| You will not be the same person again after a visit to this former Buddhist kingdom. The sheer solitude, soaring snow-laced mountains, vivid blue sky, biting cold and wicked hairpin roads make for one hell of a drive or ride. |
| You'll appreciate the hardiness of the ancient yak-train traders who made this journey on foot to Central Asia; Leh was but their halfway point. |
| The capital of Ladakh, now a semi-autonomous region of J&K, has its own charms "� Buddhist prayer wheels at street-corners, precariously perched monasteries, old palaces, boy-monks mingling with wild-haired westerners... but Mother Nature has the starring role in this unforgettable epic. |
| Leh is about 1,100 km from Delhi, via Chandigarh, Manali, Keylong and Sarchu. The time to go is June-August, when the passes are opened and it's summertime there. |
| Carry warm clothes, Diamox tablets, plenty of water, spare fuel and spare parts. Your car/bike should be in good condition, too! There are any number of hotels in Manali and Leh, while Sarchu, the mid-way point between Manali and Leh, has tented accommodation. |
| Don't know where to go? pablo@business-standard.com |
Top Section
Explore Business Standard