How we got Leh’d

My urge to get Leh’d had its origin long back, in 2008, after watching the hindi film, which cinematically depicted the serene beauty of the place. nothing could deter me in spite of the initial struggle to hunt for fellow riders or the sudden lower back injury. i decided 2019 was the year to hit the road.

thus, eight ordinary individuals rode through the snowcapped mountains and green valleys of srinagar, sonmarg, and Kargil. Biking for a rough stretch of 425 km (or “getting Leh’d”), we had the pleasure of traversing one of the most picturesque places in the world.

Day One

| Hall of Fame:

Built by the indian army in the memory of our soldiers who laid their lives in the india-Pakistan wars, this museum is only four kilometres away from the city.

Magnetic Hill:

Mystery surrounds the magnetic hill. at a certain point, begin moving uphill on our own in neutral gear and with the brakes unlocked.

Gurudwara Sri Pathhar Sahib:

Located at an altitude of 12,000 feet and managed by the indian army, this gurudwara has a huge rock with the imprint of guru nanak dev’s body and demon’s footprint.

Sindhu Ghat:

situated on the bank of the river indus, with beautiful surroundings, fluttering flags, and the sound of the flowing river, this place is a perfect getaway to relax.

Druk Padma Karpo/Rancho School:

In Bodhi language “karpo” means white and “padma” means Lotus. This school was started to help the locals to conserve and pass on the Tibetan Buddhism tradition.

Thicksey Monastery & Shey Palace:

Famous tourist destinations, one being a monastery and the other a beautiful palace.

Day Two |

While heading to Nubra Valley, we had to go through the world’s highest motorable pass, Khardung La, at 18,360 feet. It was flanked by astonishing snow mountains on one side and the hypnotic valley on the other.

Day Three |

A remote village, Turtuk is only 2.2 km away from the LoC (India-Pakistan border).

Day Four |

Covering a distance of 187 km, we reached Pangong Lake, the world’s highest saltwater lake. The bright Tuscany blue-water lake showed a variety of colours comprising azure/turquoise/ indigo/green/lilac.

Day Five |

On the way back, we came across a herd of wild yaks and marmots (a squirrel-like species) amidst mustard plantations with heavy snowfall across Chang La.

By venturing into unexplored territories and meeting new people, travel has always helped me embrace life. It has the power to heal and ignite a strong sense of purpose in me. This bike trip has potentially transformed my life, giving me new perspectives and turning me into an author (book link: https:// www.amazon.in/dp/B07Y5PZ46F) before I could even come out of the trip hangover.