Ode to Ladakh Road Trip

This poetry is a window into our experiences on a recent road trip taken by us to India’s cold desert Ladakh.

It was a beautiful trip covering 5000 km. Meeting lovely people, eating homestay foods & watching lovely scenic routes, this trip had everything.

Our route looked like this.

Lucknow → Delhi → Amritsar → Pahalgam → Srinagar → Kargil → Zanskar Valley → Kargil → Leh → Nubra Valley → Turtuk village → Pangong lake → Manali → Kasol → Delhi → Lucknow

Journey through the roads of 4 states & 4 UTs,
Driving by the passes, rivers, mountains, deserts, lakes & valleys,
Witnessing the colors of nature, filled with grandiose and peace,
Rocks and vegetation living together, often competing for real estate.

Bikers spotted in packs on their Himalayan and Avengers, often with occupied pillion seats,
Some roads made up of gravel and mud, some others smooth like butter cheese,
Days when driving was solely above 15000ft, & some nights could make you freeze.
Some vehicles battling tire burst, battery down or mud stuck, others cruising with ease.

Running into lots of helpful local people and seeing culture through their eyes,
Lots of heartwarming stories of strangers and equally beautiful goodbyes.
Unplanned halts in tents, hotels, boat houses, & welcoming homestays.
And feasting on parathas, maggie, momos & lots of teas.

Post cheezy pics, fake candids, some crazy reels & breathtaking landscapes,
4 friends in a Nexon found the trick, it was really about the journey, not the destination.

Thanks.