| LEH - MANALI SAFARI
AREA: Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh
DURATION : 15 days
GRADE : Demanding
SEASON : Mid-July - Mid September.
This spectacular road through the highest mountains in the world is open for just 3 months in the year - from mid July through September. Crossing the Pir Panjal, the Greater Himalayan and the Zanskar ranges, it reaches a maximum elevation of 5304m.
The 476 km journey over four high passes and some of the most awe inspiring terrain in the world starts from Manali, along the green valley of the Beas river, up the steep switchbacks of Rohtang Pass at 3978m. The pass forms the divide between the verdant Kullu valley and the stark expanse of rock and glacier, in the rain shadow of the Pir Panjal range. From Rohtang, the road descends to the Chandra River and follows it to Tandi where the Chandra meets the Bhaga River; little villages with groves of poplar, willow, and potato fields irrigated by glacial streams dot the landscape. The road continues past Keylong (district headquarters of Lahaul) and the last town till Leh (360kms away). Following the Bhaga River through Darcha and past the pastures of Zingzingbar starts the ascent to the Baralacha Pass (4892m). “The Pass with the crossroads on its summit” - straddles the meeting point of gigantic ranges, offering passage down four different routes, along the valleys of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers and into Ladakh and Spiti.
A rough stretch of road descends to the pastures of Sarchu 107kms from Keylong. Now begin the wide-open spaces, dotted with the amazing textures of craggy mountain faces, the awesome world of nature's timelessness dwarfing Man. Once across the Tsarap river the gruelling ascent to LachulangLa Pass (5059m) begins 54kms from Sarchu. The amazing shapes and colours as you reach the top compensate the hard drive, descend along a little stream to Pang.
Beyond Pang, the road crosses the Sumskyal, a deep gash marking the edge of the great Kyangshuthang plains - a massive plateau at an altitude of 4500mts. Across the vast expanses of this plain are chances to see the Kyang (Tibetan wild ass), the Nabu (Blue Sheep), lots of marmot, as well as Pashmina sheep of the Rupshu Shepherds.
We take an interesting diversion at this point, short of the Tanglangla Pass - at 5325m, the highest point on the highway. 136kms short of Leh a dirt road east leads to the Tso Kar Lake. We camp two nights at this lake and see the breeding Brahmini ducks, Grebes and Black necked cranes. From Tso Kar we take a little used dirt road past hot springs and meadows where yak herders and goatherds have their summer pastures and arrive at the Tso Moriri Lake. Camp overnight at this beautiful lake and taking a circuit north meet the highway in the Indus valley, moving on to Leh through Tanglangla pass.
Along the regular route, once across the plain, at Dibring, the road starts climbing across the snowy reaches of the Tanglangla and descends into more inhabited Ladakh, meeting the Indus river at Upshi. Passing the Monasteries of Hemis, Thikse and Shey, The road reaches the Bazaar of Leh and the comforts of hotels and hot baths.
>> click here for the Itinerary
Note: Costs depend on season and final itinerary |
