Leh Circuit : Road Trip > Jammu - Srinagar - Kargil - Leh - Manali - Chandigarh

Travel Itinerary

·         14-Jun-17 : Blr to Jaipur

·         15-Jun-17 : Jaipur to HMH

·         Day1 : 16-Jun-17 : HMH to Jammu

·         Day2 : 17-Jun : Jammu to Srinagar

·         Day3: 18-Jun : Srinagar to Kargil

·         Day4 : 19-Jun : Kargil to Leh

·         Day5 : 20-Jun : Leh ( Khardung-la)

·         Day6 : 21-Jun : Leh ( Pengong Lake)

·         Day7 : 22-Jun : Leh to Manali

·         Day8 : 23 Jun: Manali to Chandigarh

·         Day9 : 24 Jun : Chandigarh To HMH/ BLR

Team

Munesh B, Pradeep B, Pradeep A, Puneet J, Rajesh S

Vehicle 

Renault Lodgy

Total distance covered : 2300 KM

Journey starts on 16th June from Hanumangarh to Jammu

Day1 : 16th Jun : From Hanumangarh to Jammu

Rora and Bhatti reached my house at 6 AM and we started for Jeeney house, we picked Rajesh Saharan from his home, went to Jeeney. Jeeeney was getting ready when we reached and we started arranging luggage in boot space. Jeeney had removed last seat of Renault Lodgy and there was pretty good luggage space and everything got filled up with all of our luggage as well as food items.

I had quick inspection of lodgy and found that rat marks in engine zone, I enquired and got to know that mechanic had inspected last night, nothing to worry, everything was in order.

We started around 7 AM and stopped for a while to balaji temple near railway crossing, HMH. I drove to that distance just to get the feel of car because we had discussion earlier that only Jeeney and myself would be driving to entire stretch. It's required to have good experience of terrain and vehicle before attempting this difficult stretch. I planned to drive a lot upto Jammu so that I had good grip over vehicle before we hit hilly area.

We started around 7:15 AM from temple for Jammu. Our plan to reach Jammu was around 5 PM and it's around 500 KM from the starting point. We had a long way to go so would like to reach early to take good rest before beginning journey for the next day.

We stopped at muktsar where we met with Rora's relatives/ friend, had quick 30 mins break and started for Amritser route. 

We stopped at Gurudwara at Harike Barrage, It's the place where Satluj river is divided into two tributaries, one  flows to Pakistan on one side and Indira canal on other side. Indira Gandhi canal originates from here which is lifeline of Rajasthan desert region.

We had good photo session near the barrage and started again to Amritsar and then to Pathankot. We reached Jammu around 5 PM and I had alliance with HVK for enroute hotel booking, we contacted HVK group ( Wapp) and got details of hotel in 15 mins. Hotel was on main road, near to famous Raghunath temple. I was driving for the complete day and got comfortable with the vehicle.

We did fresh up quickly and had visit to temple, returned around 8 PM to hotel, ordered food and opted room service. We never had such union so, were enjoying every moment, had funny photo session, recorded some never to forget moment before winding up for the day.

Day2: ( From Jammu To Srinagar) - 17th June : 280 KM

We started around 8 AM and stopped for tea & breakfast after reaching at NH44 highway and in 30 mins break, we started towards Udhampur. It's 4 lane highway till Udhampur from Jammu that is around 70 KM, it's having good driving condition. 

We heard that drive to Srinagar is very tough due to difficult road condition but, it looked to be completely uneventful until we were approaching Anantnag.

There were some vehicles coming from opposite direction and asking not to go because of stone pelting due to ongoing terrorist encounter situation. We stopped for a while, enquired couple of other vehicles as well, and everybody suggested the same to return. We had no other option than to proceed and everybody was on hyper alert, adrenaline was on peak as we started making our move. We approached check post where police asked to get down and did through checking of vehicle/ our ID card/ vehicles paper. We asked if it's safe to travel further, "Yeh kashmir has sahib, yahaann yeh har roz hota hai, aap jaiyeee, encounter chal raha tha toh curfiew laga tha, abhi 15 mins pehle khatam hua hai, rasta clear ker rahe hain"

We started again and there were lines of vehicles moving slowly towards ground zero direction. As we approach Anantnag, we noticed heavy army deployment on both side of highway, there was fully equipped army person standing on both side of road after every 10 feet. We also noticed some groups of youth at different places, they looked aggressive, were ready to do stone pelting with slight increase in tension. Somehow, we crossed the area without any eventuality. Some locals call the city as 'Salamabad'

Sringar was still Approx. 70 KM and it was around 1 PM by that time, we reached Srinagar around 3:00 PM, I informed HK over hotel booking and they asked if we wanted to stay in houseboat or hotel. After some discussion, we confirmed them to book accommodation near dal lake. We reached dal Lake around 3:30 PM and after good follow up with the team and waiting for 30 mins, we got hotel address and room price got fixed around 2300/ Rs per night. The plan was like that where HK team will book hotels when we are about to reach any destination at pre-confirmed price ( as booking is done/ confirmed in last minute). The hotel was Malik Palace, in front of Dal lake, location was awesome, we booked two rooms but, everybody was surprised over the high price.

We checked in hotel and after some time ready to roam around dal lake, we decided to visit Shalimar bagh, around 4:30PM, we reached and stayed there around 2 hours, it's beautiful place, thoroughly enjoyed,

We returned to hotel, and were planning to get some cold drinks, I and bhatti roamed around different gates but, didn't get. We got shikara and had nice trip in dal lake, enquired with the guy over KF and he told that it was difficult to get KF because of bandh/ curfew/ tense situation.

We returned to hotel after shikara visit but, after some time, we wanted to try one more time. Myself & bhatti went to get beer and meanwhile others ordered food, We told them to get back in 30 mins with KF ( confidently). We left around 7 PM and enquired many people near dal lake, finally met with one guy who got ready to give KF but, in inflated price ( KF Cane - 300 Rs) with no charge of shikara ride. We agreed and gave him around 2000 Rs for 6 KF. We asked him if we can also come with him as he was going alone, he nodded.

Me and Bhatti got into shikara and there were three shikara guy along with us. It was getting dark and after rowing for 30 mins in dal lake, we asked him over how far the place was. He asked to remain silent and sit quietly.

Now, the situation was, we were far from commercial zone in dal lake, pitch dark place, no light, he continued to row boat and they were gossiping in kashmiri that we couldn't understand. After around 45 mins, we got into the area of lake where there were bushes and narrow water lane, this was very scary scene. Me and bhatti were thinking if we got kidnapped?? Should we get out of boat but, how..? All the fun that we were having, turned to tense moment.

Finally, we reached a spot, where we found around 4-5 people standing on another boat and throwing torchlight all over our face. These guys looked to have some arguments among them, scared us more. All this while, the main boat guy came us, said that, Sir, ek problem hai, we don't have KF bottles , we have only cans. I whispered, "salla, sirf vapis chor dega bina KF ke, who bhi chalega" I said, sir, no problem, we can manage" He said that price kam nahi hoga, I whispered again, thankfully, you are not demanding more. I said, Sir, "price aapne bottle ka bataya, abhi cane de rahe ho, yeh toh thik nahi hai".

He said, "yahi hai, agar lena hai toh haan bolo" we said unanimously. "YES".

It's 8 PM and we were heading towards our drop point, on the way, the boat guy became friend, and entertained with witty jokes while returning.

Rora was calling frantically, Bhatti told him, we are safe, got KF and returning in 30 mins. 

Check out the video clip:
 
 It was most adventurous ride in the life for both of us.

Check out the video clip:

We returned to hotel, had KF with food, and went to sleep for the night.

Another fantastic day came to an end.