Manali – Leh Travel | Opinion eXpress !!

Waking up at 3 was not challenging. We could do it, but keeping ourselves refreshed throughout the day would be challenging for sure.

We tried to ourselves fresh as quick as we could, when the phone of the driver came stating he is already outside the hotel. Making sure we did not miss anything at hotel, we gradually moved out of the hotel.

‘How long will it take to reach Leh?’ I asked while he was tying our luggage at the roof of the jeep.

'15 hours’ he replied.

Rusen and Susant were sitting in the back. I was sitting with Shiva and Gaurav in the middle, while Kapil was seated front. I can talk with new peoples, and create fun too. But I fear, what the person might think of. Hence, I decided not to stay in the front seat.

Our reserved vehicle. All set for 18 hours of long journey.

Rohtang Pass

Early morning at 5, we were at Rohtang Pass. No one ever figured that we would be there that early and at dark. Still, we were so excited about this place for the reason that various shootings had been there. Apart, this is one important place that people would love to visit anyway. At the height of 3,980 m itself, we felt oxygen lacking? Maybe that was our fear. It was too cold, and we were shivering. Shiva, Kapil and I, we dared to climb a bit, and take snap standing in Ice. Yes, there was huge Ice.

Shiva at Rhotang Pass. This was too too too cold place.

Oh, when I was back, I felt cold within my shoes. How did that ice strike inside my shoe? Made me wonder. Maybe, Rusen, Susant and Gaurav did something right by not coming out for long?

Breakfast Time

We were stopped at Kokshar, where we got to have our breakfast. What did we eat? That was some paratha, and tea. It was good. When the shop owner started to stare us, we felt him being Nepali, because we spoke Nepali. At the time of payment,

‘Kati bhayo dai?’ we asked intentionally in Nepali to make sure ourself.

‘Ek saya assi’ He replied.

‘Kaha ho ni tero ghar?’ He asked again.

‘Tapai ko kaha ho?’ Shiva asked.

‘Pahilia maile sodheko, malai van’. He asked. I wondered if Nepalese were rude, or if it was just the langage that made them rude.

‘Nepalgunj’ Shiva replied.

‘Kathmandu’ he said. But we never believed that he was from Kathmandu. I don’t know why people lie? Maybe he was only Nepali Speaking Indian.

After Breakfast, we thought of taking snap infront of the hotel.

Royal Enfiled

I had heard this somewhere, if you can ride upto Leh, you can ride anywhere in the world. Maybe not, I had seen roadways of Nepal, which was much more dangerous than this one. Still, this surely was a popular destination for Bikers. We could see bunch of riders, who were riding bikes. They certainly were not moving under any pressure. They probably would reach Leh in 2-3 days. It was we, who had to reach there today itself.

Just one biker. There were tons of then in the road.

Cycling too

Junga Bahadur Rana’s tower and Tunnel

With the morning sunlight striking our jeep, driver was talking various things. He showed us the tower at first, and then explained that it was build by Junga Bahadur Rana very long ago, and in a single day. We were amazed, why did he build that? Was Nepal’s border up to there during Junga Bahadur Rana’s regime? Maybe not.

‘He must have come to fight on behalf of Indians’, Shiva told. Any possibilities? The driver also showed the tunnel way that was under construction. We remembered how those Nepalese were working for the tunnel. It would surely shorten the distance

Junga Bahadur's Tower

No Network Coverage
So once in Kashmir, telecom of any networks out of Kashmir does not work at all. So our phone was dumb, could not do anything. We had to wait for either wifi connection, or to get out of Kashmir. Just because this state borders with China and Pakistan, telecom service was made strict? Not fair!

Keylong

We earlier had plan to spend one day here at Keylong. It was 9 when we reached Keylong. We spent more than half an hour there, we tried some shopping for the journey, because this was the last place where we could buy anything at reasonable price. Places after this would were likely to be expensive. We would move quick, but Kapil had this stomach problem, and we had to click photos till he returned back.

A view, when about to reach Keylong

Tea time and Lunch Time

‘Chaaye laadijye’, that’s what we told to old women who was in the shop. She brought us 6 cup of teas. She so much looked like Nepali, and Shiva asked her,

‘Aap ko Nepali aati he?’

‘Kyu? Kya karungi Nepali bol kar?’ she replied with anger.

Later again, we asked her,

‘Aap ka ghar kaha par hey?’

‘Kyu? Mera ghar Kathmandu me bhi hey, Keylong me bhi hey, Manali bhe he, or yaha bhi beththi hu, kyu?’ again another attack of anger.

We left the place. Susant bought two white Wai Wai noodles there.

Hamro Man Ma Wai Wai

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After sometime, we were at place for Lunch.

This was tarpaulin covered space. Big enough as that of room, and one corner, young something like 25 years old guy was cooking something. He so much seemed like Nepali. And this time he politely admitted. He offered us good food, and it was just daal and bhaat. Okay, he called it chawal He offered us pickle too. Those who loved mutton, took mutton. He told he was from some western Nepal place. I was so hungry, I was not listening him speaking at all. I demanded for additional rice, and had a great lunch. His wife later came asking, ‘Aap ki gaau ke log he?’ Yes we were.

They had provision to sleep as well.

This was just daal and bhaat. It was tasty enough though.

Nepali Music and beautiful scenarios

Not always our eyes seek for beautiful girls. The scenes out of window was amazing. Any random click would be fit for wall paper. I was deprived of sleep, but, sleeping for an hour would cost me a lot, I would miss so much beautiful scenarios. I tried my best to stay awake. There was some random song going on, and all of suddenly, Nepali movie song was on the track. I first doubted, if Shiva gave him the song, but no, that was driver’s collection. Few Nepalese songs from Nepali movies like Sagar sari chokho maya..was on the track. We were happy. Rusen was still sitting in the back, sometimes sleeping, sometimes awake.

Highway's scene.

Later, I realized that I had pendrive in my wallet, and that had few songs too. So, I handed my pendrive and let the driver play those songs. He had really beautiful song collection. Sarchu Camping was something to see, it was full of camps, where those bikers would stay.

Mountains were just within our reach. If we had time, maybe we'd run to touch those layers of ice.

Roadway after Pang

The thin line of clock was rotating like nothing else. 2,3,4 and by the time it was 5 we rached Prang. Here we told driver to take rest, but he denied. He was clever, as he used to mix alcohol with thukkpa and have it. Oh! We ordered tea, and had it with our cookies. Before 6, we left the place.

Do you remember that scene of 3 Idiots before reaching school? Okay this scene,

You surely remember this scene of 3 Idiots

We were in this road itself, just that it was dark.

Yes, we were here at the evening. My eyes were so tired. But, I made my best effort to keep it wide open to see them. Sun was about to set, or maybe it already was. I could see orange colored horizon. Our jeep was moving on speed of 100 km/hr. There were beautiful songs. The road was clear, with no one on our lane. No any people, few trucks going towards Manali, and we were moving towards Leh.

Are Tibetians rude?

Be it anywhere, they really were so different. They were straight, and had no any hospitality. Maybe they had voices as such, or they were really rude. I had no idea.

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