[fusionbang]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Thanks, fusionbang. All the good wishes are badly required!

Our wishes are always with you sir. Also just a information for you that it is raining cats and dogs in J&K, I read it in the newspaper. Drive safe

[CliffHanger]

All the best, Sir!

Have a safe journey...

[sdp1975]

Hope J.Ravi is safe. There's heavy flooding in J&K, Srinagar is submerged and rescue operations by the Army and IAF is ongoing.

Not sure if any Leh trip can be done this time.

We reached safely at Pathankot and checked into Hotel Venice.



Earlier, I tried in vain to gate-crash into Srinagar and drove upto almost Udhampur only to be told by cops that all vehicular traffic to Srinagar is stopped at Ramban. So, we returned empty-handed to Pathankot. Tomorrow, we will drive to Dalhousie; and from there, we will drive to Leh via Sach Pass, if it is open, which is our Plan B. If not, we will drive via Manali, which will be our Plan C. If Leh is totally out of bounds, we will return to Amritsar, which will be our Plan D.



For the first time in our lives, we had very early breakfast - or very late dinner - today at 3 am at 70 Milestone Dhaba after crossing Delhi.
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Originally Posted by MAS

First the Linea, now the XUV5OO

Thanks, MAS, for the kind words.

Originally Posted by aks_karthik

Best wishes for your epic drive.

Thanks for the wishes, aks_karthik.

Originally Posted by fusionbang

Also just a information for you that it is raining cats and dogs in J&K, I read it in the newspaper.

Yes, the rain god was with us most of the time! Thanks, fusionbang.

Originally Posted by CliffHanger

All the best, Sir!

Thank you so much, CliffHanger.

Originally Posted by sdp1975

Hope J.Ravi is safe.

100% safe.

Not sure if any Leh trip can be done this time.

I hope to drive to Leh in any one of my plans.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

I hope to drive to Leh in any one of my plans.

As per news reports all routes to Leh are blocked as of now. As per MET dept it is not going to rain for next few days, even so it may take few days for roads to be repaired and initial rush to subside.

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

As per news reports all routes to Leh are blocked as of now.

Thanks for the useful update; looks like PlanD for us. We will stay at Dalhousie for 3 days and try to drive to and fro Sach Pass and later explore Rajasthan before returning back to Bangalore.

[fusionbang]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

We will stay at Dalhousie for 3 days and try to drive to and fro Sach Pass and later explore Rajasthan before returning back to Bangalore.

Good to know all is well sir I would recommend you to stick to plan D and have a safe journey instead of taking risk going into Leh. The current situation is bad and it is not safe to be there. Will look out for your updates sir, Good luck

[Seran Manian]

Glad that you did not get stuck any where. Awaiting your regular updates. Have a safe journey. All the best.

Purple Cheetah brought us safely and comfortably to Hotel Grand View, Dalhousie. For the first time in this trip, I drove for just 2 hours and 81 km for the entire day! No rains and good roads all the way from Pathankot to Dalhousie.


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Originally Posted by fusionbang

I would recommend you to stick to plan D and have a safe journey instead of taking risk going into Leh.

Thanks, fusionbang. Tomorrow, we will decide.

Originally Posted by Seran Manian

Have a safe journey.

Thanks for the kind wishes, Seran Manian.

[shreyak_ss]

Well, sorry to add some confusion but according to TOI, the Srinagar-Leh highway has been reopened today!
Whatever decision you make, i hope you enjoy your journey. All the best!

[Sisu]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Purple Cheetah brought us safely and comfortably to Hotel Grand View, Dalhousie. For the first time in this trip, I drove for just 2 hours and 81 km for the entire day! No rains and good roads all the way from Pathankot to Dalhousie.

Attachment 1285224
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Thanks, fusionbang. Tomorrow, we will decide.



Thanks for the kind wishes, Seran Manian.

Hi Mr. Ravi,

Awaiting any updates from your side. Owing to the chaos in J&K, I hope you are safe and well.

Cheeeerzz

Now, it is Plan D. From Dalhousie, we came to Chamba, where we made detailed enquiries with HP RTC authorities at the bus stand. According to them, the Chamba-Killar bus service via Sach Pass was not operated from the past few days due to land slides. They did not know, when the service would be resumed. I enquired with local police too, who also acknowledged the same. Then, I called off the Ladakh expedition and decided to concentrate on HP, CH, PB and RJ instead. Yesterday, we drove from Chamba to Shimla. At a peak after Chamba, we clicked some photographs of snow-capped mountain ranges above Chamba, possibly Sach Pass. So, our decision of avoiding Sach Pass was vindicated. I did not want to try Manali route in this troubled atmosphere. Purple Cheetah will have to wait atleast one year to visit Ladakh.


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Originally Posted by shreyak_ss

Whatever decision you make, i hope you enjoy your journey.

Thanks, shreyak_ss. We are enjoying our trip as per our Plan D.

Originally Posted by Sisu

Owing to the chaos in J&K, I hope you are safe and well.

Thanks, Sisu. We are 100% safe. We are at Shimla now. From here, we will drive to Chandigarh>Amritsar>Jaisalmer, and then, to Bangalore.

[fusionbang]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Now, it is Plan D.

Ravi sir, good to know you sticked to Plan D and having a safe journey. I was worried where you will follow the actual plan and get into trouble.

Sir one more question, all this distance is covered by you alone? If yes, hats off to you sir. And this brings some confidence in me to go anywhere in the country when I buy my XUV.

As per my practice in all my Himalayan expeditions, I got Purple Cheetah anointed with Himalayan spring waters somewhere between Jot and Shahpur, while driving from Chamba to Shimla. The entire family chipped in to make Purple Cheetah sparkling.








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Originally Posted by fusionbang

all this distance is covered by you alone?

Yes, I did all the driving.

this brings some confidence in me to go anywhere in the country when I buy my XUV.

I enjoy driving Purple Cheetah each and every minute and mm.

Today, Purple Cheetah brought us safely and comfortably from Shimla [departure: 9:10 am] to Chandigarh [Rock Garden, High Court Museum and refuelling - 2.5 hours] to Jalandhar Haveli [evening tiffin break - 1 hour], and then, to Amritsar [arrival: 8:45 pm]. Details later.