Wheel alignment and balancing, and tyre rotation
5. Replacement of the wiper blades - the harsh sun, dust and frost has destroyed the rubber
6. General check-up and / or replacement of the alternator belt, compressor belt, etc

And a thorough wash

Ah finally I have company. I did a similar adventure in my Cruze and yes I am from Hyderabad. I have logged in just to comment on your wonderful thread. God bless you and the Elantra.

[RubberGuru1113]

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

Wow, it takes guts to travel to Spiti in a 15 year old sedan! Rated 5 stars.



Well said. When one visits Spiti one realises what people from the plains have done to Ladakh. The people of Ladakh were equally innocent and welcoming like the Spitians, but now the place has become so commercialised. I hope Spiti does not have the same fate and hope a 3 Idiots sequel is not shot there.

Originally Posted by lucifer1881

Not sure roads would be open beyond Reckong Peo in January.

Originally Posted by SJM1214

An amazing Travelogue with excellent photographs. Thanks for Sharing. Rated Five stars.

A 15-year-old car with a long wheelbase and low GC covering Ladakh and Spiti. That's an amazing feat. We are planning a trip to Spiti in Jan2019 by an MS Swift Dzire. My other travel mates are sceptical about a trip to Spiti by a Dzire. I forwarded your T" log to them. It seems your travelogue will be an inspirational force for them.

Thank you once again for this Paragraph.

Originally Posted by ssambyal1980

Your travelogue seems like a déjà vu as I relieved all the moments once again. Did Sach Pass and Spiti in 2015 and Ladakh in 2016 in a Swift Dzire (Petrol) and the car performed excellently every time and never let down.

Hello Fellow BHPians, re-igniting this thread again. I'm based in Gurgaon and would very much like to do Spiti in November. However, anyone and everyone I tell this to around me is saying that it's a bad idea. I'm not driving - will be relying on buses all the way, it's more like a backpacking trip.

At the very least I'm going till Kinnaur, maybe I will take the call if I want to go further or not on reaching there. Do let me know of your experiences? Has anyone done this trip in November?