[Fauji]

Originally Posted by bandlimitedlife

Excellent Pictures. Enticing place. What is the usual way to get there? Fly into Delhi and take a jeep ?

It depends. These are couple of options

a) fly to Leh and hire a taxi and go around and fly back to Delhi

b) fly to Manali and drive down on the fabulous Manali - Leh road and return from Leh to Srinagar via Kargil and catch the flight back to Delhi. We could not do Leh - Kargil - Srinagar stretch due to volatality in Srinagar

c) fly to Manali and drive down on the fabulous Manali - Leh road and catch flight back to Delhi from Leh. This is what we had planned but could not as flight to Manali from Delhi got cancelled and had to take detour to Chandigarh and then drive from there to Manali. Chandigarh - Manali drive is again very scenic.

We had hired a taxi at Manali. Manali - Leh road is an experince of life time. You sould not miss.

Lastly, if you are adventurous, drive your own car or bike on these roads!

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

You went by air and returned by road?
Any guidance on what route the aircraft follows? I presume it overflies the Dhauladhars over Dalhousie & the Zanskar Valley to reach Leh?

Hi HVK Sir...

We had planned to fly to Manali from Delhi and take taxi and drive on Manali - Leh road and then onwards to Srinagar via Kargil. Due to situation in Srinagar, we cancelled Srinagar leg. But our flight to Manali (Kullu rather) got cancelled due to bad weather. We had to take a detour to Chandigarh and drive to Manali from there. This drive was again beautiful as River Beas kept us company most of the time!!

On return, we flew from Leh to Delhi.

It should be flying over Dauladhars and Zanskar valley. I am not sure. As usual, our pilots never tell anything about it which is sad unlike some of the enthusiaatic European/American pilots who will always mention.

[bandlimitedlife]

@Fauji,

Thanks for the info !!! I will have to work out depending on holidays how best to cover these places.

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by Judemayne

Fauji-excellent pics-reminds me of my flight to the Mt Everest-courtsey-Nepal Army-went their on an official tour-so they took us up for a flight over the Himalayas-sat with the pilots-it was a dream run. We spent about 20 minutes flying over the mountains and the icing on the cake was the Southern approach to Everest itself. The weather was as fantastic as the day you flew. 2002

Colonel Jude Mayne

Hi Jude,

Thanks so much. This is the boon of being in the army. I happenned to fly many times with my commander in chopper in the valleys of Arunachal Pradesh. It was just amazing.

BTW, any pics of Mt Everest taken during your flight?

[Fauji]

I thought of posting these pics since i was writing about Chandigarh - Manali road,

[dre@ms]

Thanks Fauji. Seeing the route, I believe I have missed it. For the last 2 years, have been working in Delhi and seen only Jaipur. No north sides covered.

Don't laugh, but till now haven't been to Agra too.

We have to definitely plan a trip.

[Fauji]

Dreams,

Don't worry. It happens. One of my biggest regrets in life is that while serving in Army for eight years, alwyas used to take leave and to come back to Bangalore and be with "old gang" loafing around. Mind you we used to get two months of leave. Never thought of backpacking and explore the places whereever I was posted whether it was HP, Punjab, UP, Mp or in North East where I was posted. You don't follow in my footsteps! Just take a week off and see places - As many as you can. It is fun.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by Fauji

Just take a week off and see places - As many as you can. It is fun.

. Could not agree more.

Me too was a lazy bum till 2005, and my wife took me out to a well planned Ooty trip. I just asked can I drive? Hell Yes! was the answer. That was a revelation.

Now our life is planned around our drives. And one more thing, I have seen Europe extensively, but our own India has amazed me with the sheer variety she gives.

Coming to say about it my wifey is flying down to Leh this April with her friends - an all women gang!

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by laluks

.
Coming to say about it my wifey is flying down to Leh this April with her friends - an all women gang!

That's cool Let the ladies have fun!!

[Funda]

Amazing Pictures.

I have read many road trips on TBHP and heard many from friends. never thought that the view from the sky would be so different. I cannot pick a particular photograph as all of them are equally good.

One question - don't you have to trek a bit for Suraj Tal?

[laluks]

Originally Posted by Funda

One question - don't you have to trek a bit for Suraj Tal?

Suraj tal is very near the road. But if you want to go to it, you have to climb down a bit from the road. Not a significant trek though.

[Fauji]

As i was going through our Ladakh Album, i happenned to see these three pics which i thought of sharing with you all.

This was shot in Pongso lake which has become a popular post 3 Idiots. But i am not sure what these three idiots were doing in the lake


As we exited from Pongso we came to this junction where the mountains, the earth and the clouds seems to merge in harmmony with the road providing the contrast in the middle.


This is Stok monastery - they call it Little Patola - against the background of beautiful sky.

[Fauji]

As i was browsing thorugh our Leh album, i happenned to see these pictures which was taken at sunrise on our way to Pangso lake. The shadow play over the mountains look brilliant!!