Day 2 of Leh Ladakh trip.
After a late night, we decided to kick off day 2 at an easy pace. A quick walk through the market for essentials – screen guards, chocolates, water, and snacks – set the tone for the day. The road beckoned, and with a sense of adventure, we departed from the hotel. The Kullu Valley Hotel was a decent accommodation with a hearty Indian breakfast.
As we ventured through Katrain on NH3, the vibrant apple orchards caught our eye on he side of road, capturing the essence of the region.
Passing through noteworthy spots on the sides of river Beas, it’s stunning to see white water splashes through the river. There were many spots folks were doing white water rafting on the way. we embraced the scenic journey.
Time to dip our toe in chilled water of Beas
A photo break after Rampur at 12:50 PM marked the beginning of our Journey towards Manali.
There is Green Tax collection before entering Manali, where Fastag made our journey seamless. It’s time to feed out little Beastie. Fuel is one thing we were particular to fill up as much as possible and as early as possible. After Manali, there are only a few fuel stations on the way.
Chaos of Manali
Manali greeted us with crowd, traffic and chaos for people going to Hadimba temple which is popular tourist spot and then came the paragliding spot. This was slowing us down and reaching Jispa on time looked to be impossible.
Atal Tunnel – Engineering Marvel and Saviour from Rohtang La traffic
Reached Atal tunnel by 2:50. The crossing of tunnel took about 15 minutes to reach the North Portal without much of slow traffic.
From North Portal, if one needed to goto Rohtang La it is 27kms towards right and we headed left towards Keylong which was about 37 kms.
There is a SADA development fee collection center at the start for non Himachal Pradesh vehicles.Leh still a distant 450 kms away, the captivating landscapes of Lahaul and Spiti unveiled themselves. Keylong became our next checkpoint.
As we journeyed, a humorous yet sagacious board from the Border Roads Organization reminded us, “Your hurry may be the cause of worry to your family.” I loved this one on the way, very inspiring.
Shack with a view
The changing scenery alongside the Beas River enthralled us, leading to a stop at Sissu around 3:20 PM. There was monastery on the right side bit uphill.
The warmth of noodles, egg burji, tea, and cold water, Pepsi from a local shack fueled our spirits as we continued.
Sissu Waterfalls
As we headed a bit, we saw Sissu waterfalls on the left and again we could not resist to stop for an unplanned visit. Anyway this journey has become mostly unchartered. There is Atal Cafe here with ample parking and good rest rooms but with long lines .
Admiring waterfalls and negotiating narrow winding roads, we soaked in the beauty of snow-capped mountains and the Beas River.
As the sun began its descent, casting shadows that played with the mountains’ intricate layers, I yelled, I need another photo break. I was anyway the designated photographer so car had to stop :)we reached Lahaul Valley at 5:30 PM.
There is a fuel station before Tandi bridge, however we wanted to go bit more further for refeul. However, minor delays due to road construction and traffic caused a setback, and we reached Keylong at 6:20 PM for a much-needed refuel.A quaint, indispensable town with fundamental lodgings, eateries, and medical facilities.
Crossed Stingiri at 6:30 PM with lingering daylight, at an elevation of 11,050 ft. The road offers a breathtaking panorama of mountains and valleys. Up close, the rocks and layers of the mountains become vivid. Parking is limited on the roadside, and caution is advised for falling rocks. On the right, catch a glimpse of snow-capped mountains and valleys. Now, brace for the challenging zero visibility curves ahead.
By 7 PM, we opted to halt our drive, finding ourselves in Gemur, Spiti. Without prior bookings, we ventured from one tented accommodation to another, seeking glamps. The jackpot came at 7:30 PM when we secured accommodation at Baga Eco Camps – a fantastic spot alongside the Beas River. It was truly an awesome find at that point of time.
Time for some rest, music and food. No hot water other than in the morning, however dinner was good with good options.
