Why Road Trip to Ladakh is the Best Trip to do!
“You don’t know you need this trip. I went to this trip because I always wanted to go to some place which was untouched and serene,” said Devashish Pandya from Pune.
Like many others, Devashish, too, heard a lot about Ladakh’s beauty. Whatever background he had about this enchanting land was enough for him to plan a trip to Ladakh with his two friends.
The trio flew down from different parts of India to Leh and then started a road trip to Ladakh. A trip all three of them would remember for different reasons.
“It is an understatement that Ladakh is a serene beauty. It is unlike you’ve ever seen before,” recalled Devashish.
“For guys like me who’ve never seen the combination of mountains and snow, it’s an overwhelming emotion. I distinctly remember we were at Thicksey Monastery and were enjoying the view of the valley below down with wind blowing strongly and different shades of sunlight before our eyes. The farms were somewhat green but mostly dusty. At this moment I felt I just wanted to cut the entire panorama and take it home. It had such a lasting effect that I remember it clearly even after six years,” he further added.
It wasn’t just the beauty of this place that impacted Devashish, it was much more than that. The trip was a life-changing experience for him. Because of being severely obese, Devashish found it difficult to breathe at such high altitude.
This caused shortness of breath, frequent tiredness and dizziness. He even fell inside a frozen lake because he stepped on the thin ice and almost froze waist down.
This is when Devashish decided to improve his health. Devashish’s journey of weight loss started after this memorable trip. As soon as he got back from the trip, he started focusing on his health and managed to lose over 30 kgs in the next couple of months. The experience gave him that much-needed push towards a healthier life.
It wasn’t the destination but the journey itself that changed something in this young man. “For all my arrogance, these mountains made me humble,” Devashish said.
Not just a place, but a feeling
For Devashish, it was an emotional journey. On the other hand, Jinesh Dumlawkar from Mumbai, experienced highs and lows of the mountains in an unforgettable way in their 10-day long road trip to Ladakh.
“The weather changes in Ladakh in a blink and we had to get accustomed to it wherever we went,” recalls Jinesh. He, along with two other friends, took a car for most part pf their journey and then took a bike on the last day of their travel to roam around in the many unexplored locations of the scenic landscape.
Since Jinesh and his friends were on a road trip, it gave them the liberty to carve their own journey and paths. They visited Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world and spent the night in Hundar, a tiny village, where they witnessed the clear sky full of bright stars.
“The journey made me respect the nature and mountains more. This makes the journey worth doing at least once in your life,” Jinesh said.
The Never Seen Before Landscape and Food
Ladakh is not just a place, it holds a deeper value to everyone who visits this place. Encapsulated by Himalayan and Karakoram Mountains, Ladakh flaunts a beautiful contrast. It has high brown mountains with white snow caps supported by crystal blue water and clear sky. If you want to capture Ladakh’s beauty in a true way, a road trip is the best way to do so. As you drive past the narrow roads, every single view is picturesque and looks like straight out of a travel show.
Every trip is incomplete without good food! And Ladakh offers you the exquisite cuisine like no other place. The traditional Ladakhi cuisine like Thukpa is everyone’s favourite. This hot delicacy is enjoyed by the locals to fight the extremely cold weather in Ladakh. Other
With various Momos and Thukpa joints on the way, the trip will be a paradise for a foodie inside you.
Another thing which makes Ladakh so interesting is its culture and unique festivals. With colourful costumes and attractive dance forms, one must experience this wonderful culture. The region hosts various events and festivals throughout the year. If you are planning a trip shortly, plan it around the time of Saka Dawa festival in June. Saka Dawa is celebrated to celebrate the birth, life, and death of Lord Budhha.
The route less taken
The best time for bike trips to Ladakh is from mid-May to October. Roads from Srinagar are open from mid-May and the Manali route is opened after May. You can go on a road trip only during autumn and summer season.
And if you are someone who takes the path less taken, then there is nothing like visiting Ladakh in winters. But you will have to take a flight if you want to travel Ladakh in winters.
You get to witness ice hockey in all its full glory. From professional matches to friendly games, you can be a part of this lesser followed sports in India.
And if you love trekking and are an experienced trekker, then you can try the Chadar Trek. The beautiful sight of everything frozen around you will leave you astonished. But, you must be careful as this is one of the most challenging treks in the world.
And last but not the least, the love of locals will make you eat to come here again and again. The road trip gives you enough time to stop at multiple locations and engage with the locals who will give you some lesser known insights about the place, which most tourists might miss.
And when you are on your own, exploring the path less travelled, you never know, what rare wildlife you can spot. From Tibetan Hare to mountain wolves, Ladakh is home to many majestic wild creatures.
However, visiting Ladakh comes with some responsibility. With sudden boost in tourism, the place is often flooded with tourists and faces ecological damage along with pollution. So ensure you respect the mountains and the culture when you go there.
Some things you can take care of on your road trip are:
- Prepare in advance. Since the region is different from usual tourist spots and is more challenging, it is always better to be well prepared for the high difficulty level.
- Stay hydrated. The mountains and the high altitude demands a lot of your energy. So keep the fluid intake high and have ample of water.
- Ensure you have all your permits to travel across Ladakh. You need to go to the DC office in Leh and obtain the permits yourself.
- Take regular breaks. Don’t be in a hurry to reach your destination. Remember, its the journey that is more beautiful. Take your time to get used to the roads and the climate there.
- Be safe. Carry necessary safety gears and first aid on your trip.
- Be a responsible tourist and come back with lots of lovely memories.