A fascinating Bike trip to Ladakh

Dr Nisar Farhad

Don’t let depression win –
Start the engine, shift the gear, and chase life!
Every road is a second chance,
Twist the throttle… and find yourself again.”

Bike riding from mountains to the valleys is my passion which taught me the value of being open to unexpected connections and embracing diversity. Initially, fear gave way to confidence, unlocking doors to incredible adventures and experiences. For a long time, my friend Dr Nadeem Bashir, Associate Professor in Chemistry, Department of Higher Education, J&K and I had wanted to visit Ladakh. We finally found the opportunity in summer vocations to venture into the pristine Himalayas, surrounded by stunning mountains. On June 30, 2025, I set off with my friend Dr Nadeem Bashir to explore the breathtaking landscapes, high-altitude passes, and a unique blend of culture and serenity of Ladakh on my twowheeler Royal Enfield Reborn Classic 350.I packed my bike luggage bags and started my journeyat 8:30 am, from my home town Pulwama. I received my friend Dr Nadeem Bashir by 12:30 p.m. near Shelteng Srinagar and reached the picturesque Sonamarg by 2:30 pm which is about 84km from Srinagar. We entered Sonamarg through Z-Morh Tunnel which is a 6.5-kilometre-long tunnel and aimed to provide all-weather connectivity from Sonamarg to Srinagar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the Z-Morh tunnel on January 13, 2025, marking a significant milestone for transportation in Jammu and Kashmir.
We departed from Sonamarg at 4:00 pm , crossing Zoji La, which is a crucial pass in the Great Himalayan Range, connecting the Kashmir Valley to the Suru and Drass valleys, as well as the Indus Region. This pass lies 24 km from Sonamarg and is the only vital link between Ladakh and Kashmir, and is considered the second-highest pass after Fotu La on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway. It offers breathtaking views of the majestic Himalayan Mountains and its hairpin bends make it a daunting ride. However, Zoji La remains cut off from the rest of the world for almost two to three months each year due to heavy snowfall and landslides. We arrived at Zoji La pass at 4:45 pm and paused for a few minutes to capture the moment and after taking a few photographs, we continued our journey. Upon crossing Zoji La, we reached the Minamarg police station, the Gateway of Ladakh, where the police verified our identity cards and registered our names before proceeding towards Ladakh. We arrived in Kargil at 8:00 pm and covered a distance of 212 kilometres from Srinagar.
On Day 2, July 1, 2025, I began the ride at 8:00 AM, eager to reach Leh, 215 km from Kargil. The journey from Kargil to Leh takes you through some of the most beautiful vistas that the famous Srinagar Leh highway has to offer. Irrespective of whether you travel via Lamayuru or Batalik, every moment of this journey is worth cherishing.On the way, we crossed the high-altitude passes of Namika La and Fotu La. At 9:30 am, we arrived at the top of Namika La, 58 km from the Kargil. At an altitude of 3,700 m (12,139 ft), it is one of the easier passes of Ladakh having less incline except for the last few kilometers.There were a lot of tourists trying to click their photos in front of the ‘I love Namika La’ board and we also managed to get some shots and after that, we started driving downhill.Shortly after, we reached the village of Khangral where the road toward Chiktan bifurcates. There is an ancient fort in Chiktan and is located at a distance of about 12 kilometers from the main route. But we skipped Chiktan fort altogether and continued our way to Fotu La Pass.At an altitude of 4,108 m (13,478 ft), it is the highest point of the Srinagar Leh highway. After a pleasant drive of 25 kilometers from Khangral, we reached at the top of Fotu Law hich wasalso crowded with a number of tourists trying to click their pictures in front of the board. Both the passes have stunning landmark and offer panoramic views that will leave any traveler spell bound. Moving ahead, we reached Lamayuru at 11:30 am and stopped to take more photographs. The Lamayuru Monastery is an ancient gompa situated on a picturesque mountaintop, believed to have originated in the 11th century. It’s known for its unique architecture and also referred to as the Moon Land due to its peculiar landscape. It is believed that the region was once submerged under a lake until it was dried up by a revered holy man.We continued our journey and by 2:00 pm we arrived at Sangam point, 185 km from Kargil and shows the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers,offers a breathtaking natural spectacle in Ladakh. The sight of the two rivers merging, with one displaying serene green waters and the other a muddy brown, is truly awe-inspiring. Surrounded by majestic mountains, this peaceful spot provides an opportunity to contemplate nature’s grandeur. Shortly after moving ahead, we reached Magnetic Hill which is a historical site in Leh Ladakh valley, known for its unique natural phenomenon where vehicles and water appear to move uphill against gravity. The location has gained popularity as a tourist attraction for those seeking to experience this inexplicable wonder. Moreover, Magnetic hill is believed to defy gravity andit is said that there is a mysterious magnetic force emanating from the hill that pulls stationary vehicles within its range and makes them move uphill, though some believe that it is a mere optical illusion. The strange occurrence has been experienced and testified by travellers from all across the world. The Indus River flowing to the east of Magnetic Hill makes the surroundings a picture-perfect frame.Upon reaching Leh at 3:30 pm, we checked into Hotel Khayul, where I also booked room for my friends who were also on way to Leh for adventurous trip.All of my mentioned friends are Geography specialized teachers, serving education department from last 15 years and they helped me a lot in understanding the topography of Ladakh ranging from Great Himalayan to Mighty Karakoram Mountain ranges with peaks exceeding 7300 meters which contribute to its cold desert climate and low precipitation.After freshening up, we planned to visit to many nearby attractions of Leh such as Jamia Masjid, Leh Palace, Zorawar Fort, Hall of Fame, Shanti Stupa, and many more. We first visited Leh Palace which is located in the city of Lehand constructed in the17th Century, andits structure was finished by Sengge Namgyal.
The Leh palace complex comprises of nine stories, all of which had different functions to serve back into the times of glory. This palace’s structure is inspired by the Potala Palace of Lhasa, which makes it an excellent illustration of the medieval botanical system. The construction appears all the more imposing when viewed from a distance through the night time.
After enjoying the stunning panoramic view of Leh city and taking some shots,we went for dinner at Karim’s Hotel located near Jamia Masjid Leh and took a brief walk in the Leh market. The hotel manager Mr. Irfan Ahmad is a very nice person and treated us with lot of respect and his staff gave extraordinary service in our dinner.The Leh Main Market is one of the most attractive and energetic places in Ladakh where you can get everything from jewellery to clothes, groceries, to local street food. The market consists of various stores, shops, and stalls set up in a fanciful arrangement, where you can make your way between the shopkeepers and sellers to find items of your choice.The market is divided into several small pathways and streets, with sections allocated to clothes, artifacts, spices, food, souvenirs, and handicrafts. One of the top things that Leh Main Market is famous for is its woolen garments. Because of the cold climate, the people in Leh have a culture of creating handwoven woolen clothes, which have now become popular and demanded local products of Ladakh.
On Day 3, July 2, 2025,we set out to visit Pangong Tso Lake in the Changthang region. After waking up at 5:30 am, we bathed and offered Fajr prayersbefore departing at 7:30 am via Chang La pass. On the way to Pangong Lake, comes a number of breathtaking tourist attaractions like Chemrey monastery, Hemis monastery, Thiksey monastery and Shey palace. We reached the Chang La Pass at 9:40 am, covered a distance of 75 km from Leh City.Chang La Pass, the third highest motorable mountain pass in the world, is situated at an altitude of 5,360 meters above sea level and is named after the Sadhu Changla Baba. The place is famous for its scenic and serene natural beauty which attracts tourists from all around the world. The nearest settlement to this place is the little hamlet of Tangste. It is the main gateway for the Changthang plateau situated in the Himalayas.We spent 40 minutes there, having cup of tea and snacks despite the exorbitant prices. After a photography session in the bone-chilling cold, we left Chang La by 10:20 am and reached the Pangong Tso lake at 12:20 pm, 154 km from Leh. The lake gained worldwide recognition after featuring prominently in the Bollywood blockbuster, 3 Idiots, where the protagonists ride a scooter on Pangong Lake’s shores, left a lasting impression on viewers.
On Day 4, July 3, 2025,we began our journey at 9:30 am, heading directly to Kargil. We reached the Kargil at 4:30 pm and took some rest. We departed from Kargil at 5:00 pm and moved directly to Suru valley for night stay. We reached a village Suru Valley known as Panikhar at 7:00 pm and covered a distance of 72km from Kargil.
On Day 5, July 4, 2025,we set out at 9:30 am after delicious breakfast to visit Parkachik glacier located in Parkachik village, 15 km from Panikhar. The Parkachik Glacier is a breathtaking spectacle that provides adventure activities in the form of ice climbing and trekking. The glacier flows out of the Nun-Kun peaks, providing a stunning landscape of ice walls, Suru river valley, crevasses and glacial streams. On 30 minutes trekking, we reached near the glacier and took some photographs. Tucked away in the pristine landscapes of Ladakh, Suru Valley is a breathtakingly beautiful region and displays its spectacular scenery across its magnificent villages alongside natural landscapes of snowy peaks.The valley creates its entrance to Zanskar through its path spanning between Kargil and Pensi La Pass. We departed at 2:00 pm to visit the Hunderman village which is a small village located about 10 kilometers from Kargil. We reached to our destination at 7:00 pm after some stay at Kargil for lunch. Hunderman is like many other villages in the region, a group of 10-15 houses sitting between tall mountains of solid rocks. But what makes this village special is its history.From 1947 to 1971, this village was in Pakistan. After the war of 1971, the border shifted and the village became a part of India. Today, it sits right next to the border, along the line of control. Standing there, you can actually see the border and get a sneak peek into Pakistan. We departed to Kargil at 8:00 pm, had dinner and booked Hotel Castle for night stay.
On Day 6, July 5, 2025,we started our journey at 7:00 am back to our home from Kargil. At 8:30 am we reached to War Memorial in Bhimbet, Drass and after having breakfast, we entered the Drass War Memorial, where Army personnel checked our identity cards and logged our entries.This memorial commemorates the success of Operation Vijay during the 1999 Indo-Pak war. It honours the soldiers who lost their lives defending the borders against intruders. After spending two hours, we continued our journey and reached Sonamarg at 1:30 pm. After having lunch at Sonamarg, we departed and returned home by 6:00 pm with numerous memorable experiences from high altitude beautiful lakes to the world’s highest mountain passes to ancient monasteries, unique Ladakhi culture and landscapes.
(The author is Lecturer in Chemistry Department of School Education, J&K)

The post A fascinating Bike trip to Ladakh appeared first on Daily Excelsior.

News