Ladakh Road Trip - Where it all began

Well it’s quite obvious that people who heard of the great stories of Ladakh bike trip would add this place to their bucket list. Lately it has been in everyone’s mouth, thanks to few Bollywood flicks which have shown the beauty of ladakh. One would definitely dream of making that trip sometime. It was no different with us either. All of us being engineers, 3Idiots movie fueled more to the dream. 

And after the wonderful night trek to Makalidurga, our NTE (Next Trip Elli) team was pretty high on josh & excitement. And as usual discussions were on for the next ride. Around 11.45pm DJ dropped the text in the group saying next destination Ladakh. During descending from the trek, DJ had hinted me of the Ladakh idea. The whole group was silent & I knew at that moment, only 3-4 of us would make it to the trip. Myself, DJ & DP were determined that we would make this trip, come what may.

There were many occasions where a ride of 60+ KMS were scheduled again & again & it never happened. And here we were planning for 3000+ KMS trip, but somehow I felt this plan will be turned to reality & ladakh which was yet to get in to my bucket list would be ticked off.

It was actually DJ’s convocation at Jaipur which triggered the plan. Idea was that DJ & his 2 friends would join us at Delhi & take it forward. Earlier when the plan was shared, it was only 7men trip & when I had a word with my MORONS team(for the courtesy of informing) they said, they would love to join. So it was 11 men gang now & plans were altered accordingly with lot of circus. Few of us booked tickets from Benagluru to Delhi & return ticket from Srinagar to Bengaluru as per the plan. 

Due to the time constraints we laid the plan as below. 
Benagluru to Delhi  - Flight
Delhi - Manali- Leh in Car 
Finally get our hands on Bikes @ Leh. Khardung la, Nubra valley, Deskit, Pangong Lake
Leh to Srinagar - Car
Srinagar to Bengaluru- Flight    

But as it happens, there were drop outs as well, their reason seemed genuine though. I was left puzzled & panicked, everything was planned out & tickets were booked. Everything has to be altered now. 
To make the matter worst, snowfall had started in Ladakh & news were that roads were blocked for days. The travels guy with whom we had agreed to book said those killer words when checked on him. “Sirji, snow fall shuru hain, abhi off season hogaya. Roads close hain, koi gaadi nahi jaa raha hain. Aapko agle saala tak intezar karna padega.”

This got me thinking, first people bailed out & now this. What the hell am I gonna do now??

I started to reach out people on websites who could update on the status of snowfall, roads & transportation. In the meantime plans were being revised, to roam in Delhi, or to visit kullu & manali, to take direct flight to Leh & what not. There were lot of doubts whether we will make this trip or not. If return tickets weren’t booked we would have dropped the plan.

Two days to trip day, I called another travels which was not reachable previously. His words got me of the foot & I jumped in joy. “Sirji, roads khula hain, app fikar na kare, aap sirf book kijiye. I checked on my mails, there were positive replies from bike rentals & DOW about the weather & bikes availability. 

Everything was set, it was 6 men crew with a catch. Me, DP, Arjun, Naveen, Reddy & Sachin. But Arjun was only accompanying us to Leh & return to Bengaluru on the 3^rd day.  

We boarded the late night plane to Delhi on 30/09/15 as per plan. It was the beginning of firsts of many to come. Arjun & Naveen joined us at the Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi. 

DP, Reddy , Me & Vinay At Kempegowda International Airport.