Ladakh Ride Day 8 – Kargil to Leh
Kargil to Leh was around 225 KM, and as per locals road was fantastic, so we decided to leave a little late. Although I woke up at 06:00 AM and went to the roof, it was very cold, and the view I saw was worth the shivering. After spending a good time, I came down to get ready. We packed all the luggage, paid the bill, and started to mount everything on the motorcycle. Our chain was dry, so I lubed it.
Around 08:30 AM, we left for Leh. We were riding relaxed, no rush for the day. We stopped at Mulbekh Chamba (Temple of goddess Chamba) after 40 KM approximately. Here we had breakfast, noodles, omelets, and tea. Again, we met two fellow riders from West Bengal. Other tourists were asking a lot of questions too, and we were more than happy to answer them.
After spending almost an hour, we again saddled up for Leh. Roads started to climb again, and time for Namika La, an infamous Pass at an altitude of 3,700 m or 12,139 ft, more than mighty Zoji La. A great road made this high altitude pass a piece of cake for travelers. We stopped for some time to click pictures and feel the cool breeze. Although we dressed heavily (Thermal innerwear, t-shirt, Riding Jacket with thermal liner, and jeans), so did not feel that cold except in our palms and face. Each car driver and rider was waving to us, which literally means a lot to motivate.
Suddenly, it started to drizzle, so we thought of going down to avoid this. But it was the same till Leh, somewhere it stopped, somewhere it sped up. On our journey, we crossed one more pass, the highest pass on the Srinagar – Leh highway, Fotu La, at an elevation of 4,108 meters or 13,478 ft. Roads were again very good, as the Namika La pass. I have realized that due to terrain and landslides, Zoji La pass seems to have bad roads, and also listed in most of the dangerous road articles & youtube videos.
While descending to Lamayuru (the Moonland of Ladakh) looked beautiful. Every turn brought awesome scenery. Ladakh is a cold desert, and you will feel it more after crossing Mulbek towards Leh. We had our lunch in a restaurant, just outside the Lamayuru Monastery. Food tastes good, and for the first time, I had biriyani with multi-colored rice, very different but tasty, I must say.
Again, it started drizzling, so we left Lamayuru and moved ahead, stopping at multiple places to take pictures of the beautiful surroundings.
The sun started to set, so we were rushing to reach Leh. It was cold and drizzling, which made the wind so freezing. I was not wearing any gloves, although I had waterproof gloves but not broken in properly, so I had issues. Once we reach near the magnetic hill, the road becomes smoother and almost straight. It was a delight to ride on dark, pitched tarmac middle of nowhere.
We stopped near the famous magnetic hill signboard, waited for more than 15 minutes, and finally, a car came and stopped in the marked spot. It was moving against the slope, and we witnessed one of the most illusory phenomena in the world. Never miss this to witness.
By the time we reached the Leh entry gate, my hands were completely numb, and we paid Rs. 20 for entry fees. Those guys were kind enough to offer us hot tea and sit next to a bonfire. It was a life-saving moment for both of us. After some time, we thanked them and moved ahead towards the town.
We did not book any hotel, so we faced some problems here as many hotels were closed by then. Luckily, around 07:00 PM, we got a very neat room at Hotel Ladakh Heaven for a good price. We unloaded all the luggage, freshened up, and had a very tasty dinner. Our motorcycle was parked outside in the open area.
It was still raining a lot, and as per locals, snowfall was happening in many regions. We had planned to get permits the next day for Khardung La, Pangong Lake, and the Tso Moriri side. Finally, we went to sleep without an alarm. Oh, such a cozy room, it was!!! At night, the temperature dropped to zero degrees.
Conclusion
Being a remote location, a lot of preparation is needed before embarking on the Leh Ladakh Tour, whether mentally or physically. Don’t forget the weather in the Ladakh region is extreme, and most of us are not accustomed to it.
So, be prepared, and everything will go smoothly during your Leh Ladakh tour. You may also check out below generic posts below to make your Leh Ladakh trip successful and memorable. I am sure you will love it.
- How to prepare for Ladakh
- Things to Carry in Ladakh
- Medicines needed in Ladakh
- How to fight AMS or High Altitude Sickness
- Mobile Network Connectivity in Ladakh
- Inner Line Permit Procedure for Ladakh
- Complete Guide for your Ladakh Trip
If you are doing a road trip to Ladakh, you may find my Kolkata – Ladakh – Kolkata on a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 journey helpful.
Lastly, get Leh’ed soon.
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