Trip Mates: Arun Thomas KB and Meenukkutty

Plan

26/12/2010 – Chennai to Bagdogra by flight

Package trip through a travel agent. Pakcage includes Gangktok, Yumthang Valley, Gurudonmarg Lake, Pelling, Nathula Pass. Package includes full transportation.

03/01/2011 – Bagdogra to Bangalore by flight

Package Itinerary

I contacted a travel agent in Sikkim. And he arranged a full package trip in Sikkim after transferring the amount to his account. Here is the mail i got from him.

The Trip

25/12/2010

Celebrated Christmas in my home town, Pala in Kottayam, Kerala. Boarded Chennai Mail at 5:30 PM from Kottayam.

26/12/2010

Reached Chennain Central at 7:30 Am. Took a room in a nearby lodge. After getting fresh, took an autorikshaw to Chennai airport. Charge Rs.250

The flight was delayed due to fog in Delhi. (Our flight was coming from Delhi). Flight started at 1:30 Pm and reached Bagdogra at 5:00 PM.

The travel agent had sent a Tata Indica taxi for  us. We reached Gangtokat around 10 PM.

Gangtok is around 125 kms from Bagdogra airport. Prepaid taxi charge from Bagdogra to Gangktok is Rs. 1650

27/12/2010

We started our North Sikkim trip at around 12:45 PM from Gangtok. The vehicle was a Mahindra Max with 10 passengers. There is zero comfort in that crap vehicle.

On the way we saw Seven Sisters waterfalls. At around 7:30 PM, we reached Lachen. Stay at Shangri La Retreat.

28/12/2010

The driver had asked us to get ready at 4:30 AM so that we can see Gurudongmar Lake. So we woke up at 4 AM. And started at 6 AM. It was damn cold in North Sikkim. I was surviving on 6 layers of clothes including a sweater and a jacket, woolen socks, gloves, muffler and munkey cap. The roads were full of frozen ice. We were not able to see Gurudongmar Lake because the road was closed due to heavy snow. I think the travel agents knew this before. When we asked the locals, they said the lake can be seen only in April, May, June, September and October.

We visited Chopta Valley. Then returned to the hotel. After havind lunch, we started to Lachung at 1:30 PM. Reacged there at 4:30 PM.

We took a room heater for an extra 200 Rs. It is difficult to survive without a room heater. The scenery from the windows of our room was awesome. We could see beautiful ice capped Himalayan mountains from there.

29/12/2010

Visited Zero Point. Each one of us had to pay an extra 200Rs to the driver for taking us there since Zero Point was not in the package. 10 x 200 = 2000 Rs extra bugs for the driver.

And then we visited Yumthang Valley. We didn’t see any flowers int he valley since it was not the season there.

We reached the hotel at 12:30 Pm. And started out journey to Gangktok at 2:30 PM.

But we got stuck in Chumthang due to a land slide. One worker died on the spot and the road was blocked due to the land slide. We waited there for 90 minutes. Then we got information that the road wont be opened till next day afternoon. So we had no choice than to return to Lachung which was around 30 kms uphill. And the driver charged extra for that too. Came back to hotel, paid 1200 Rs for the room.

Desp. We missed one day of the trip. My wife, Meenukkutty is fully depressed. According to the plan, the next day plan was Nathula Pass trip. She didn’t want to miss that. So i called up the travel agent and asked him to cancel the Gangktok city tour and arrange Nathul Pass on 31st. And he did that.

Note: Take enought liquid cash when you go for a trip to Himalayas. You wont see many ATMs in the mountains. And if possible, take a BSNL sim card also.

30/12/2010

Started back to Gangtok. The road was cleared using dynamites. On the way, we got stuck in another town Mangan due to land slide

So took another route to Gangtok. Extra kms – 40. Reached Gangtok at around 8 PM.

31/12/2010

We visited Nathula Pass on this day. Vehicle was Mahindra Max with 10 people.

We visited Tukla Baba Mandir and Buker, Baba Mandir, Elephant Lake, Tsongo Lake and Nathula Pass.

It was a great experience to be in Nathula Pass. We saw the India-China border. And we got a Certificate from Indian Army stating that we visited Nathula Pass which was at an altitude of 13000 feet

We had to pay an extra 100 Rs per person to the driver for taking us to Tukla.

And near Tsongo lake, we sat on a Yak and took photos.

At around 6 PM we reached Gangtok.

New Year Eve – We went to MG Marg and bought some souvenirs. MG Marg is a nice place to be. Its very neat and beautiful. Then we went to a pub in Gangtok – Cafe Live and Loud in Tibet Road.

01/01/2011

Started to Pelling in a Maruti Alto taxi. Reached Pelling at around 3:30 Pm. Stay in hotel.

02/01/2011

We could see Kanchejunga from our hotel room. Beautiful.

Local sight seeing in and around Pelling.

We visited Rimbi Waterfalls, Sewaro Rock Garden in Rimbi, Kanchenjunga Waterfalls, Khechoedpalri Holy Wishing Lake, Helipad, Pemayangtse Monastry and Rabdentse Ruins in a Tata Sumo.

03/01/2011

Started at 7:15 Am to Bagdogra Airport which was around 140 Kms from Pelling. Got a road block on the way. But somehow reached airport on time.

From Bagdogra to Delhi. Waited in Delhi airport for 5 hours since the flight was delayed due to fog. And from Delhi to Bangalore. Reached home at around 3 AM night.

Trip Cost

Flight charge – Rs. 22,000

Package cost – Rs. 30,200

Total Cost of the trip – Around 60,000 to 65,000 Rs for two of us.

Route Taken
Pala – Ponkunnam – Kanjirapally – Mundakkayam – Kuttikkanam – Peerumedu – Vandiperiyar – Thekkady

Return Journey
Thekkady – Vandiperiyar – Old Pambanar – Elappara – Wagamon – Thekkoy – Eerattupetta – Pala
Total Kms – 93 Kms

Places Visited
Panchalimedu, Kuttikkanam, Parunthumpara, Thekkady

Went to Saji’s house at hsr.

Started from HSR at 4:35AM

Route

Bangalore – Hosur – Krishnagiri – Dharmapuri – Salem – Coimbature -
Palakkad – Thrissur – Chalakkudy – Angamaly – Kalady – Perumbavoor -
Moovattupuzha – Thodupuzha – Pala

Trip mates
Sajay Mathew KB
Arun Thomas KB

Date
April 1st 2010

Gaadi
Maruti Suzuki Zen LXi, 2003 model

Reached pala at 3:50PM

Total Hours – 11:15 hours
Distance – 598 KMs

Trip Mates
Kiran Joggy
Nitin
Arun Thomas KB

I went to Pune from Bangalore by bus. From there we took Joggy’s Matiz and started to Goa.

Route Taken
Pune – Satara – Karad – Nipani – Tavandi – Ajara – Amboli – Sawantvadi – Mapusa – Goa – Trashi – Mangalore – Kannur – Cochin

From Mangalore, i went to Cochin in train. Sunny joined Kiran and Nitin from Kannur. They continued the journey to Cochin in Matiz

Trip Mates
Arun Thomas KB
Sajay Mathew KB

Route Taken
Hyderabad – Kurnool – Anantapur – Chikbalapur – Bangalore

Manali – Kothi – Marhi – Rohtang Pass – Gramphu – Koksar – Sissu – Gondla – Tandi – Keylong – Jispa – Darcha – Patseo – Baralacha La – Bharatpur – Sarchu – Gata Loops – Nakila Pass – Whisky Nullah – Lachung La – Pang – Moray Plains – Debring – Tanglang La – Rumptse – Upshi – Karu – Leh – Khardung La

For the trip story, please read my previous post

Date- September 18th to October 1st

Trip Mates

Arun Thomas KB from Bangalore
Kiran Joggy from Pune
Akhil Vardhan from Hyderabad
Satish PS from Bangalore
Sooraj VS from Bangalore

September 18th

We decided to keep Delhi as our meeting point since Joggy and Vardhan were coming from Pune and Hyderabad respectively.

Vardhan reached Delhi by 3 PM. Sooraj, Satish and Me reached Delhi by 10:00 PM and Joggy by 11:50 .

September 19th

We took a prepaid EasyCabs taxi from Delhi Airport to Kashmere Gate ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminus). Cost 490 Rs

We reached the bus station at 1:30 am. Vardhan took the tickets to Chandigarh  after waiting in the queue for a long time. And we reached Chandigarh by 6 AM.

Took a room in Hotel Vikrant in Sector 18

Our initial plan was to rent an SUV for self drive.  But after some unfruitful attempts we decided to take a normal taxi.

And we got a 7 seater Innova. Rate – 9.5Rs per km and 250km per day minimum. The rate is a little high. The driver later said that we can get Innovas for around 8.5 to 9 per km for long trips.

We started from Chandigarh to Manali at around 1.30 PM. Our driver Soni is an expert in rash driving. I never thought i would be able to write this.

On the way Soni took us to his house in a small village in Punjab. Gave milk to drink and explained about his field, cattle farms etc.

On the way we saw Sutlej river.

September 20

We reached Manali by 3.15 am night. Took a room in Hotel Chandermukhi, NH-21, Rangri, Manali, Ph: 01902-253279, 253879

At around 10am, me and Vardhan booked flight tickets from Srinagar to Delhi. Then we all went to Nature Park (Van Vihar) in Manali Town.

We took some photos with traditional dresses and Angora rabbit in hand.

There were some adventure sports also.

After lunch we visited Hadimba Temple. Took a ride on a Yak. Took photos with python around neck.

After that we went to Solang Valley for paragliding.

Pilot Roop Singh
Indian Paragliding Association
Mob: 9816232015

Cost 700 Rs per person.

If you bargain, you can get this rate reduced.

We booked paragliding from

Mastry Mountain Adventure,
Near Curisthouse,
Hadimba Rd,
Manali- 175131
Mob: 9816247582

After paragliding we visited Vashisht Temple, around 3kms from Manali town. There is a hot spring in Vashisht Temple. There is a Bullet Club near Vashisht Temple from where you can rent Royal Enfield Bullets for ride.

Then we did some shopping in Manali town. Bought some dry fruits.

At around 10 pm we went to look for a Bullet for rent. We wanted to drop the Bullet at Leh since we were going to Srinagar from Leh

We can get Royal Enfield Bullets for rent from the following places.

NB: There are lots of other clubs and tour organisers who rent Bullets.

1.Life Adventure Tours and Travels
Hotel Diamond, Model Town, Manali
Ph: +91-1902-253825, +91-1902-250239

This guy asked 1200 Rs per day for a new Bullet Machismo 500 and 6000 Rs extra for dropping the Bullet at Leh.

Later he said the bike is not available

2. Royal Moto Touring

3. Near Vashisht Temple
I have heard that there is some Bullet Clubs near Vashisht temple who organize Bullet trips to Leh. We didn’t go there.

4. Bike Tours
Near Naveen Hotel,
Behind Private Bus Stand,
Court Road,
Manali
The guys name is Raju.
Mob: +91-9816082825

This guy promised me to give a new Machismo 350 for 700 Rs per day. And 5000 Rs extra for dropping it at Leh

So we decided to take the new Machismo from Raju. I was really happy because i have a Machismo 350 and am pretty used to it.

September 21

Early morning me and Sooraj went to Raju’s place to take the Machismo. And what we got is a crap old Standard Bullet. From the first ride itself, i felt the lack of power. But since the other guys were waiting for us in the Innove, we decided to take it without causing more delay.

We had to give Akhil Vardhan’s original driving license as security. The guy promised us to give the license at Leh by the time we reach there.  (But he didn’t send anyone to Leh with the license. We had hell lots of problems with this Raju guy. And after hundreds of phone calls, he couriered the license to Vardhan’s house. So be careful if you are giving any of your original documents as security).

We took 10 liters of petrol in a can and kept it in the Innova.

And at around 11.30 Sooraj and me started our Bullet ride, from Manali to Leh.

The important places in the Manali to Leh-Ladkh route are

Manali – Kothi – Marhi – Rohtang Pass – Gramphu – Koksar – Sissu – Gondla – Tandi – Keylong – Jispa – Darcha – Patseo – Baralacha La – Bharatpur – Sarchu – Gata Loops – Nakila Pass – Whisky Nullah – Lachung La – Pang – Moray Plains – Debring – Tanglang La – Rumptse – Upshi – Karu – Leh – Khardung La

It took some time to get adjusted to right side gear and left side brake.

At around noon we reached Rohtang Pass. Our bullet reached first since the Innova guys were stuck in traffic due to some land slides.

On the way we saw a group of foreigners in 500 cc Bullets going to Manali.

Rohtang is really beautiful with snow clad mountains. We tried skiing in Rohtang Pass.

At around 6 PM, we started from Rohtang. Our plan was to reach Jispa (Jespa) where there are some lodges and tents for stay.

But after around 1 km, our Bullet stopped. Tried several times to kick start it. It didn’t start. It simply didn’t start !!!!!!!!

The Innova was far ahead of us. And me and Sooraj at the top of a hill in Himalayas at around 7 PM with no one and no vehicle to see. And the road was pathetic.

We tried to push start it. No use.

And we waited there for some time till the Innova came back looking for us.  We thought the battery is down. Tried to charge it with Innova’s battery. No use. All the guys were angry with me. They told me to drop the Bullet there and continue the journey in Innova. Our driver Soni was more interested in burning the Bullet with petrol or drop it from the hill.

But i had taken the decision to take the Bullet till Leh. And decided to push the Bullet. It was past 8 PM then.

With Innova behind me, i started pushing the Bullet down hill. Whenever it stopped, some one from Innova will help. It was difficult for them too, since at that cold atmosphere and high altitude we will be damn tired even if we walk for some time.

We pushed the Bullet for around 15 Kms and reached Koksar. By that time i had a small fever.

There were some government guest houses in Koksar, but all were occupied. We kept the Bullet in one daba and proceeded to Sissu which was around 14 KMs from Koksar.

We took rooms in Hotel Triveni

September 22

Sissu is a beautiful place.  River Chandra flows through Sissu. And there is a waterfalls also. We saw a helipad in Sissu near our Hotel.

At around 10 am we got a mechanic. (No +91-9418318544)

With him, we went to Koksar and repaired the Bullet. It was some electrical problems. As soon as i heard the Bullet beats, i got my full energy back. Went back to Hotel and me and Sooraj immediately started from there.

Reached Tandi. There is a petrol pump in Tandi. Filled tank. I think that is the last petrol on the way to Leh.

We passed Jispa.

And after traveling for some kms we stopped near a river. Crossed the river in a trolley kind of stuff. And me, Sooraj and Sathesh took a dip in that ice cold river. Immediately after the dip, we lost our balance. Something happened. And i developed high fever after that.

Me and Sooraj got back in Innova and Vardhan took charge of the Bullet.

We passed Baralacha La. There was snow on the sides of the road. We took some photos.

Reached Bharatpur. Saw a tent there. Had dinner from there and proceeded to Sarchu.

Took a tent in Sarchu. Rate: 400 Rs for one night.

September 23

It was damn cold in the morning. Water was ice cold.

I was having fever and vomiting tendency. Took an avomin and continued our journey to Leh. Sooraj and Satheesh were in Bullet.

Passed Lachung La. Stopped at Pang for lunch. Tents were available there also.

Then we reached Murray Plains (Moray Plains). Sooraj was driving the Bullet then. But after some time i took charge of the Bullet. That ride was really interesting. It was like a desert with tons  of sand coming to our face.

We reached Tanglang La. It is the second highest motorable road in the world. Took some photos there.

By that time everyone was tired. All were having headaches because of low oxygen. Even the driver was damn tired. We gave him Paracetamol and continued. From that point onwards Vardhan drove the Bullet.

We passed through Upshi. From Upshi onwards the climate and scenery is good. All were feeling well then. And we reached Leh at around 7 PM.

Took rooms in

Hotel Shanti Palace
Old Road Shenam,
Leh-Ladakh
Mob: +91-9906987115
Ph: +91-1982-254523
Website – www.hotelshantipalaceleh-ladakh.com

Room rates – 1000 rs for one double room

September 24

I was stunned to see Ladakh.  I never knew that such a place exists in India. It is a different world. Entirely different from all the other places i have visited in India. Its calm, quiet and extremely beautiful.Majority of the Ladakhi’s are Buddhists. And we can a lot of stupa’s everywhere.

We went to Shanti Stupa, a Buddhist temple very near to our Hotel. The view from the top is amazing.

Then we visited Leh Palace.

At around 6 PM, we went to Leh market for shopping. Bought a handicraft bag and pillow cover for my fiancee. There were shops which sell T shirts with Ladakh embroidery. We didn’t get time to buy them. One week later, my brother bought them for me.

There were lots of places to visit in Leh-Ladakh. But we didn’t get time to see those.

September 25

At around 10:30 we gave the Bullet to the Hotel guys after we confirmed that the Bullet Raju had sent the license to Vardhan’s home.

And we started to Srinagar in Innova.

We passed through Kargil, saw Tiger Hill and lots of boards which read “Drive carefully. Enemy is watching you”

And we reached Drass. Drass is the second coldest inhabited place in the world. At Drass, J & K policemen didn’t allow us to go further since traffic is banned from Drass to Srinagar after 6 PM

So we took rooms in Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Corporations Guest House.

September 26

We started to Sonamarg (on the way to Srinagar) at around 10 am.

On the way, the Innova tyre got punctured. We replaced that and continued.

Reached Sonamarg by noon. Went to see glaciers on horse. The guide told us that the famous scene of Mandakini in Ram Teri Ganga Meli was shot there.

Reached Srinagar at around 7 PM.

Took a 2 bed room house boat for 1600 Rs per night rate.
House boat name : Island Queen

September 17

The specialty of Kashmir is Kashmiri Girls. They are damn beautiful

Shikara Ride in Dal lake.

Drank Kashmiri Kawa

Did water surfing. There was a photographer with me when i did water surfing in Dal Lake. I was holding a rope with both hands while surfing. The photographer first asked me free one hand and pose for a photo. I did that. He then asked me to free both the hands. I dropped the rope and lost balance. Swam for some time in Dal Lake and then they came and rescued.

Went to Floating market. Bought a bedsheet set and a carpet.

After that went to Nehru Park and Cheshmashahi Botanical Garden

September 28

Early morning we started to Gulmarg, which was around 50 kms from Kashmir.

Horse Ride.

Saw Khilamarg, Strawberry Valley, Maharani Temple, Palace and Childrens Park.

After that returned to Srinagar and took rooms in Hotel

September 29

To Delhi.

Reached Delhi by 3:30 PM

The most saddest part of our trip happened at Delhi Airport. Akhil Vardhan lost his camera there.

Canon Powershot – 17000 Rs

5 GB Photos and Videos of our trip – Priceless

Sooraj and Sathesh returned to Bangalore.

Vardhan, me and Joggy took a room in some hotel in Pahar gunj.

After that me and Joggy went to a pub, Knights

September 30

Joggy returned to Pune early morning.

Me and Vardhan had booked a package tour to Agra, Madura and Vrindavan in a non AC bus for 350 Rs.

We visited Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Madura and Vrindavan.

The trip was damn tiring since it was damn hot in that area.

Bought two sarees made of Banana silk for mummy.

We reached back in Delhi at around 2.30 night.

October 1

Vardhan’s flight was at 3 Pm and mine at 9.40 PM

After Vardhan went to airport, i saw Salman Khan’s Wanted. This was the first time i saw a movie alone. There was nothing else to do in Delhi.

I reached my home in Bangalore at 2 Am night.

And my best trip till date came to an end. Enjoyed a lot.

My total cost of the trip came to around 33,000 Rs. Out of that 6000 Rs was for the Bullet ride.

Manali – Leh route is highly recommended for all travel freaks.