Road trip to Spiti, Kaza, Chandratal, Manali starting in June 2018 by Sukla Chaki

Travelogue of a road trip in early June 2018 by Indian Roadie Sukla Chaki and five other male friends and a driver in a rented Toyota Innova.

The route was as follows:
New Delhi - Chandigarh - Shimla - Narkanda - Sangla - Chitkul - Kalpa - Mud - Kaza - Kibber - Komik - Hikkim - Langza - Chicham Bridge - Chandratal - Batal - Gramphoo - Rohtang Pass - Manali - Chandigarh - New Delhi.

The itinerary .......
Day 1:
Vadodara 7.10am to Delhi 8.00am by flight.
By rented full-time Toyota Innova, Delhi (3pm) to Chandigarh (9pm), 6 hrs including one lunch break for 45 minutes and a short tea break.

Day 2:
Chandigarh to Sangla (312 km/ 10 hrs including breaks for breakfast, lunch, 4 tea breaks) via Shimla, Narkanda, Rampur.
Stayed in Hotel Madhu in Sangla.

Day 3:
Sangla to Kalpa (47 kms) via Chitkul.
Stayed in Chini Bungalow, Kalpa.

Day 4:
Kalpa to Tabo (159 km/ 7 hrs, including breaks for lunch and tea) via Geu Village.
Stay in Namsy Homestay in Tabo.

Day 5:
Tabo to Mud via  Dhankar Monastery and Dhankar Lake.
Visit to the Monastery and back involved a 2 kms trek.

Day 6:
Mud to Kibber (46 kms/ 5 hrs) via Kaza, Tashiganj, Gette.
The highest fuel filling station, an IOC outlet is in Kaza.
Stay in Kibber homestay.

Day 7:
Kibber to Langza (approx 42 kms/ 6 hrs) via Komic Village and Hikkim.
Stayed in PhanDhey Homestay in Hikkim, Komic.
Langza is famous for the huge statue of Buddha.
Hikkim is famous for world's highest Post Office. 

Day 8:
Langza to Chandratal (approx 51 kms) via Chicham Bridge.
Stayed in Tenzing Camp (tent).
Trekked Tenzing Camp to Chandratal (3 kms each way or 6 kms in total).

Day 9:
Stayed in Chandratal.

Day 10:
Chandra Tal to Manali (approx 50 kms) via Pagla Dhara (left early morning at 6am to avoid wide and deep water-crossings, Batal (famous for Chacha Chachi's Dhaba),  Gramphoo, Rohtang Pass.
Stayed in Crazy Pad Hostel in Old Manali.

Day 11:
Stayed in Manali.

Day 12:
Manali to Delhi Airport (578 kms) via Chandigarh.
Checked out of Crazy Pad Hostel in Old Manali at 9am. Exited Manali city limits after lunch at 1pm. 

Day 13
Delhi - Vadodara by flight in the evening. 

Places you can drive/ ride to for 'paragliding' in India

Breathtaking paragliding destinations in India:

1. Manali:

Manali has been come out as the wonderful destination for enjoying the astonishing excitement of paragliding. This famous hill station is considered as one the best as well as the crucial paragliding places in all over the India. Moreover, if you are looking for the authentic paragliding experience then this is the best place as well as option for you.

2. Indrunag, Dharamshala:

Indrunag near Dharamshala is amongst the international destinations for the paragliding. Indru Nag site is a small plateau which is located at the hilltop and is used by the paragliders as a beginning pad for a joy ride of 15 to 20 minutes. In addition to this, while paragliding; you can see the beautiful view of Dharmsala city.

3. Kunjapuri, Rishikesh: 

Kunjapuri is a small place in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand and located in the shivalik ranges. People who visit Rishikesh, for sure also take a ride of paragliding. While taking a ride you can have a view of Chaukhamba, Swarga Rohini peaks, Banderpunch and Gangotri. Also, Kunjapuri stands as an inimitable paragliding destination for the Indians as well as foreigners.

4. Goa:

Paragliding is an exciting sport that gives you a combination of an adrenaline filled and a peaceful serene experience that can only be witnessed while flying in the sky. Goa is a place in India that offers an outstanding destination for paragliding. Here, the paragliding trips take place in the North Goa at the Querim beach and Arambol beach. 

5. Pavana, Maharashtra:

Pavana is one of the top paragliding places in India which is located on Kamshet the highway near to Pavana Dam. This is a place which makes the adventure lovers take back to an unforgettable paragliding experience which they are going to treasure for a lifetime. Furthermore, here you get an exceptional experience of paragliding through the water of the lake.

6. Bedni Bugyal, Uttarakhand:

Bedni Bugyal is a place in Uttarakhand which is located in the Garhwal region at the height of 3354 meters above the sea level. This place is well known for offering the magnificent views of the Himalayan Mountains. Here a paraglider can experience soaring in the clear blue sky along with the thriving green fields at the feet. Moreover, you can also go for the training courses at Bedni Bugyal before your final flight in the air. 

7. Sanasar, Jammu:

Sanasar is located at the distance of 19 km from Patnitop in Jammu. It is a small hill station and is well known for the paragliding and golf destination. The best time for paragliding in Sanasar is from May to June and then from September to October. From here you can get a beautiful of snow capped Himalayan mountain ranges. 

8. Bhimtal, Uttarakhand

Bhimtal is a small hill station in the state of Uttarakhand known for its serene beauty. You can enjoy here many adventure sports as well as paragliding. Here you will feel like soaring in the sky by seeing the magnificent views of lakes such as Bhimtal lake and Naukuchiatal Lake.  

Author: Neeta Sharma. 

Source: FunAtTrip

2017 Maruti Suzuki Raid de Himalaya (19th Edition) flagged off from Manali on 2017-10-07

The 2017 Maruti Suzuki Raid de Himalaya (19th Edition) in association with ExxonMobil saw the ceremonial flag off from Manali on 2017-10-07. The 19th Edition of Raid de Himalaya will see participants travel through places like Keylong, Kaza, Sarchu, Leh, Kargil and Pensi La, while covering a distance of 1850 kms at an altitude of 17,500 feet with temperatures as low as -15°C.

It’s that time of the year when the 19th edition of the most treacherous rally raid – Maruti Suzuki Raid de Himalaya in association with ExxonMobil – kick starts in India. This time around, the 2017 Raid de Himalaya in association with ExxonMobil has been flagged off from the picturesque town of Manali, nestled in the lap of Himalayas. The ‘Maruti Suzuki Raid de Himalaya’ is one of the toughest off-road rallies in the world. More than 170 Motorsport enthusiasts are participating in this rally in 110 teams, which will culminate at Leh on October 14. The Raid-de-Himalaya is one of the only two off-road Motorsport rallies from India that is listed in the annual Motorsport calendar of Switzerland-based FIA (Federation Internationale Automobile) and FIM (Federation Internationale Motorcyclisme).

The 2017 Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya is run in compliance with the National Competition Rules (NCR) & General Prescriptions of the FMSCI and the International Sporting Code of the FIA. In one of the toughest and most adventurous routes ever, participants of the 2017 Raid de Himalaya rally will travel through Himalayan places like Manali, Keylong, Kaza, Sarchu, Leh, Kargil and Pensi La, at an altitude of 17,500 feet with temperatures as low as -15°C, while covering a distance of approx. 1850 kms over a span of 7 days. The rally raid will be an ultimate test between the driver and his machine. The first leg will follow the route to Kaza on day Day 1, while on day 2 participants will head to Pang for a night’s halt at an altitude of around 15,600 feet. Day 3 will see competitors move towards Leh from Pang via Daat. That said, participants will head to Kargil from Leh, following which, they will proceed to Pensi La, before returning to Leh on the final day of rally on October 13. Winners will be crowned in Leh on arrival on 13th October, while prize distribution will be held on 14th October, 2017.

ExxonMobil is the official lubricant partner for the 2017 Maruti Suzuki Raid de Himalaya. Furthermore, ExxonMobil has been an associated with Maruti Suzuki Motorsport for off-road rallies like Desert Storm, Dakshin Dare and the Raid de Himalaya for the past four years now. Mobil endeavours to take Motorsports in India to a different level and support the spirit of Motorsports in the country. ExxonMobil’s collaboration with Maruti Suzuki is based on the former’s ability to provide high performance lubricants and technological leadership.

Team Maruti Suzuki Motorsports is competing with a team of rally titans like Suresh Rana, Samrat Yadav and Sandeep Sharma, who are all set to take on the Raid. Team Maruti Suzuki Motorsport is participating with cars like Maruti Gypsy, Vitara Brezza, Maruti Grand Vitara, S-Cross and the Maruti Ignis in the most extreme weather conditions and treacherous roads of Himalayas. Last year, Suresh Rana and Ashwin Naik were declared winners of the Xtreme 4×4 category in their Maruti Grand Vitara. On the other hand, Lhakpa Tsering and V Venu Rameshkumar bagged the second place, while Sandeep Sharma and Karan Arya came third. In the Xtreme Moto-Quad class, Abdul Wahid Tanveer of TVS Racing won the title while R Nataraj came second. That said, Jagmeet Gill and Chandan Sen won the title in the Adventure Trial category, while Ajgar Ali and Mohammed Mustafa came in the second position.



The 2017 Raid de Himalaya is divided into three categories – X-treme Cars, X-treme Bikes and Adventure. The rally will see participation from 6 women teams as well as 8 Army teams. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sanjeev Handa, Vice President, Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. said, “Keeping up with our commitment of providing adrenaline rush and thrusting challenges, we are pleased to flag-off yet another exciting journey amidst huge fanfare. Rated among the top ten most difficult rallies in the world, the premiere Motorsport spectacle of the country has grown slowly but strongly into the rallying phenomenon it is today. From a small rally that began in 1999 with just 19 teams, it has been a long journey since then and has seen over 110 teams and over 170 participants go head to head for the most coveted title in Indian rallying history.”

Indian Roadie Mrinmoy Saha from Kolkata is participating in the Extreme category.

Road trip from Kaza (Himachal Pradesh) to Leh (Ladakh) with route and intermediate distances

The road route from Kaza (Himachal Pradesh) to Leh (Ladakh) is as follows:
Kaza - Losar - Kunzum - Batal - Gramphu - Khoksar - Keylong - Jispa - Zing Zing Bar - Sarchu - Pang - Leh.



While driving from Kaza and going towards Leh, you will reach Gramphu. The drive from Kaza to Gramphu is via NH505. Gramphu is the intersection from where you can either go to Manali or to Leh.

Kaza to Gramphu via NH505 = 137 kms.

Breakup of distances between important points between Kaza and Gramphu:
Kaza to Losar = 57 kms.
Losar to Kunzum Pass = 18 kms.
Kunzum Pass to Batal = 13 kms.
Batal to Gramphu = 49 kms.


Gramphu to Leh = 408 kms.

Breakup of distances between important points between Gramphu and Leh:
Gramphu to Keylong = 50 kms.
Keylong to Jispa = 23 kms.
Jispa to Zing Zing Bar = 31 kms.
Zing Zing Bar to Sarchu = 54 kms.
Sarchu to Pang = 76 kms.
Pang to Leh = 174 kms.

Gramphu to Manali = 68 kms via Rohtang Pass.

Manali to Keylong = 118 kms.

From Gramphu turn right towards Sissu, Keylong, Jispa, Zing Zing Bar, Sarchu, Pang, Leh.
A left turn from Gramphu will take you to Rohtang, Manali and onwards to Chandigarh.

While driving on the route from Kaza towards Gramphu, after crossing Kunzum when you see the deviation for Chandratal you could visit that as well on the way.

Starting from Kaza, you will cross the Spiti River which flows alongside, a couple of times. Losar and Kunzum are two important locations as you drive alongside the Spiti River. The Spiti River forks off after Kunzum.
Going ahead, you will reach Batal after crossing the Chenab River. The Chenab River will be on your left all along till Chhatru. After crossing the bridge at Chhatru, the Chenab River will be flowing on your right.




Roadies should be aware that Kaza to Gramphu is a horrible stretch of road. The weather is very fickle and people have got stuck in snow storm while climbing Kunzum around 6.30 AM. One would be lucky to get out and reach Batal. The road beyond Batal till Gramphu is a misery.

After starting from Kaza ideally by 5 AM, try and stay in Jispa for the night.

Status of Manali - Leh highway in first week of July 2017 narrated by biker Swaroop Konambi

Swaroop Konambi reached Leh from Manali  on 2017-07-04 afternoon on his bike with a pillion rider.

The status of Manali - Leh highway as reported by him is as follows ...

Manali to Rohtang: Nice road.

Rohtang to Grampu: 5 kms of road is pure hell.  If you are riding/ driving on this road, pray for no rain. If it rains, the stretch would be worse than hell.

Grampu to Kaza: Offroading to it's peak. I could cover approx 10 km per hr with pillion and luggage. All streams are in full flow.

Grampu to Khokser: Small stretch of bad road.

Khokser to Darcha: Road is ok until a little beyond Darcha.

Zing Zing Bar is clear for travel, but BRO is still working.

Road to Barlacha la is good.

Very bad road starts when one starts decending from Barlacha la and remains very bad till Pang road intersection.

Pang to Leh: Road is super fine.

(Source & Content credit: Swaroop Konambi, a member of Ladakh Return group on Facebook)

Cafe 1947 in Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Cafe 1947 in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India is one of the best hangout joints with buddies.
The restaurant mainly serves Italian cuisine.
Address: Old Manali - 175131.

3 weeks, 2800 kms, 1 Royal Enfield (Ladakh trip) by Rashmi and Vishal Vishwambharan

Rashmi and Vishal Vishwambharan were on a 3 weeks Royal Enfield motorcycle trip in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir from end August to mid September 2012. 
Their route was Manali - Mcleodganj - Jammu - Srinagar - Kargil - Leh (Pangong Tso, Nubra Valley) - Tso Moriri - Manali

Ladakh by VW Jetta in June 2013

The Ground Clearance (GC) of cars for a drive to Ladakh is invariably a topic of discussion for all road fanatics like us.

Indian Roadie, Vikram Virulkar (Facebook @ vikram.virulkar) shared his experience of driving to Ladakh in his friend's VW Jetta in June 2013.

He was supposed to take a Mahindra Xylo from Baddi in HP. However, the registration of the vehicle had not come through. It was a choice between waiting 4 days in Baddi or taking the VW Jetta to Ladakh. He decided on the later. He admits that he made a horrible mistake of taking the Jetta to Ladakh because of its low GC.

His words, verbatim,
"We encountered the first set of problems related to bad roads in Zoji-la.
The road from Kargil to Leh was so smooth that one could iron a shirt on it.
The Leh - Manali road was a journey filled with horror and some hind sighted regret. Makes for some good laughs now..
We literally had to get out and throw stones into the potholes to make sure that the under body didn't hit the road.
My feet and hands went numb from exposure to the freezing water and the cold & the situation at Tanglang La top could have easily turned sour. We also managed to bring a smile to the drivers of Scorpios and trucks . Some of them waited to see how we overcame some exceptionally large potholes (actually no roads)...lol.
We made it in one piece, although the car suffered some damage which was fixed easily. So all said and done, just have a good GC car for your Ladakh drive, other things will take of themselves."

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