![]() I'd heard about the shooting stones and being in a car, I wasn't so concerned about them until I saw a couple of big rocks falling on the truck in front. Some sections of the roads were really bad and very dusty and I realised that I didn't have to wait to reach Ladakh to start some off-roading! I encountered several traffic jams, and also a section where shooting stones were crashing down on the road and the vehicles. It was a nerve-wracking experience, especially as trucks and buses passed by in close proximity. The road was narrow and winding, surrounded by mountains on one side and steep cliffs on the other. Progress was slow and I realised that regardless of the ETA shown by Google Maps, it was going to be a while before I actually reached Srinagar. As I was waiting for the traffic to move, with the car windows open, although the temperature outside was a pleasant 25 degrees, the sun was scorching even at 9 in the morning! I had never used any sunscreen before but was carrying it for this drive as it was recommended by several vloggers. The problem with this road is that through many sections, there is only a single lane and so only vehicles from one side are allowed to cross due to which vehicles from the other side are completely halted. the first of the jams that I would encounter today. I was stuck for what felt like an eternity with several other vehicles in an unmoving traffic jam. My perception about Kashmir started evaporating almost as soon as I exited the tunnel. It is part of the life-line NH44 over which supply trucks pass through 24x7. This is a mind-blowing 9 kms long tunnel cut right through the mountain connecting Jammu to Srinagar and reducing the distance by 30 kms while bypassing the snowfall and landslide prone areas around. The first 2 hours of the drive were great as I passed through scenic roads with amazing views of the lower Himalayas surrounding the Tawi river below.įinally I started crossing the Chenani-Nashri tunnel. Little did I know what kind of nightmare was waiting for me! I was hoping to reach Srinagar by afternoon so that I could check off items on my to-do list like going to the Dal lake and enjoying a Shikara ride. I got a lifetime best of 20.5 kmpl on my drive from Jaipur to Jammu! The VW Polo GT TSI is a real mile-muncher and given the excellent highways, it can easily cover long distances and return excellent fuel mileages. In this way, I completed the first 2000 kms of my drive within 3 days crossing through 7 states. A 227 kms long 6 lane expressway with a speed limit of 100 kmph! This road is bordered on both sides by endless fields which strech across almost all of the 227 kms expressway! Truly amazing! This was followed by the scenic NH44 through Punjab all the way till Jammu. The highlight of this drive is the newly opened NH152D between Narnaul to Gangheri in Haryana. ![]() This too was my fastest drive and I reached Jammu within 11 hours. The 3rd day I had an even ambitious target to reach Jammu: 812 kms away. ![]() This was a super fast drive which I completed in less than 8 hours thanks to the amazing NH552G followed by the super-smooth NH52 all the way to India's Pink City: Jaipur! The next day, I would be driving another 558 kms. It was flawless and I completed the distance within 10 hours. My first day's drive was 614 kms away till Indore. ![]() As per plan, it would take me 3 days and 2000 kms to reach Jammu. From the exciting start to unexpected twists, a big disaster, and my successful return, I want to share the story of this journey of self-discovery which spans across 4000 kilometers! This may take a while so grab a seat, relax, and let's embark on this incredible adventure together. This is my first post ever on team-bhp and I have been thinking about writing this for a long time! In this post, I want to share about my first attempt at a Ladakh road trip. BHPian dwanderlustdrv recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |