Some photos from the Himalayas

[Pongunagu]

Hi all,

I've only just found this forum after being steered by another user who suggested I should post a link to some photos of a recent trip to North India. Hope you like the pictures - and hope they'll be of some interest to anyone who's done the same trip, or is planning something similar.

Looking forward to joining in with some more touring chat!

North India 2008

<sorry - it's a huge page and might take a bit to download all the images>

 

[P.H]

What a great looking trip and inspiring photos.
I want to go NOW!!

 

[Percy]

Excellent stuff - great photos. I'd love to see a map of your route, including where you flew into (if you flew?), what transfers you had to make etc. if you have such a thing?

You mentioned bottled water towards the end - how readily available was it on the road, for example in the 'tent villages'? Did you find yourselves carrying a lot at a time, just in case?

Again, great stuff. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Pongunagu]

Hiya,

Thanks very much for the feedback!

Percy - I'll try to scan the map tomorrow and add some notes. Regarding water, I'd taken a hefty water filter with me (Katadyn Pocket) and we did use it a couple of times, but we could have done without it. On the route we travelled, we passed (or reached) at least one army checkpoint or tent-village every day, where we could stock up for the next day. Apart form one place - Puga - where there was only a very clean stream coming down from the mountains above. The maximum we had to carry was about 3-4 litres each, but we had capacity for up to about 5-6 each.

Note - the 'normal' route follows the main Leh-Manali road, and there is a section on that where you'd maybe have to carry water for two days. The Taglang La and More Plains sections would take most unsupported cyclists two days, and I don't think there are any tents along the way. Our detour cut Taglang La from the itinerary, and the water we picked up at Pongunagu was enough to get us across the More plains to Pang.

I wish I could push a button and be back there right now!!

 

[Stan]

Thanks, these are truly amazing photo's and have brought back some fantastic memories. I did a supported trip back in July and met many amazing people and saw many amazing things. We also met people like yourselves who were unsupported and I have great admiration for you.

 

[Dayvo]

Pongunagu! What fantastic pictures, and a story/experience/ride to match!

Slightly envious of you, but very motivated and inspired. Thanks for sharing with us. Stay around!

Welcome to CC, BTW!

 

[psmiffy]

Mega - life is too short to do everything you want to do - I wish I had started touring earlier - say about a hundered years - dead jealous does not go far enough

 

[Keith Oates]

Pongunagu, thanks for the photos they were great. It is something of a dream trip that many of us would like to do but do not have the courage to make the trip. You and Ulrike will have many good (and some bad) memories and have certainly given me pleasure in following your trip.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PaulB]

Superb photos. Thanks for sharing. And for making me (us) very jealous!

 

[ComedyPilot]

Yawn, don't know what the fuss is about. One mountain pass looks pretty much like another..........NOT.

Good website and pictures, thanks for sharing them, and welcome on board, enjoy the ride.

 

[Kirstie]

Absolutely brilliant pics!
Seems like your impression of delhi was much the same as mine.

 

[Mr Phoebus]

Top pictures from the top of the world.

 

[Pongunagu]

Hi Kirstie - in fact I was being a bit polite. My first impression was that it's a filthy, stinking sh1th0le full of con-men, cheats, beggars and pickpockets. And first impressions last! I really miss the mountains, but I'm not in a hurry to go back to the towns.

Percy - map is now at the top of the photos page. We flew from Heathrow to Delhi (British Airways), then Delhi to Leh (Jet Airlines) very early the next morning. Despite my fears, the bikes were mostly intact after baggage handling - only one slightly bent chainring. We didn't book the return flight from Kullu (just south of Manali) because there was a chance that we might have carried on cycling to Shimla. But we wimped out and stopped in Manali, and used the extra time to have hot showers, eat curry, see Dharamsala, Delhi, Agra etc. Good call too, because the weather really crapped out as soon as we reached Manali.

 

[rich p]

fabulous photos.Whets the appetite

 

[Dayvo]

fabulous photos.Whets the appetite

But not your pants!