Who dares wins

HIT THE ROAD

If you want something to regale your grandchildren with, a trip up to Leh is hard to beat. The cold, lofty Himalayan moonscapes of Ladakh will test you, torture you and take you up to the heavens.

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