It’s been 2 years since I have experienced the ultimate road trip to Ladakh. This was one of the best experiences I ever had. I started the trip from Kanpur which is my home city. And oh, did I mention that my 2.5 year old nephew was also a part of the trip along with my mom & dad? Yes, this was a family trip. I had heard a lot about the road trip to Ladakh and the challenges which it brings along. I thought it was over-hyped, but I was wrong. The route till Manali or I should say Rohtang Pass was pretty good, but the real trip begins after that. I am sure you are getting what I mean here!
The adventure lover in me instantly fell in love with this amazing route. From puddles to potholes to no roads at all, we drove through all possible terrains. After Manali, we took a night halt in Sarchu. Now, this place Sarchu has its own charm. There are no hotels, motels or dhabas. If you wish to take a halt here, you have to live in a tent. Of course, there are camps, but setting up your own tent or renting a tent, that’s one and the same thing.
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At night, they turn off the generators which leave you with the moonlight or your cell phone torch or candles. Not to forget, the temperature goes down to -5 degrees at night, which makes it a little difficult to sleep, especially when you are inside a tent, and you’ve been told that a mountain bear can appear at night! I well remember that I didn’t sleep that night. The reason wasn’t just the fear of bears and temperature, but it was also the storm that came that night.
The morning was beautiful, warm and sunny. We continued on our trip and reached Leh around 5:30 pm. In between, we crossed lots of small pit stops, you can read about it in my post- Ladakh Road trip Guide.
From Sarchu to Leh, the road was even worse. There was a time when we couldn’t figure out where exactly the road is. Yes, it was that difficult! As I own an SUV, we did off-roading several times, though I will not suggest you to do the same if you are not a trained driver.
Crossing the Gata Loops (the famous spiral shaped road, which you often see in movies) was another amazing experience. There are 21 loops back to back, and you just have to keep climbing. After that, you’ll see the most beautiful sight of the trip. You’ll arrive on a plain land which is unbelievably beautiful. Trust me; I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the view for the first time.
And then you cross a place which looks like a moon surface and some mountains, similar to what you see in Jordan photos. We didn’t have a driver, my brother drove the car. We own an SUV and my brother was very much concerned about the battery of the car, as the climatic conditions were fluctuating abruptly. But thanks to Amaron, we didn’t face a single issue with car battery during our entire road trip to Ladakh. It does survive the tough climatic conditions and still keeps going on. I have my trust in it, and I would recommend it to you too!
After experiencing all of this, I understood why Ladakh road trip is known as the most desirable trip for travelers. It does make you experience everything on a single trip. From the diversity of views to the change in lifestyle and culture to tough climatic conditions, high passes, almost no road and what not!
In the end, I would just say, this was a life-changing road trip for me. It not only changed the way I travel, but it also changed the way I take my life now.
Indeed Ladakh road trip was, is and will always remain my favorite.
