Mountains are calling, I must go. What a wonderful quote which every traveller will fall in love as I did. This Travelogue is about the road trip which I did my first ever Solo Motorcycle trip in 2009 to the land of Mountains “Ladakh”. I would never imagine then, that this trip will ever change my future forever. There will be 7 parts of this travelogue which have been published through different blog series every week for the next 7 weeks or so.
Am sharing my life-changing 15 days Adventure motorcycle trip from New Delhi to Ladakh and back in this series. Because I can’t share all the experience in one blog of riding my motorbike in the Himalayas, the people, the roads, landslides, breakdown, food and so many things. Main importantly the road trip which gave the birth of “Motorcycle Escapades”, so stay with me and am sure I won’t let you get bored.
During early 2009 I started to research Ladakh, how to ride to Ladakh, route plan from Delhi to Ladakh and Delhi to Srinagar. Initially, most of my family members and friends are completely opposing for a solo motorcycle trip to Ladakh, but after a lot of brainstorm & homework I decided to start my epic motorbike journey from Delhi and enter Ladakh region from Srinagar side, this is due to the altitude. If we travel from Delhi to Srinagar we gradually ascend in terms of Altitude and it’s better to get acclimatize.
Let’s start the journey
Day 0: I sent my Royal Enfield classic 350cc from Bangalore to Delhi through train on 2nd July 2009, then I took a flight to Delhi from Bangalore on July 5th at around 6.30 pm and reached Delhi at 9.15 pm, I stayed at Paharganj area since it is very close to New Delhi Railway station. I couldn’t get sleep thinking of tomorrow that am starting a trip of my lifetime on my Royal Enfield Classic 350cc.
Day 1: Delhi to Khanna City
I woke up in the morning & went to the railway station directly & collect the bike around 11 am; thank god my bike was in mint condition without any single scratch on it. The time has finally come to start my Motorbike trip to Ladakh from Delhi. I started my journey around 12.30 pm from Paharganj and it was a complete mess with hell lot of traffic. After driving for 2hrs finally I reached GT road towards Karnal at 2.30 pm. After Karnal, the highway gets better and it’s pure bliss to ride on this highway. I didn’t take many breaks today as I was very eager to reach Khanna town before it gets dark, after driving for 290kms with 6hrs finally I reached Khanna City in Punjab at 7.30 pm. End of day 1.
Kms: 290kms
Start Time: 12.30 PM
End Time: 7.30 pm
Day 2: Khanna city to Patnitop
It was very hot & humid weather in Khanna city since it was a peak summer season in Northern India & the rooms are not that cosy & no proper ventilation, so I couldn’t have sound sleep. Woke up at 6.00 am & got ready by 6.30 am & I hit the road after a tea break at sharp 7.00 in the morning. The roads are like butter & I was cruising at the speed of 80-90kmph & I entered Jalandhar at 10.00 am & had breakfast that is chole-Bathura, it was so yummy.
Soon after that again I started to ride & reached Jammu outskirts at 2.00 pm. The weather was pleasant & I found a lot of people heading for Vaishnodevi & Amarnath yatra. It was full of the crowd & huge traffic. The real adventure started when I saw the Indian Army convey & every 100mtrs I was able to see a large number of army guys with loaded weapons. I started to feel proud of them. After lunch & some 1hr of a break, I crossed Jammu city at around 3.00 pm. Then suddenly rains started and I was struck, but I was not in a mood to stop the journey somehow I started to ride slowly & told myself that the real fun will start now. Once I crossed Jammu & starts ascending towards Patnitop I was completely mesmerized by the beauty of lower Himalayas. Finally, I reached Patnitop at 7.00 pm & called the day off, I stayed in JK tourist circuit house, so the end of Day 2.
KMS: 390kms
Start Time: 7.00am
End time: 7.00pm
https://www.motorcycleescapades.com/himalayas-motorcycle-tour-india