Pangong lake Archives

Last year, in Sep 2016, we #ghoomophirosisters went on a road trip to Leh, and it was one hell of the experience for us.The Leh-Ladakh road trip was on our #bucketlist for long and finally we made it. Finally, I’m chronicling my road trip adventure for CEAT Tyres in association with BlogAdda in this blog post. This Blog-Post not only describes the detailed itinerary that one should follow while planning for Leh-Ladakh but also talks about the quick checklist while driving on the uneven, rough terrain of Ladakh region.Since we had fewer days in hand, we flew to Leh, and rented the bike from there.

Itinerary

Day 1 : We landed at Leh around 7Am, and went to our hotel at LaBudha. Loved the hospitality of hotel staff. They ensure we acclimatize to the altitude well and offered honey ginger tea. Several tips like taking Diamox tab, monitoring oxygen levels etc. Took rest in the hotel itself and kept drinking lots of water. The food was good at the hotel. Keep monitoring your Oxygen levels. In the evening, we went to the bike-shops and rented the bike. before renting the bike, we ensured that bike is up and running and is flawless. Obviously, there were CEAT Tyres to be our partners in crime in our dream road trip.

Day 2 – Next morning, all geared up, we headed towards Nubra valley via Khardungla. Khardungla is the highest motorable pass road of the world. Plz make sure, not to stay there for long due to high altitude. While on the way, you will cross Hunder, do not miss to take the ride on double humped camels. We stayed in camps in Nubra.

Day 3 – Plan was to drive back to Leh via the same route. However, we also stopped for Dikshit Monastery and the majestic Maitreyi Buddha.

Day 4 – Next morning, we drove from Leh to the most talked about Pangong Tso Lake is popularly known as 3 Idiots lake.On the way back, we did stop for the quick look at Hemis Monastery. Stayed overnight in Pangong in a homestay. Evenings are really cold, so make sure you are wearing sufficient layers.

Day 5 – By this time, we were little exhausted, and drove back to Leh. Our stop over was Thicksey Monastery. We reached on time at Leh and were so acclimatized that Leh felt like home to us.

Day 6- This was supposed to be our last day at Leh, so we utilized time for local sight-seeing like Shanti Stupas, Market.

Day 7- And finally we bid goodbye to Leh with a promise to come back again and drove back to Manali. Btw, one can rent a bike in Leh and drop them at Manali.

Do’s and Don’ts for your self-drive

Don’t be overconfident

You might have been a veteran biker, but don’t underestimate the terrains here. Even the smoothest and simplest of roads can hurt your vehicle badly and force you to be in the midst of nowhere. Hence, avoid taking unnecessary risks

Don’t Rush and Be Patient

While driving, the lot of endurance and patience is required. Don’t rush. Instead whenever in doubt, take a step back and analyze the terrain, to plan your ride further. CEAT Tyres really proved to be the boon for us during our drive and thankfully we did not land up in any tricky situations.

Knowledge of your vehicle

It is very important to be well acquainted of your vehicle, as you shall be the one fixing it on the way.

No Drinking and Driving

Drink and Drive is a clear No, while on the high altitudes as alcohol may not be completely digested and may lead to AMS or you being collapsed while driving.

Be Helpful

Always extend a helping hand to the people in need while on the way. You may find army men, fellow bikers who are stuck. Be kind to them

Must Have’s

Do not miss to carry following things while on self drive.

Basic Toolkit including Jack and Spanner
Air Compressor and Foot pump
Hydraulic Jack
Puncture Repair Kit
Screwdriver Set
Torchlight
Jump Start Cables
Tow Away Rope approx. 3-6 ton Capacity
1-2 Jerry Cans / Coke Bottles to carry spare fuel
Funnel
Spare Coolant and Engine Oil
A Long Stick/Rod
A Shovel and a Hammer
Elfy
Drinking Water and Snacks/Dry Fruits

I hope this checklist helps you in your upcoming trip to Leh. Last but not least, do not miss the chance to follow the amazing signs that Border Roads Organisation has put up for our safety. Enjoy the safe trip to this one life time place.

Trekking to a high altitude lake might be a strenuous task to undertake but the magical scenic beauty that it offers is completely worth the efforts. The following listed lakes are located at enough heights to keep them frozen during the winter season which adds on to their magnificence.

Pangong Tso, Ladakh

Located at an altitude of 4,250 meters in Ladakh, Pangong Tso is one of Asia’s largest salt-water lakes and is just 5 hours drive away from Leh. Its azure waters spread over an area of 100 kilometres across the borders of two countries- one-third of it lies in India while the remaining two-third lies in Tibet and a majority of the streams that constitute the lake are located in the latter part. Also known as the Hollow Lake, its brackish water along with sunlight produces beautiful light effects. During winters, the surface of the lake freezes and an ice skating festival is organised on it, inviting contenders from all over the world.

Roop Kund, Uttarakhand

This high- altitude glacial lake is located in Uttarakhand and it takes 2 days to trek 30 km to it from Lohajung. The bottom of the lake contains the bones of humans as well as animals, the reason behind which is not clearly known yet and this very fact gives it a thrilling touch. The lake has a depth of only about 2 metres and the skeletons become visible once the water melts.

Tsongmo/Changu Lake, Sikkim

Situated at 12,313 feet above sea level, the glacial lake Tsomgo is nearby Gangtok, which makes it a great getaway option for not only locals but also tourists. This lake although small in size, has a unique and fascinating feature, which bestows upon it an important place in Buddhism and Hinduism alike. Due to natural factors, its surface reflects different colours during the changing seasons of the year.

Gurudongmar Lake, Sikkim

Gurudongmar Lake’s altitude of about 17,800 feet makes it one of the highest lakes in the world. It is located 190 km away from Gangtok and 5 km to the south of the Chinese border. Considered sacred by both Sikhs and Buddhists, Guru Padmasambhava of the Sikhs is believed to have visited this place. The area around the lake is inhabited by various high altitude animals but disappointingly its clear waters have now become polluted due to local interference.

Suraj Tal, Himachal Pradesh

Suraj Tal or the Surya Tal literally means the Lake of the Sun God and is the third highest lake in India and the 21^st highest in the world. It is located in the Lahaul and Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh, just below the Bara-lacha-la pass. This lake is the source of the Bhaga river which is a tributary of Chenab river. Its climatic conditions are similar to the poles of the Earth due to which the lake remains frozen for the most part of the year.