Grand Himalayan Road Tour (GHiRT)- What to Visit?

Dilliwala

R/Pio-Jyori-Rampur (or Jyori-Sarahan-Kinnu-Rampur)-Nogli-Sungri-Rohru-Hatkoti/Sawra-Arakot-Uttaranchal leg begins.

Or Rampur-Narkanda-Thiog-Jubbal-Sawra-Arakot-Uttaranchal

Of course Sumdo-Puh would have to be via Namgya/Khab
(About time they made a road Attargo-Wangtu)

ks_bluechip

Dilliwalla & Praks: Thanks for your GHRT Route suggestion posts. Will look that up & study on a Map .... and then get back with questions - KS

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Dilliwala

Sir!

See what I just discovered re Attargo-Wangtu!

But may be too early for GHRT.

ks_bluechip

I don't think Attargo-Wangtu will be possible any time soon. How about going crossing the Malling-Nala near Yangthang? Is that open nowadays? ..... KS

Dilliwala

There's a new road bypassing the place, isn't there? Read it right here:

New Road Link between Kalpa & Kaza, Malling Nalla thing of the past!
Shimla/Nako/Malling/Tabo/Spiti/Kaza road

ks_bluechip

Dilliwalla: Thanks ... thats good news! When I went by Bus in 2005, Malling Nalla was in bad shape and I had to walk across the landslide.

What is even more amazing is how you seem to know every remote nook & corner & posts here on the IM so readily! .... Someday (when I Truly Retire!) I can keep myself occupied (for several years) reading all these zillions of threads, posts and stuff ..... of so many India travellors!

Styler

Dilliwala should i let out your secret.... Bluechip there's a button called search...and that's all it takes to dig out posts..

Dilliwala

AAARGH! I've been found out!
But evenso I had to go thru quite a few threads in this particular case to find these two. What with having to check for "Maling", "Malling" and "Mulling".....

ks_bluechip

There is a Himalayan Difference between Google-Search & Dilliwalla-Search ... and the proof is in the Search Results

bijapuri

been driving 4wd and jeep-like stuff here on american trails and mtn rds for decades- and have done a bit of montain scrambling in the himalayas as well- including a jeep scramble up by the Pak-Afghan border few months ago.
http://flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/co...7602145160776/
[/url] on that:

1. Jeeps suck, and WILL break down. They are easy to patch up, if you know how. If you don't- avoid them for your life. The thread seems to have moved on, but I had to get this in.

2. 4wd is a great way to ensure you get REALLY REALLY STUCK. it's most useful purpose is to save your ass when you get stuck in 2wd.

3. I'd think twice about going anywhere solo in the Himalayas. I'd at least take someone with me i the vehicle.

4. When do we leave? HAHAHA- go for it if you can!

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lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/

Utube fuzzy logic:
http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Dilliwala

Not google search, IM's own search. Quite efficient, specially if you can vaguely recall something in particular.

ks_bluechip

While I was returning from Maneybhanjang to Darjeeling ... I got talking to my experienced Nepali share-jeep Driver (driving a Mahindra Diesel; I forget that model now)... about what vehicle is most suited for the GHRT with say upto 4 pax.

He got very excited by the GHRT plan (wanted to be the GHRT driver at just a daily-living-exp-salary!) ... Was very disappointed when I said we dont want the driver to have all the fun! Was even willing to drive only *his share* and be an expert driver for tougher road sections.

Anyway his advise was to go for Mahindra Marshall (if i had a limited budget) or better still a Scorpio (if budget not a constraint) or Tavera (if you feel rich!) He vehemently ruled out all other vehicles including Gypsy. He also said 4WD is not really required and advised Tubeless Tires.

We discussed GHRT vehicle for more than an hour ... and his final, considered vote was clearly for Scorpio

- KS

brownboy66

Hi KS, Dilli.....

just to add my appreciation for your posts on this thread. I've been following it now for about the past month - and its a very enjoyable read. I guess like a few others that have read it - I'm very jealous of your adventure and trying to think of ways that I can get onto a road trip sometime in the future.

My only regret is that our family sold our last vehicle prior to arriving in India (see below) - which would have been perfect!

Anyway - enjoy.

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shashank.aggarwal

Hey BB, is it a Nissan ?

It seems that you have a penchant for Trucks..(Atleast Judging by your current Safari and the last car you have just shown us..)

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Dilliwala

Ok, I'm confused with the last 2 posts (before shashank's) - are we talking about GIRT or GHRT? (This is the GIRT thread - see ksb, I told you the next trip/thread shud be called GHiRT ). If GHRT, maybe these posts can be moved there.

Scorpio or Bolero: yes, any day.

Marshal: NO!! Bumpy sh.tbox, as I like to call 'em. No power steering either, but I'm willing to be corrected on this aspect - maybe the new models have them?
(Which is another aspect, ksb, I didn't spell out earlier. What makes those long hours at the wheel bearable in the hills, apart from IFS, is power steering! Never leave home without it - those winding roads wud be pure hell otherwise).

Tavera: No, not enough ground clearance for comfort (mental).

Safari (both 2wd and 4wd): I hear good things and bad things. Really confused by this vehicle, as I thought the new model was indeed improved, compared to the old one. Yet to take one on a trip.

The new Sumo Grande: Looks very good online! Competitive price too, if they deliver all they promise. I'm really curious how it compares to the others cos I haven't seen or heard any user reviews yet.

As of now, ksb has reserved only one place (for Sadanand), so I reckon with some incentive (IM t-shirt?) you cud reserve yourself one.