Placing Dreams On The Roadmap: Saikat’s Bike Trip to Ladakh With Thrillophilia

Bhavishya Jain

Sep 9, 2024 • 5 min read

Saikat was the first to reach the bike trip's starting point, an hour before the call time.

It was early in the morning, and the sun was still lazy. He could only see a few steps ahead, the rest was still in the dark.

As time passed and the sun started to shake off its slumber, the views ahead of him started to get clearer. As visibility increased, the path in front started to get longer…with the mountain ranges stretching into infinity.

Saikat was so excited about this journey that the excitement inside him was bubbling to the brim. Otherwise, why would any sane person sacrifice their sleep just to stand and wait? But he could not sleep…so he decided to see the sunrise instead!

Juley!
It had been one of his childhood dreams to go on a bike trip in Ladakh. Especially after the movie Jab Tak Hai Jaan was released, he was nearly crazy to go on this trip, picking fights with his parents and thinking about random ways to earn some money.

But now he was a grown-up, a successful software engineer from Kolkata, and he made this dream come true.

The day he landed in Leh, he was to meet the whole batch of travellers who would be joining the journey along with the tour leaders and guides of Thrillophilia. They took everyone to a garage where a series of Royal Enfields and Himalayans stood showing off their glamour. The bikes were literally shining, and he could not help but head straight to one beautiful beast standing in the corner- a Himalayan.

He knew this was the perfect companion for his ride.

Highs and Lows
One would be surprised to know that Saikat liked the Sham Valley and the Shyok Valley better than the Nubra Valley and Pangong Valley. No doubt they were beautiful, but he expected them to be more calm and serene. Due to tourism, the places were much more crowded in reality.

Although the stays were really nice and comfortable, he just got a bit disappointed seeing some people kill the vibe of the place, especially in Pangong.

The yellow scooter rides and “3 Idiots” famed seats surely promote the tourism quotient of the place, but this commercialisation effect caused due to a blockbuster movie did not seem fair to Pangong Lake itself. It deserved to be given that dignity and respect, after all, it is one of the natural wonders of the world—the highest saltwater lake in the world lying at 4,350 metres above sea!

Sham Valley and Shyok Valley, on the other hand, seemed peaceful. Although Sham Valley was crowded due to river rafting, one could still relax amidst nature. Also, the Shyok River was flowing over its banks, thanks to the July weather. It was a blessing to witness scenery like those of Ladakh, impeccable!

Ladakh’s landscapes were magical, undulating, unpredictable and unique. The vast valleys, tall mountains, and mesmerising rivers, all stood against the background of azure blue skies making the scenery seem to have come straight out of a naturalist painting.

Anyway, personal opinions aside, the trip arrangement was too good overall. All their meals were fantastic, especially because they served local dishes like Tingmo, Skyu, Chhutagi, Momos, and Thukpas. They were soul-soothing, especially in that low temperature; the hot stews seemed heavenly. They also tried butter tea with breakfast, and chhang with snacks (a local liquor made of fermented barley seeds).

Oh, and chhurpi, a kind of cheese that can be cooked in various ways! Saikat learnt some recipes from the chef in their Nubra Valley camp stay’s kitchen, and even brought some back to Kolkata for further culinary experiments.

The Adventures and the Realisations

Saikat had a killer time exploring the monasteries and snaking through Ladakh swiftly on their top-class bikes. Just imagine a line of 20+ riders zooming their way through the enchanting roads, winding around mountain bases and along picturesque rivers. They could even spot some greenery in bits and pieces as it was the season for blooms.

While crossing Khardungla, his hands were almost freezing cold, but the thrill in his heart kept him warm enough. Hitting the highest motorable pass in India is indeed an achievement, but they still had Changla Pass to cross, the second-highest motorable one in the world. On the day they conquered this one, they all celebrated with some big bowls of Maggie and tea in the Changla cafe.

The last bit of the trip was touring the Stok village. He knew that the Stok Kangri trek was banned, but somehow the sight of the peak seemed to call him. It was not possible, he knew, and tourism in this region harmed the local people living there, but still…

The heart wants what it wants, right?

But it did not mean they had to act upon it.

Burying his desires, they headed for the village tour, which was rather enriching. They met many people and talked to them about how they live their lives in such harsh conditions. But there was one thing constant in their answers and conversations-

“We get everything from nature around us, the wood, the wool, the food, and water. For us, that is our power, that is our saviour.”

And Saikat couldn't agree more.

Sustainable tourism is the way to go, or else there won't be any places left to visit in the next 50 years.

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