#roadtripchronicles: Breathtaking Ladakh with actor/ director Kabir Sadanand
Multifaceted actor/ writer/ director Kabir Sadanand is an avid biker and a road trip fanatic. He started his career acting in television serials and made a switch to the big screen with films like Mumbai Matinee, Chameli and Charas. He subsequently wrote & directed ‘Popcorn Khao! Mast Ho Jao’ and the acclaimed ‘Tum Milo Toh Sahi’, and is now directing boxer Vijender Singh’s big ticket debut film ‘Fugly’ for actor Akshay Kumar’s production house. Kabir also runs his own production house Frog Unlimited and has directed several successful ad. films. In this edition of #roadtripchronicles he shares one of his many experiences of driving around the Himalayan region, and says it’s a trip you can never have enough of. We couldn’t agree more.
Where: Leh-Nubra-Pangongse Lake-Leh
My Drive:3 Toyota Innovas and 2 Chevrolet Taveras. Local travel was on a Royal Enfield Bullet.
Distance covered: 500 km
No. of Days: 6 Days
When: September/ October. The weather changed every 7 to 14 km and we experienced rain, snow, sleet, sunshine, all at the same time.
The terrain: Mostly roads, mountains, river beds….but who was complaining?
Driving experience: This trip was done for the fourth time, and no pain could be enough compared to the experience. Actually, it can be as comfortable as the hearts wants it to be.
Highlights: Camping, cooking, using the local streams and feasting on loads of Maggi and boiled eggs.
Memorable moments: The bike ride across to Pangongse lake with its breathtaking panoramic visuals. And then of course the ride up to Khardung la was stunning.
Gourmet delights: Maggi, maggi and more maggi!
Places to stay: Anywhere by the roadside.
Splurged on: Fuel and warm clothes.
Cost: About INR 3.5 lakh for 9 people.
Pro tips:
- Choose your SUV with care.
- A Bullet or KTM should be good rides in this region.
- Acclimatize. Nothing is more important than that. Use that one day before you climb to stabilize.
- Have your dimox a day in advance and climb upto 700 feet a day.
- Footwear is important. Prepare with water proof shoes for the rains and the snow. If you are the snow types, then take the flight to Leh and travel by road or you could even do the Manali-Leh trip by road. Either a SUV or a bike should be good.
- Don’t be too brave. It is sensible to understand your body and how it reacts. Do not push it more than it can be stretched.
- And finally, learn to be free and enjoy every second.
Anonymous
June 2, 2013 at 5:37 pm
I love to see that you are still fit and fine, god bless you