Reporting from the Himalayas...

Salil · 11-10-2006, 10:24 AM

Hi all

My first post here... An 8 day tour from New Delhi to Leh and back, covering Tso Kar and Tso Moriri on the way back. The pics...

Nothing intresting on day 1; just the plains and the straight boring highway.

Day 2, a butt break. Manali - Leh highway

Somewhere just before the tents @ Sarchu.

Day 3, found this just as we started for the day from Pang. Truckers create such shortcuts to cut down on a few loops...

The view from there. That's Pang.

High altitude sickness (AMS). My buddy gets it again. The original roads were washed away by floods this year. So a parallel dirt track is all that's there to corss the pains now (as of september 2006). Work was on to restore the metalled roads..

Dixit was literally dragging himself along. While me being luckier just enjoyed the whole thing... This was perhaps a dried up lake that formed after all the heavy rains this year.

More plains (pronounced morey). A high altitude plain flanked by moutains on both sides, and a road that's at times straight as an arrow.. a rarity in the mountains.

Dixit finally gives up... an hour of rest, painkillers and a lot of water got him up and riding again.

The plains ends at the climb for Tanglang La - the world's second highest motorable road. Some way into the climb, it began snowing.

At the top...
We reached Leh city by evening, day 3.

Day 4. On the way to Khardung La...Claimed to be the world's highest motorable pass, at 18380 feet.

Khardungla pass, popularly called K-top.

On the way back.

Barley crops.

Leh city from up above.

Prayer wheels in Leh

Shanti Stupa

Day 5. Way back from Leh. This shortcut is supposed to be used only to go down. Could ride up mid way when it began to get too steep for me and had to turn back. This is on the ascend to Tanglang La when coming back from leh.

Back to More plains... a nomad riding his horse.

Sorry... cudn't ressist posting this (same as the last pic)

Missed a turn at Tso Kar that goes to Tso Moriri and ended up here... a dead end.

That's Tso Kar (Tso means lake in Tibetian)

Grasslands on the shores of Tso Kar.

The colors... you have to see it to beleive it!

Day 6. We reach Tso Moriri.

Tso Moriri

We were low on fuel, with no place to fill up from. So we parked and took a hike along the lake...

Grasslands, and a wildlife sanctuary on the shores of Tso Moriri.

Roads along the lake.

Back on the Manali - Leh highway, saw this as I entered a curve on a cloudy evening.

Day 7. That's at Sarchu.
We crossed Manali and checed in to a guest house at Sundernagar for the night. Day 8 was the usual commute back home on the boring highways.

Thanks for seeing. Hope you like it.

Salil

Team Dennis · 11-10-2006, 10:29 AM

Stunning pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Steve1962 · 11-10-2006, 10:32 AM

Those photos are fantastic !!!!!

Great place to ride .

Thanks for sharing

Steve

Salil · 11-10-2006, 10:33 AM

Thanks Team Dennis and Steve.

Bummer · 11-10-2006, 10:41 AM

.. Those pic´s are outstanding..

MORE.....?

..

Steve1962 · 11-10-2006, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salil

Thanks Team Dennis and Steve.

Can you tell me which camera you are using , and did you touch up the photos [ photoshop etc ] .

Steve

FREDO RIDER · 11-10-2006, 10:52 AM

WOW

Fantastic

MichaelJ · 11-10-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve1962

Can you tell me which camera you are using , and did you touch up the photos [ photoshop etc ]

I suspect that it has a lot to do with being above 90% of the earth's water vapor. Very clear and no fuzzing of details and colors. I noticed a litle of this on top of Mt. Evans in Colorado at 12,000 feet - everything seemed to be super sharp and vivid.

No matter - those are absolutely stunning pics.

DADODIRT · 11-10-2006, 11:25 AM

Wow. That's all I can say.
Wow!

RonS · 11-10-2006, 10:55 AM

Fantastic picture Salil!

This trip is moving up my priority list. Couple of questions: Did you ride out of Deli? How long does it take to get from Deli to Leh? What route to do you take to get there? What's the deal with permits from the Army to get into these areas? Do you have to plan in advance or can you just get them when you are there? If a person were to fly in to Deli, how many days of riding in 40+ temps is it before you start climbing in elevation and things start cooling off? Is there plenty of lodging and food along the way or do you have to make reservations? Any good bike rental spots in or to the north of Deli?

Thanks - RonS.

GB · 11-10-2006, 11:09 AM

Wow... I'm speechless!! Absolutely stunning photos!! Thanks for posting

lefty15 · 11-10-2006, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonS

Fantastic picture Salil!

This trip is moving up my priority list. Couple of questions: Did you ride out of Deli? How long does it take to get from Deli to Leh? What route to do you take to get there? What's the deal with permits from the Army to get into these areas? Do you have to plan in advance or can you just get them when you are there? If a person were to fly in to Deli, how many days of riding in 40+ temps is it before you start climbing in elevation and things start cooling off? Is there plenty of lodging and food along the way or do you have to make reservations? Any good bike rental spots in or to the north of Deli?

Thanks - RonS.

+1 on the compliments regarding the amazing photography and the logistics involved in a Westerner riding there.

cheekymonkey · 11-10-2006, 11:10 AM

Wow!!

The photgraphs are amazing, colours are vibrant and sharp!

Thanks for sharing, I'd also be curious about the camera that you were using.

RonS · 11-10-2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonS

Fantastic picture Salil!

This trip is moving up my priority list. Couple of questions: Did you ride out of Deli? How long does it take to get from Deli to Leh? What route to do you take to get there? What's the deal with permits from the Army to get into these areas? Do you have to plan in advance or can you just get them when you are there? If a person were to fly in to Deli, how many days of riding in 40+ temps is it before you start climbing in elevation and things start cooling off? Is there plenty of lodging and food along the way or do you have to make reservations? Any good bike rental spots in or to the north of Deli?

Thanks - RonS.

Well, shit! I should have read the words rather than just being captivated by your pictures. So you are out of Deli, it takes a day to get to where the elevation starts to climb. What about the rest of the questions? I've been to Bangalore as well as in and around Karnataka (Belure, Halebidu and Mysore at least). Been to the Kerala back waters and I work for a company that an office in India. Lot's, lot's more to see over there (I haven't even scratched the surface) but I'm a motorcyclist and this is a must do trip so all I need is a "really" good excuse to be there at the right time of the year to make this happen and I am so there! I have a friend in Bangalore (who’s wife is away working on her PhD in Indiana) and another friend who is a native of Bangalore but lives in the US that could also be talked into this. Tell us about the logistics if you would.

GELSTRA · 11-10-2006, 01:00 PM

1st post and you blow everyone away! Wow! You've gotten a really great compliment from Steve1962. His picture posts are some of the best. Thanks!

11-10-2006, 10:24 AM	#1
Salil ^OP Himalayan Odysseus Joined: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi Oddometer: 25	Reporting from the Himalayas... Hi all My first post here... An 8 day tour from New Delhi to Leh and back, covering Tso Kar and Tso Moriri on the way back. The pics... Nothing intresting on day 1; just the plains and the straight boring highway. Day 2, a butt break. Manali - Leh highway Somewhere just before the tents @ Sarchu. Day 3, found this just as we started for the day from Pang. Truckers create such shortcuts to cut down on a few loops... The view from there. That's Pang. High altitude sickness (AMS). My buddy gets it again. The original roads were washed away by floods this year. So a parallel dirt track is all that's there to corss the pains now (as of september 2006). Work was on to restore the metalled roads.. Dixit was literally dragging himself along. While me being luckier just enjoyed the whole thing... This was perhaps a dried up lake that formed after all the heavy rains this year. More plains (pronounced morey). A high altitude plain flanked by moutains on both sides, and a road that's at times straight as an arrow.. a rarity in the mountains. Dixit finally gives up... an hour of rest, painkillers and a lot of water got him up and riding again. The plains ends at the climb for Tanglang La - the world's second highest motorable road. Some way into the climb, it began snowing. At the top... We reached Leh city by evening, day 3. Day 4. On the way to Khardung La...Claimed to be the world's highest motorable pass, at 18380 feet. Khardungla pass, popularly called K-top. On the way back. Barley crops. Leh city from up above. Prayer wheels in Leh Shanti Stupa Day 5. Way back from Leh. This shortcut is supposed to be used only to go down. Could ride up mid way when it began to get too steep for me and had to turn back. This is on the ascend to Tanglang La when coming back from leh. Back to More plains... a nomad riding his horse. Sorry... cudn't ressist posting this (same as the last pic) Missed a turn at Tso Kar that goes to Tso Moriri and ended up here... a dead end. That's Tso Kar (Tso means lake in Tibetian) Grasslands on the shores of Tso Kar. The colors... you have to see it to beleive it! Day 6. We reach Tso Moriri. Tso Moriri We were low on fuel, with no place to fill up from. So we parked and took a hike along the lake... Grasslands, and a wildlife sanctuary on the shores of Tso Moriri. Roads along the lake. Back on the Manali - Leh highway, saw this as I entered a curve on a cloudy evening. Day 7. That's at Sarchu. We crossed Manali and checed in to a guest house at Sundernagar for the night. Day 8 was the usual commute back home on the boring highways. Thanks for seeing. Hope you like it. Salil

11-10-2006, 10:32 AM	#3
Steve1962 Studly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Blighty Oddometer: 533	Himalayas Those photos are fantastic !!!!! Great place to ride . Thanks for sharing Steve

11-10-2006, 10:41 AM	#5
Bummer Studly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2006 Location: On The edge of Denmark Oddometer: 975	.. Those pic´s are outstanding.. MORE.....? .. __________________ Bummer. Denmark.. 94- Honda Transalp.. We dont stop making foolish things because we get older. But if we stop making foolish things, we get old to fast...(that goes for foolish nicknames too... )

11-10-2006, 11:10 AM	#13
cheekymonkey born again jackass Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Got Goodwood Oddometer: 143	Wow!! The photgraphs are amazing, colours are vibrant and sharp! Thanks for sharing, I'd also be curious about the camera that you were using. __________________ "the dream of this is also make that the person can not make this trip can ride with me ..and use my eues for see and your theyre brain for understand" ZOA

11-10-2006, 01:00 PM	#15
GELSTRA Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Covina, CA Oddometer: 106	1st post and you blow everyone away! Wow! You've gotten a really great compliment from Steve1962. His picture posts are some of the best. Thanks! __________________ R1200GS "It's not a bike; it's a 2 wheeled Jeep!"

11-10-2006, 10:29 AM	#2
Team Dennis Certified Troublemaker Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Tornado alley Oddometer: 4,531	Stunning pictures. Thanks for sharing.

11-10-2006, 10:33 AM	#4
Salil ^OP Himalayan Odysseus Joined: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi Oddometer: 25	Thanks Team Dennis and Steve.

11-10-2006, 10:52 AM	#7
FREDO RIDER I'll find my way ! Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Oddometer: 627	WOW Fantastic

11-10-2006, 11:25 AM	#9
DADODIRT Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Durango,CO(not quite Purgatory) Oddometer: 2,677	Wow. That's all I can say. Wow!

11-10-2006, 10:55 AM	#10
RonS Out there... Joined: Dec 2002 Location: Dancing with roads Oddometer: 11,570	Fantastic picture Salil! This trip is moving up my priority list. Couple of questions: Did you ride out of Deli? How long does it take to get from Deli to Leh? What route to do you take to get there? What's the deal with permits from the Army to get into these areas? Do you have to plan in advance or can you just get them when you are there? If a person were to fly in to Deli, how many days of riding in 40+ temps is it before you start climbing in elevation and things start cooling off? Is there plenty of lodging and food along the way or do you have to make reservations? Any good bike rental spots in or to the north of Deli? Thanks - RonS.

11-10-2006, 11:09 AM	#11
GB Mod Squad Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, ON Oddometer: 53,454	Wow... I'm speechless!! Absolutely stunning photos!! Thanks for posting

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