SOS - Motorcycling leh-pangong lake-tso moriri-tso khar and Hemis / Lamayuru festival

kinky_lizzard · Apr 25th, 2005, 19:29

Hey,
I am planning a bike trip from manali to leh, and back via, pangong lake - tso moriri - tso khar early June. However i have run into a fix!
1. No reliable maps for this lake route (and boy have i scoured the net!)
2. No idea if the route is possible on a motorbike, (too poor to afford a dirt bike, so it'll be 2 180 cc indian bikes). And if so what is the distance involved and road conditions as i am sure i'll have to lug that kind of fuel / spares with me.
3. Can't make up my mind to go in for the local monastry festival at Hemis (17th & 18th June) or the one at Lamayuru (27th & 28th), cannot fit both due to paucity of time, so which of them offers a better insight into the Ladakhi religion / life
So here's an SOS to all u knowledable folks to help me out of this fix, any resources / tips that might help me out with the above questions are welcome.
Thanks

trinity · Apr 25th, 2005, 19:56

I have done Manali - Leh-Pongong-Tso-Leh-Manali , once on a bike and once in my Matiz(small car). It was mid-may and the road / passes had just opened . So , naturally , it was in a terrible condition. However , bikes could do it with a lot less trouble . SO , it is doable on motorbikes .
There is only one fuel station between Manali and Leh , just a wee bit before Tandi . But it may or may not have stocks . So , it is best to carry a 20 litre jerry-can with you . Late into the season , the Ladakhis setting up stop-gap tented hotels too sell you Petrol . ( u and me will only have to guess at it's quality though ) There is again (obviously ) no fuel station between Leh-Pongong-Tso . The route hugs the mountainside and goes over an 18000 ft. pass called Chang-La. I too was disappointed with the lack of Maps..but that's how the cookie crumbles !
Pongong-Tso is out of this world ! Do not miss it for anything...
Carry a foot-pump and spare clutch wires / brake wires..a couple of tubes as well..we got a puncture on top of LachaLang-La and changed the tube at top of the pass..lack of oxygen making it a real pain....

kinky_lizzard · Apr 25th, 2005, 20:12

hey trinity thanks for the insight dude,
Lots to learn 4m ppl who have been there and done that!
Yeah the spares list need to be throughly analyzed, can u tell me if its possible to join the leh-manali road from tso khar, they tell me its bikable and meets up 27 k's short of Tanglang la on the manali side?

Lovemax · May 14th, 2005, 03:08

HI Kinky,
will keep you updated on same but the roads are no where near opening yet.
Yes the road is motorable and one can drive through that road but only after you are sure that have acclamatized well with the conditions.
Road maps are seldom to find but I think I have some good collection which can be shared. Once I complete my trip I will be able to give you the precise on the trip and map, distance etc. etc..
Just keep waiting, will update you on the same.
FreeBirD

bora · May 14th, 2005, 13:39

Hi,

You'll find some info on motorcycling to Ladakh here:

http://www.royalenfield.com/ride_sea...rch_txt=Ladakh

Hope this helps!

Cheers

dhananjay · May 14th, 2005, 14:47

Hi,
The road conditions are good .... Depends on how well you acclimitize ... also arrange your permits for pangong well in time ... Try and get the Leomann series of Maps on the Indian Himalaya ... Though Hiking maps they are a good source ... also visit ... www.leh.nic.in .... for latest on weather and road conditions ...

Cheers,
Dhananjay

kinky_lizzard · May 15th, 2005, 21:37

thanks guys,
Just another question that begs to be answered is which festival? hemis or lamayuru. Anybody who might have been there? ur comments/ suggestions are welcome.
P.S. Biker , please upload those maps and note trips, they will be a big help
Thanks

globalgoldie · May 16th, 2005, 03:50

hii there!...im from delhi..even im plannin to go to ladakh... i'll b on my bike only wid a pillion..i have actuallyyy planned the trip for 6th june...but i have heard that the roads r not open yet.!!. .. suggest the besttt time for the trip...and just got to know bout the Hemis festival as well...so i think it will b better to go there so i can b a part of tat festival as well....i have around 13-15 days wid me...
what will u guys suggest..
delhi-manali-ladakh-kargil-kashmir-jammu-delhi..
or
delhi-manali-ladakh-manali-delhi ?????? im confused.. i got only 13-15 days wid me,and im on bike...i will also appretiate if i can get some gud maps!!...

thanks.!
goldie

kinky_lizzard · May 16th, 2005, 15:06

Hi goldie,
The roads from the Srinagar side is stated to be opened by 20th May (Zojilla pass) as per "Hindustan Times". But rohtang ahh!, no news of that yet.
But in case u start out from the Srinagar side and come back from Manali by 20th June. The roads should be open by then.
Hemis festival is on the 17th and 18th and a must watch, it is the biggest festival in Ladakh district. In caes u plan to stay longer there is another festival in the Lamayuru monastry on the 27-28th.

Lovemax · May 16th, 2005, 21:54

@ global goldie: which bike have you got since you will be going with a pillion, just as of my curiousity wanna know about your bike.
Since most of the bikes other then Bullets refuses to carry a pillion on steep uphill of roadless terrains.

@ kinkylizzard : Roads from Manali side is exptected to be open by last week of May if not any earlier as expected. This is since the weather has been pretty rough this year. The roads have been blocked pretty bad.

FreeBirD

natasha chanda acharya · May 16th, 2005, 22:31

I found the road map of Leh-Pongong-Tso-Leh-Manali in Outlook traveller. Must be online too. There's a book - Hill destinations by Outlook traveller. All detailed maps are there.
I don't have a scanner, or i'd have sent you the pic.

phacops · May 17th, 2005, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by kinky_lizzard

which festival? hemis or lamayuru. ?

Visited both last year. For a first visitor, theres no difference of the dances.

hemis is most crowded and you´ll hardly find a good place to watch. atmosphere like circus.

lamayuru I´d prefer because of less people and amazing place.

If both dont fit in your time schedule, look for the Choglomsar festival. Dances are not different and visitors are funny.

phacops

globalgoldie · May 18th, 2005, 00:35

@lovemax-- rite bro!...i got bullet only..royal enfield..i plann to leave on 13th or 14th for the trip...lets c!!..neoneee else plannin to do the same on route around tat time ??

vinayverma · May 18th, 2005, 01:08

I found an old thread on IM with list of detailed map.
Here is the detailed onlinemap, bit heavy (size), cumbersome to navigate and too detailed:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/india/250k.html

And the old thread is HERE

xbhp.com · May 18th, 2005, 11:13

@natasha chanda acharya : the outlook book (hill destinations) is really a good one.

Apr 25th, 2005, 19:29	#1
kinky_lizzard Not all those who wander, are lost! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: chandigarh Posts: 86	SOS - Motorcycling leh-pangong lake-tso moriri-tso khar and Hemis / Lamayuru festival Hey, I am planning a bike trip from manali to leh, and back via, pangong lake - tso moriri - tso khar early June. However i have run into a fix! 1. No reliable maps for this lake route (and boy have i scoured the net!) 2. No idea if the route is possible on a motorbike, (too poor to afford a dirt bike, so it'll be 2 180 cc indian bikes). And if so what is the distance involved and road conditions as i am sure i'll have to lug that kind of fuel / spares with me. 3. Can't make up my mind to go in for the local monastry festival at Hemis (17th & 18th June) or the one at Lamayuru (27th & 28th), cannot fit both due to paucity of time, so which of them offers a better insight into the Ladakhi religion / life So here's an SOS to all u knowledable folks to help me out of this fix, any resources / tips that might help me out with the above questions are welcome. Thanks

May 14th, 2005, 13:39	#5
bora Member..... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: In front of a PC, pretending to be very busy Posts: 91	Info on Ladakh Hi, You'll find some info on motorcycling to Ladakh here: http://www.royalenfield.com/ride_sea...rch_txt=Ladakh Hope this helps! Cheers

May 14th, 2005, 14:47	#6
dhananjay Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Park Cafe, Shimla Posts: 305	Hi Hi, The road conditions are good .... Depends on how well you acclimitize ... also arrange your permits for pangong well in time ... Try and get the Leomann series of Maps on the Indian Himalaya ... Though Hiking maps they are a good source ... also visit ... www.leh.nic.in .... for latest on weather and road conditions ... Cheers, Dhananjay

May 16th, 2005, 03:50	#8
globalgoldie Still Surviving Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: india,New Delhi Posts: 66	im going to ladakh as well hii there!...im from delhi..even im plannin to go to ladakh... i'll b on my bike only wid a pillion..i have actuallyyy planned the trip for 6th june...but i have heard that the roads r not open yet.!!. .. suggest the besttt time for the trip...and just got to know bout the Hemis festival as well...so i think it will b better to go there so i can b a part of tat festival as well....i have around 13-15 days wid me... what will u guys suggest.. delhi-manali-ladakh-kargil-kashmir-jammu-delhi.. or delhi-manali-ladakh-manali-delhi ?????? im confused.. i got only 13-15 days wid me,and im on bike...i will also appretiate if i can get some gud maps!!... thanks.! goldie

May 16th, 2005, 21:54	#10
Lovemax -FreeBirD- Road Raker - Da Loner Join Date: May 2005 Location: Delhi\Ladakh Posts: 432	@ global goldie: which bike have you got since you will be going with a pillion, just as of my curiousity wanna know about your bike. Since most of the bikes other then Bullets refuses to carry a pillion on steep uphill of roadless terrains. @ kinkylizzard : Roads from Manali side is exptected to be open by last week of May if not any earlier as expected. This is since the weather has been pretty rough this year. The roads have been blocked pretty bad. FreeBirD Last edited by Lovemax : May 16th, 2005 at 21:55. Reason: Combining into one post.

Apr 25th, 2005, 19:56	#2
trinity Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Baroda , India Posts: 28	I have done Manali - Leh-Pongong-Tso-Leh-Manali , once on a bike and once in my Matiz(small car). It was mid-may and the road / passes had just opened . So , naturally , it was in a terrible condition. However , bikes could do it with a lot less trouble . SO , it is doable on motorbikes . There is only one fuel station between Manali and Leh , just a wee bit before Tandi . But it may or may not have stocks . So , it is best to carry a 20 litre jerry-can with you . Late into the season , the Ladakhis setting up stop-gap tented hotels too sell you Petrol . ( u and me will only have to guess at it's quality though ) There is again (obviously ) no fuel station between Leh-Pongong-Tso . The route hugs the mountainside and goes over an 18000 ft. pass called Chang-La. I too was disappointed with the lack of Maps..but that's how the cookie crumbles ! Pongong-Tso is out of this world ! Do not miss it for anything... Carry a foot-pump and spare clutch wires / brake wires..a couple of tubes as well..we got a puncture on top of LachaLang-La and changed the tube at top of the pass..lack of oxygen making it a real pain....

Apr 25th, 2005, 20:12	#3
kinky_lizzard Not all those who wander, are lost! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: chandigarh Posts: 86	hey trinity thanks for the insight dude, Lots to learn 4m ppl who have been there and done that! Yeah the spares list need to be throughly analyzed, can u tell me if its possible to join the leh-manali road from tso khar, they tell me its bikable and meets up 27 k's short of Tanglang la on the manali side?

May 14th, 2005, 03:08	#4
Lovemax -FreeBirD- Road Raker - Da Loner Join Date: May 2005 Location: Delhi\Ladakh Posts: 432	HI Kinky, will keep you updated on same but the roads are no where near opening yet. Yes the road is motorable and one can drive through that road but only after you are sure that have acclamatized well with the conditions. Road maps are seldom to find but I think I have some good collection which can be shared. Once I complete my trip I will be able to give you the precise on the trip and map, distance etc. etc.. Just keep waiting, will update you on the same. FreeBirD

May 15th, 2005, 21:37	#7
kinky_lizzard Not all those who wander, are lost! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: chandigarh Posts: 86	thanks guys, Just another question that begs to be answered is which festival? hemis or lamayuru. Anybody who might have been there? ur comments/ suggestions are welcome. P.S. Biker , please upload those maps and note trips, they will be a big help Thanks

May 16th, 2005, 15:06	#9
kinky_lizzard Not all those who wander, are lost! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: chandigarh Posts: 86	Hi goldie, The roads from the Srinagar side is stated to be opened by 20th May (Zojilla pass) as per "Hindustan Times". But rohtang ahh!, no news of that yet. But in case u start out from the Srinagar side and come back from Manali by 20th June. The roads should be open by then. Hemis festival is on the 17th and 18th and a must watch, it is the biggest festival in Ladakh district. In caes u plan to stay longer there is another festival in the Lamayuru monastry on the 27-28th.

May 16th, 2005, 22:31	#11
natasha chanda acharya barefeet indian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 566	I found the road map of Leh-Pongong-Tso-Leh-Manali in Outlook traveller. Must be online too. There's a book - Hill destinations by Outlook traveller. All detailed maps are there. I don't have a scanner, or i'd have sent you the pic.

May 18th, 2005, 00:35	#13
globalgoldie Still Surviving Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: india,New Delhi Posts: 66	@lovemax-- rite bro!...i got bullet only..royal enfield..i plann to leave on 13th or 14th for the trip...lets c!!..neoneee else plannin to do the same on route around tat time ??

May 18th, 2005, 01:08	#14
vinayverma Maha Infrequent Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 1,289	Use Search I found an old thread on IM with list of detailed map. Here is the detailed onlinemap, bit heavy (size), cumbersome to navigate and too detailed: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/india/250k.html And the old thread is HERE __________________ If Life is a journey....travel on...and on..on..on.....

May 18th, 2005, 11:13	#15
xbhp.com himalayan lover Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: new delhi,india Posts: 111	@natasha chanda acharya : the outlook book (hill destinations) is really a good one.

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