Prologue:
I can bet - everyone who knows and have been on road trips at least once craved to be Leh'ed! You dream of this epic journey and sometimes the dreams come true! I am beginning to write this travel-log even before I actually start my journey! And you might ask, why?
Well, there is nothing more exciting than covering what you did on day-to-day basis without missing a moment! Every road trip is full of stories, memories - good and bad.
So before I start special mentions due -
- There are few people I will "owe" this trip to - My wife and kids, Tsk, HVK, Mr.D, SDP and my friends from TBhp and XUV Owners group.
- My Orange Cheetah who is primary source of inspiration and means to make this happen in true sense
- And indirect contribution from everyone that is making the trip happen. Includes friends, colleagues and my ownership thread readers!
The order of posts in this log will be -
- Inception of the idea
- Making the plan
- Preparing for the trip (Car, Individual)
- Last minute rush
- Actual trip - day wise posts as trip happens
- Concluding remarks
And before you deep down into the read, here is what sums up our trip - the amazing bunch of people, great cars and best terrain in country.
We met the veteran on this trip - Mr.D's XUV
The legendary destinations that tourists crave for -
Survived mild stone-pelting from nature for spoiling its serene atmosphere with some CO2 -
Posed at Indus and Zanskar river confluence with pride -
Ate trucker's food in the plains at their favourite place - dhaba!
When time permitted, relaxed in chair looking at vastness of himalayan mountain ranges -
Paid our homage and visit to brave-hearts who gave their today for our tomorrow -
Climbed the lesser altitude passes and posed too -
Appreciated the curves and kept holding our nerves too - (Gata Loops)
We hail from Bangalore, control this thing from Bangalore but nothing like seeing it in reality with your very own two eyes... (I have four actually.)
In the colder terrain, we saw hot springs too -
We lined up for a vast background to click the rides -
The most touted pass - posed with pride and gratitude -
The less altitude but more torturing passes conqurred with ease -
Someone clicked the milkyway during early morning around 3am!
Optical illusion or whatever, we did this -
Himalayan roads (no roads actually) are rough but they do have these runways too - More Plains
Seeing the glacier peaks closely -
Three idiots were here. But we were there too.
Roads or No roads - will drive.
Valleys and hills - less mortals choose valley
Feels like meditating at these heights - reflecting back upon journey is good -
How can you forget the hero of the movie?
The trademark conclusion - we got Leh'd!
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The pictures above are not in particular order of trip but just a summary!