Left Leh for Manali at 2.16 am
After a stay of over seven days, coming with a two-day halt at Disket and innumerable rounds to Gonpa Soma, it was time to leave Leh.. Made inquiries about flights originating from Leh. Fairly expensive as the one heading towards Jammu came for 8000rs plus. Finally settled for tempo traveller ride. With a power cut that seem to suggest a perennial issue, around 11.30 in the night i decided to head towards the tempo traveller stand. It is the ATM structure and its roundabout that serves as the halting point.
Hours spent there showed the prowess of stray dogs who assembled and dispersed every five minutes. Three South Koreans too came to tempo traveller stand to take the mini bus. The waiting period saw them study the behaviour of dogs and boast of having studied and probably reared them. Their behaviour suggested they were more in comfort zone when they invited dogs to their side and the moment the dogs dispersed they looked for ways to incite them. Amidst this just before one in the night the first tempo traveller came. And in a space of one hour not less than 10 mini buses left Leh.
Left Leh at 2.16, with Karu coming at 2.53 and Upshi at 3.09. Here the border post where formalities are completed was pitch dark with fewer sighting of lights. Except for the place where passports are deposited and collected the surrounding could hardly compete to be declared a border check post. For those wishing to use toilet, there are none whatsoever. The area needs a little facelift.
Left Upshi at 3.40 and few kms later the rough road becomes visible. Between 3.50 and 5.05 in the morning there is a little spell of plain road. From 5.05 onwards one is amidst the dust drenched plain road. The descent begins at 6.40 and the vehicles for a while are no longer on a bumpy ride.
At 7am Pang was accessed (purchased cap from here last time).Here too as in Sarchu the meals are upwardly priced. Those who have wilted under pressure leads to a wait of over one hour. Highly unjustified given the long stretch that we need to cover. When Sarchu ( some spell it serchu) is 58 kms away, the smooth road option begins, and as sarchu is 34 kms the first 15 of that ride reminds one of the journey from Upshi to Rumtse: roads split wide open.
At 9.24 there is a faceoff between a truck and three tempo travellers; truck retreats and this is a regular feature where those plying trucks are hearty enough to give way and even bring their vehicle to a standstill for other vehicles to pass. As for the man driving the tempo traveller we were in, he was willing to pick up fight at any place. At one juncture one truckwallah took some time to give a pass. What this eventually led to was this tempo traveller driver once having overtook, stopped and got out of the vehicle to get into an argumentative spell. Perhaps he was girding up for more such fights during the entire course of the journey. At 9.48 the smooth ride again begins, with sighting of twin twin bridge (weak) at 10.14. Finally Sarchu comes at 10. 30 where again the passport formalities have to be complied.
At 12 pm we are at Geeta dhaba and mirroring the strong sentiment the food served is great and equally honest is the lady hostess. My best wishes to Geeta Dhaba and those running it. Hope those trying this route should be kind enough to take meals from here. As for the tea served at geeta dhaba, black tea, mint tea and milk tea among others. 10kms from here the ascent begins and soon after we are in Darcha. Keylong came at 3, Tandi 3.15 and the road between keylong & tandi is rough to say the least.
At 5.30 pm Rohtang Pass is sighted and from here compared to 10 days ago the road is fairly smooth till manali. Before entering the innards, there is a message "Hum seedhe hai, hamein barbad na karein."
At 7 pm manali comes. As for the ride, there are three places where passport-depositing exercise is underway. THe third and the last one is fairly long. Probably it is after Tandi. These three places are Upshi, Sarchu and the one after Tandi. In all not less than 120 minutes are taken away. And this halt, coming with a special one near Tandi, is a bit annoying. What is more annoying is the driver's tendency to prolong the halt even after passports have been returned.
After a stay of over seven days, coming with a two-day halt at Disket and innumerable rounds to Gonpa Soma, it was time to leave Leh.. Made inquiries about flights originating from Leh. Fairly expensive as the one heading towards Jammu came for 8000rs plus. Finally settled for tempo traveller ride. With a power cut that seem to suggest a perennial issue, around 11.30 in the night i decided to head towards the tempo traveller stand. It is the ATM structure and its roundabout that serves as the halting point.
Hours spent there showed the prowess of stray dogs who assembled and dispersed every five minutes. Three South Koreans too came to tempo traveller stand to take the mini bus. The waiting period saw them study the behaviour of dogs and boast of having studied and probably reared them. Their behaviour suggested they were more in comfort zone when they invited dogs to their side and the moment the dogs dispersed they looked for ways to incite them. Amidst this just before one in the night the first tempo traveller came. And in a space of one hour not less than 10 mini buses left Leh.
Left Leh at 2.16, with Karu coming at 2.53 and Upshi at 3.09. Here the border post where formalities are completed was pitch dark with fewer sighting of lights. Except for the place where passports are deposited and collected the surrounding could hardly compete to be declared a border check post. For those wishing to use toilet, there are none whatsoever. The area needs a little facelift.
Left Upshi at 3.40 and few kms later the rough road becomes visible. Between 3.50 and 5.05 in the morning there is a little spell of plain road. From 5.05 onwards one is amidst the dust drenched plain road. The descent begins at 6.40 and the vehicles for a while are no longer on a bumpy ride.
At 7am Pang was accessed (purchased cap from here last time).Here too as in Sarchu the meals are upwardly priced. Those who have wilted under pressure leads to a wait of over one hour. Highly unjustified given the long stretch that we need to cover. When Sarchu ( some spell it serchu) is 58 kms away, the smooth road option begins, and as sarchu is 34 kms the first 15 of that ride reminds one of the journey from Upshi to Rumtse: roads split wide open.
At 9.24 there is a faceoff between a truck and three tempo travellers; truck retreats and this is a regular feature where those plying trucks are hearty enough to give way and even bring their vehicle to a standstill for other vehicles to pass. As for the man driving the tempo traveller we were in, he was willing to pick up fight at any place. At one juncture one truckwallah took some time to give a pass. What this eventually led to was this tempo traveller driver once having overtook, stopped and got out of the vehicle to get into an argumentative spell. Perhaps he was girding up for more such fights during the entire course of the journey. At 9.48 the smooth ride again begins, with sighting of twin twin bridge (weak) at 10.14. Finally Sarchu comes at 10. 30 where again the passport formalities have to be complied.
At 12 pm we are at Geeta dhaba and mirroring the strong sentiment the food served is great and equally honest is the lady hostess. My best wishes to Geeta Dhaba and those running it. Hope those trying this route should be kind enough to take meals from here. As for the tea served at geeta dhaba, black tea, mint tea and milk tea among others. 10kms from here the ascent begins and soon after we are in Darcha. Keylong came at 3, Tandi 3.15 and the road between keylong & tandi is rough to say the least.
At 5.30 pm Rohtang Pass is sighted and from here compared to 10 days ago the road is fairly smooth till manali. Before entering the innards, there is a message "Hum seedhe hai, hamein barbad na karein."
At 7 pm manali comes. As for the ride, there are three places where passport-depositing exercise is underway. THe third and the last one is fairly long. Probably it is after Tandi. These three places are Upshi, Sarchu and the one after Tandi. In all not less than 120 minutes are taken away. And this halt, coming with a special one near Tandi, is a bit annoying. What is more annoying is the driver's tendency to prolong the halt even after passports have been returned.
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