Road trips are like flirting with life; the sudden adrenaline rush, the urge to feel the gushing wind on your face, a quick escape for the wanderlust soul. The best part you don’t need much of an arrangement and prior bookings – it’s a trip you can decide overnight.
As we all know the first things to strike us on thinking about a road trip are the Elysian valleys and exquisite roads of Leh and Ladakh. The best route for this expedition is the Manali-Leh road; as the winding roads with twisted turn across 5 high mountain passes are the perfect cliche for adventure and beholding enthralling scenic beauty. Just to boost your feel good quotient the 474 kms trail is one of the highest roads in the world, with ‘Khardung-La’ being the world’s highest pass at 18,380 feet above sea level that’s accessible via automobiles.
You cannot savour all that a Leh and Ladakh trip has to offer unless you’re travelling by road the entire length, I’d insist bike ride though if you can manage. The distance can be divided into two days’ drive with options for overnight halt at Keylong, Sarchu or Pang. Opt for homestay to experience the local culture and indulge in staple cuisine. Besides the picturesque landscapes and serene white valleys, the view of the Tsemo Monastery in the solitude of grayscale surrounding will take your breath away.
Ladakh is home to the eminent Pangong Lake; the stark blue water so clear against a background of sandy brown mountains seems like the canvas of a painter expressing his love for nature. Needless to mention the serenity this fragile yet evoking eco-system brings about! Plus, the fruit orchards on and off the way will welcome you to a frame of bygone time; perhaps the best soul searching grounds for people like us trapped in the rat race inside the cage of technology. Further the snow clad mountains are certainly among top choices for hiking enthusiasts and trekkers – Beas Kund path and Lahaul-Spiti being the most popular ones you can try as an amateur.
Trust me it’s worth a lifetime and after commuting the tour I must say the scenic beauty of this place is definitely underrated even after so much of hyped up tourism promotions. Lastly, the secret to enjoy the raw flavour of a vacation on wheels – don’t ponder over much just get your backpack on and get going.
Also read: Biking essentials for a road trip
Contributed By: Shatadal Gia Sen
