Revvin ’ it Up
Riding from Manali to Srinagar through some of the highest passes , breathtaking valleys , scenic hamlets and braving formidable terrains , K2K Expeditions takes us on a wild ride to the land of high passes .
themed cafes that were teeming with travellers , jazz music and mouthwatering aroma that promised good food . Festooned with dreamcatchers big and small , the cafes were just that- a traveller ’ s dream , where one could just sit , play games like chess and scrabble , read in solitude and dine admiring the gorgeous view that they presented . That ’ s how we spent our evening until night caught up to us and we had to get back to the hotel where we were to be briefed about the trip .
K2K Expeditions Canon 1300D 46mm F / 10 1 / 200 ISO400
Someone once told me to live for the little things in life . Live for the sunrises and sunsets where you ’ ll see the sky painted in colors you never thought belonged . Live for the road trips and bike rides with music in your ears and the wind in your hair . Live for the days when you are surrounded by amazing people who make your journey in this cold harsh world , worthwhile . Live for the little things because they will make you realize that this is what life is about , this is what it means to be alive .
That ’ s exactly what K2K Expeditions promised and delivered when they took a group of 54 riders to the land of high passes , Ladakh , for a 1700 km ride of their dreams . It was 10 days of sheer adventure , fun and making lasting memories on the sands of this cold desert .
The journey began from Delhi from where we were to travel overnight to reach Manali the next morning . 54 strangers boarded the bus to Manali , apprehensive yet excited to check off the highly anticipated Ladakh bike trip off their bucket lists .
The briefing took place where the riders were acquainted with the laws of the mountains and were instructed to ride with the convoy without overtaking each other . We were also told to follow the lead of the Marshal and were given certain hacks of riding in the mountains . The mountains , beautiful as they are , can be brutal sometimes and so we were asked to take certain measures to ensure that we do not experience the dreaded AMS ( Acute Mountain Sickness ).
Everybody was pumped up for the ride the next morning as they were assigned their bikes which were tested and made ready for the rigorous journey ahead . With high spirits and the Marshal leading the convoy , all 27 Royal Enfields , aka , the beasts of the mountains , rode towards the first pass of the journey- the ‘ Rohtang La ’, which is at a gruelling altitude of 13000 ft . The gateway to the Leh and Pangi Valleys , Rohtang Pass is replete with spellbinding escapades of nature with the imposing twin-peaks of Geypan looming large on the pass . The bottleneck roads , that acted as an ancient trade route between the either side of the Pir Panjal range , are unforgiving and do not entertain novice riders .
After riding through daunting obstructions like Rani Nallah that made the journey tricky , the convoy reached Keylong , tired yet happy to have completed the first leg of the journey . The riders woke up early the next day
Gearing Up Canon 60D 70mm F / 22 1 / 200 ISO1250
As we woke in the bus , the beautiful valley of Pandoh welcomed us . With the sun rising , the Beas looked like a river of molten gold . Travelling through Pandoh and Kullu , we finally reached Manali at the time of the lunch where we were well received by the organizers and were allotted rooms .
In the evening , we went for a little sightseeing to Old Manali . We climbed up to the Manu Temple amidst many
18 FEATURE
Water Crossings Canon 1300D 21mm F / 20 1 / 1250 ISO3200