Introduction
Hustle and Bustle of daily routine in a metropolitan city quickly wears down the efficiency of an office goer/ any working individual. A break from the monotonous chores is mandatory to retain efficiency at optimum levels.
What else can be more refreshing than a road trip to a place of one’s liking. It must be remembered that a road trip offers the kind of freedom and impromptu adventure unparalleled by other forms of travel.
I shall describe my road trip under following heads:-
What Is a Perfect Road Trip
The Destination
Planning And Preparations
Conduct
Our Achievements.
Conclusion
The Perfect Road Trip
There is no yard stick to measure out what constitutes a perfect road trip. It depends on an individual’s liking, planning abilities, aspirations and expectations arising out of the journey.
Well for me, here are the activities which i look for while undertaking the trip to the most beautiful destination in India.-
Exceptionally beautiful places in picturesque surroundings of mountainous area.
Sight seeing en route at places of interest.
Interaction with people to learn about their culture, food habits and religious beliefs, customs and traditions.
learning few local dialects.
Fishing.
Camping out for a night near a stream /rivulet.
Rock climbing and rappelling.
River Rafting in famous river
Stroll along the hill slopes on a starry/ moonlit night.
Trekking in the forest areas and valleys.
Visit snow bound high altitude areas.
Witness snowfall.
The Destination
After having traveled almost the entire country, exploring beautiful Himalayas in Northern India would be of great interest. Therefore, Leh, capital of Ladakh region will be our perfect choice of destination. Leh is at a height of 11,500 ft above mean sea level and has Buddhist Monasteries with rich collection of Murals, Thankas and Sculptures. It has highest mountain ranges and Alpine dessert. It will provide easy access to the following:-
Shanti Stupa – built by the Japanese.
17th century Leh palace- built in Tibetan style.
800 years old Kali Mandir.
Thicksey Monastry- to witness sunset.
Hemis Monastry.
River Rafting, Hiking and para gliding facilities.
From Leh we would drive to Khardungla Pas- highest motor able pass in the world at a height of 18200 ft, Kargil- the high altitude battle ground where our Army beat back Pakistani Intruders and Pangongtso lake shared by India and China.
Planning And Preparations
The Route:-The distance of 1044 Kms from Delhi to Leh will be covered in 3 days. The route is very challenging thus, demanding skillful driving and mental robustness. There are a number of Army units en route from Manali onwards and their assistance can be sought in case of any mishap/ landslides.
The break down of journey is as under:-
Day 1- 24 Aug- Delhi to Manali- 570 Kms, Night Halt in Rest House.
Day 2- 25 Aug- Manali to Sarchu- 222 Kms.Night Halt in Rest House.
Day 3- 26 Aug- Sarchu to Leh- 252 Kms. Night Halt in Hotel.
Duration Of Trip:- The trip will be undertaken from 24 Aug to 11 Sep 2013 (total 19 days) since, the road conditions on this route are the best during this period and the weather conditions in Leh- ladakh are conducive to sight seeing and travel.
My Team:-Since we would be going to high altitude areas, i would select my team members who are very fit, tough and can endure hardships due to variations in weather conditions. Besides this, they should be cheerful and have a positive attitude with a pleasant nature to mix well and be a good team member. The four member team would be as follows:-
Self- Team Leader. 60 years old mentally and physically tough man from an Army background.
Chander-. Budget and Food In Charge (to keep a record of all expenditures and ensure adequate stocks of all food items at all times). 24 years old Cook by profession, very good driver from Srinagar, smiling and a laborious person who can sing well.
Nancy- Administrative In Charge (to look after all administrative arrangements, hotel bookings, coordination with various agencies). 45 years old lady who has participated in many rallies in the mountainous areas. Plays guitar and sings English songs.
Mojo- My 5 years old Labrador Retriever, fully trained and domesticated. Will be very helpful for security during night and will keep ll amused during travel.
The Vehicle. Innova 4 WD SUV would serve the purpose well since, this is a very sturdy, comfortable and most popular and successful vehicle currently plying on the roads of Ladakh region.
With numerous articles/ items stacked up in the SUV, it is mandatory that a captivating and refreshing odour is maintained through out the journey. AMBIPURE car fragrance wll be used at all times. Adequate stocks of AMBIPURE will be carried.
Garmin Navigation System with 5 in 1 dispenser will be fitted in the vehicle to show driving speed, arrival time at destination and lane view to help in turnings.
Super Tooth Control, a blue tooth accessory will be fitted to allow hands free controls as well as synchronizing GPS and stream music directly from compatible phones.
An aerodynamic roof box will be fitted to facilitate carriage of luggage.
Not To Forget
Insurance papers, Snow chains, shovels, picks.
Road maps, Print out of Route Chart with Time and Distance, Guide books, Driving Licenses, Credit Cards, Leh Hotel reservation booking details,
Winter Clothing, Gloves, Coat Parka, Scarves, Plastic bags, Rain Coats, Woolens for Mojo, Snow Goggles.
Small Water Proof Tents, Snow Shoes, Cookers, Utensils.
Sleeping bags, Personal Clothes, Towels, Blankets, Linen,
Food items to include Tinned Vegetables, Fruits, Fish, Snacks, Biscuits, Cookies, Adequate Water bottles.
Car stereo Adaptor, Ipod, Mobile Charger, Music CDs, Alarm Clock, Magnetic Compass.
Books, Comics, Address Book (containing all details of contact persons at places of stay, Hospitals, Rest Houses, Camping Grounds en route),
Camp site details at Kargil- Living out in snow tent.
Guitar, Playing cards.
Shaving kits with dispensable razors,Sunscreen lotion, Toilet paper,
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) medicines, First Aid Box
The Conduct
. The day wise break down after Day 3 (reach Leh) is as under:
Day 4- 27 Aug- Acclimatisation in Leh- rest in rooms.
Day 5- 28 Aug- Visit Shanti Stupa, Thicksey Monastry, Hemmis Monastry, Kali Mandir, Leh town.
Day 6, Day 7- 29, 30 Aug- Visit Khardungla Pass, Pangongtso Lake
Day 8- 31 Aug- Trekking, Take a stroll along a path in the valley at night.
Day 9, Day10- 01, 02 Sep- Visit Kargil, Rock Climbing and Rap ling.
Day 10- 03 Sep- Visit Leh Palace, Enjoy white River rafting in Indus River.
Day 11- 04 Sep- Shopping in Leh Market, Fishing.
Day 12- 05 Sep- Witness and Participate in Ladakh Festival/ Visit a Local Village and interact with villagers.
Day 13- 06 Sep- Free Day/ Reserve day
Day 13- 07 Sep- Reserve day, Prepare for Return Journey.
Day 14- 08 Sep- Departure Leh For Sarchu (Night Halt).
Day 15- 09 Sep- Departure Sarchu For Manali (Night Halt).
Day 16- 10 Sep- Departure Manali For Delhi.( Night Halt)
Day 17- 11 Sep- Party in Delhi and Dispersal.
Guidelines For Members
The Oxygen content in the atmosphere reduces by almost1/3 in Hiagh altitude areas. Therefore, special precautions need to be taken by all team members to keep themselves fully fit at all times.
Everyone to resort to Pre medication- taking mountain sickness tablets two days prior to travel.
No one to smoke, consume liquor, tobacco during trip- these lead to fatigue and heavy breathing.
Sleep in upright position- helps breathing thus, improving intake of oxygen.
Never run or walk fast- climb gradually with short steps.
Always wear Goggles (to avoid ultra violet radiations).
Wear warm clothing at all times. Use snow boots when required.
Achievements
The trip to Leh will prove to be an eye opener for all of us as it will provide ample opportunities of adventure and excitement in all planned activities. Ultimately, we would benefit as under:-
Improve in confidence.
Better drivers in hilly terrain and snow bound areas.
Develop better team spirit as a result of staying together.
Learn to live under stress and strain.
Withstand adverse weather conditions.
Conclusion
A Thing of Beauty is a Joy for ever. I am sure, after the Leh Trip, this famous saying will hold good for me and my Team members for the rest of our lives.The lush green slopes along valleys around Manali and en route to Leh, the barren landscapes and multicolored mountains sans vegetation in Leh region are bound to leave us mesmerized for quite some time.
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