Placing Dreams On The Roadmap: Saikat’s Bike Trip to Ladakh With Thrillophilia
I 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. I could only see a few steps ahead of me, the rest was still in the dark.
As time passed and the sun started to shake off the slumber, the views ahead of me started to get clearer. As visibility increased, the path in front started to get longer…with the mountain ranges stretching into infinity.
I was so excited about this journey that the excitement inside of me was bubbling to the brim. Otherwise, why would any sane person sacrifice their sleep just to stand and wait? But I could not sleep…so I decided to see the sunrise instead!
Juley!
It was one of my childhood dreams to go on a bike trip in Ladakh. Especially after the movie Jab Tak Hai Jaan was released, I was nearly crazy to go on this trip, picking fights with my parents and thinking about random ways to earn some money.
But now I am a grown-up, a successful software engineer from Kolkata, and I made this dream come true.
The day I landed in Leh, I 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 us all to a garage where a series of Royal Enfields and Himalayans stood showing off their glamour. The bikes were literally shining, and I could not help but head straight to one beautiful beast standing in the corner- a Himalayan.
I knew this was the perfect companion for my ride.
Highs and Lows
You would be surprised to know that I liked the Sham Valley and the Shyok Valley better than the Nubra Valley and Pangong Valley. No doubt they were beautiful, but I expected them to be more calm and serene. But due to tourism, the places were much more crowded in reality.
Although the stays were really nice and comfortable, I just got a bit disappointed seeing some people kill the vibe of the place, especially in Pangong.
Yeah, the yellow scooter rides and “3 Idiots” famed seats sure do 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 deserves 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 4350 metres above sea!
Sham Valley and Shyok Valley, on the other hand, seemed peaceful. Although Sham Valley was crowded due to river rafting, you 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 our 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. We 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! I learnt some recipes from the chef in our Nubra Valley camp stay’s kitchen, and even brought some back to Kolkata for further culinary experiments.
The Adventures and the Realisations
Let me tell you, we had a killer time exploring the monasteries and snaking through Ladakh swiftly on our 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. We could even spot some greenery in bits and pieces as it was the season for blooms.
While crossing Khardungla, my hands were almost freezing cold, but the thrill in my heart kept me warm enough. Hitting the highest motorable pass in India is indeed an achievement, but we still had Changla Pass to cross, the second-highest motorable one in the world. And the day we conquered this one, we 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. I knew that the Stok Kangri trek was banned, but somehow the sight of the peak seemed to call me. It was not possible I know, and tourism in this region harmed the local people living here, but still…
The heart wants what it wants right?
But it does not mean we have to act upon it.
Burying my desires, we headed for the village tour which was rather very enriching. We met so 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 I 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.
Read More: Thrillophilia Ladakh Bike Trip Reviews