LADAKH CAR ODYSSEY: LDFK

“Nothing ever reached the sky until someone dreamed it could, someone wished it should, and someone willed it must.” This spirit of conviction and determination led the admin panel of Long Drive from Kolkata (LDFK) to envision something audacious—a group of amateur drivers, many with limited to zero hill driving experience, embarking on an epic journey through some of the toughest roads in the world, into the land of high passes: Ladakh.

Our journey began at dawn on August 4th from Dankuni Toll Plaza near Kolkata. The adventure was flagged off by several LDFK members who braved the early hour and sweltering humidity just to wish us well. At *4:30 a.m., our convoy of cars set off, following the AH1 highway, crossing West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, to reach **Hotel Alka Palace in Benaras, 675 km away, by *6 p.m. The road was mostly smooth, though peppered with numerous diversions due to ongoing road-widening projects.

The next day, road conditions dramatically improved. We covered 834 km between Varanasi and Greater Noida in about *11 hours, staying the night at **Hotel Anya Residency. By **August 6th, we departed at **7:30 a.m., traveling through Punjab’s fertile plains and arriving in **Pathankot, after covering *583 km in 10 hours, staying at the magnificent Jyoti’s Hotel & Restaurant.

The Challenge Begins: Entering the Mountains

August 7th marked the beginning of the real challenge as we ventured into the mountains. Driving past Dalhousie along the *Pathankot-Chamba Road, we followed the winding *River Ravi to reach Hotel Sach Pass in Tissa by 6 p.m. It took us almost 9 hours to cover the 174 km stretch, a precursor to the tough road ahead.

On *August 8th, we embarked on one of the most dangerous roads in the world. Leaving *Hotel Sach Pass at *8 a.m., we entered serious off-roading territory. The road was narrow, winding, and untarred, often covered with loose rocks and gravel. With 1500-foot drops on one side and mountain cliffs or glaciers on the other, the path demanded nerves of steel. We crossed the notorious *Sach Pass (14,482 ft), battling shooting boulder zones and dense fog.

By the time we reached *Gulabgarh, it was almost **9 p.m.. Due to security concerns caused by militant activities, we were forced to halt, 69 km short of our destination, *Kishtwar. Local authorities forbade further travel after dark, and we made an unscheduled but safe stop at the beautiful town of Gulabgarh. That day’s 109 km stretch had taken nearly 12 hours.

Into Srinagar

On *August 9th, our battered bodies pushed on through *Sinthan Pass (12,300 ft), covering 77 km. The breathtaking beauty of the Achalbal Gardens and the smooth highway towards Srinagar came as a welcome reprieve. We stayed at Malabar Resorts in Srinagar, soaking in the city’s serenity after days of grueling travel.

After a restful day in Srinagar on *August 10th, exploring local sights like *Lal Chowk and savoring local cuisine, we were ready for the next leg of our journey.

Zozila Pass to Leh

The journey on August 11th was particularly scenic. We crossed Zozila Pass (12,578 ft) and the picturesque *Drass Valley, eventually reaching **Kargil. The next day, we passed through *Namikala Pass (12,198 ft) and Fatula Pass (13,478 ft) on the way to *Lamayuru, eventually arriving in *Leh by evening.

In Leh, we took a well-deserved day off to acclimatize on *August 13th, visiting iconic spots like **Rancho’s School, **Thiksey Monastery, and *Shanti Stupa.

The Iconic Khardung La and Nubra Valley

August 14th brought one of the most anticipated moments of the trip—the ascent to Khardung La (17,582 ft), one of the highest motorable roads in the world. The road leading to Diskit Monastery and the sand dunes of Hunder was an awe-inspiring mix of treacherous climbs and spectacular views.

On *August 15th, we celebrated Independence Day by visiting *Siachen Base Camp, one of the world’s highest battlegrounds, where we paid tribute to the soldiers guarding the border. The melting glaciers were a stark reminder of the real and present dangers of global warming, a theme that stayed with us throughout the trip.

Turtuk, Pangong Lake, and the Journey Back

Our drive on August 16th took us to the remote *Turtuk, the last village on the Indian side of the border with Pakistan. A surreal experience, the stark beauty of *Nubra Valley unfolded before us.

The journey to Pangong Lake on August 17th was nothing short of grueling. Due to a flooded Shyok River, we were forced to take an extended route via Wari La (17,427 ft) and Chang La (17,800 ft). The narrow, winding roads tested our endurance, but the spectacular sight of Pangong Lake made every hardship worthwhile.

The Final Adventure: Umling La

On *August 19th, we embarked on what was arguably the most thrilling part of the trip—the ascent to **Umling La, the highest motorable road in the world at a staggering altitude of **19,024 ft. The unforgiving terrain tested both our vehicles and our mental fortitude. Passing through *Photi La (18,124 ft), we finally reached Umling La, the pinnacle of our Ladakh journey.

The Homeward Stretch

The return journey began on August 20th as we made our way back to Leh via *Loma Bridge, **Nyoma, and **Chumathang. After an evening in the lively markets of Leh, we set off for *Zanskar on *August 21st, crossing the high-altitude passes of *Sirsir La (15,700 ft) and Singe La (16,703 ft).

Our final off-road adventure took us to Shinkula Pass (16,500 ft) and onwards to Manali by *August 23rd. From there, it was a smooth drive back to **Kolkata, with overnight stops in *Agra and Varanasi.

Summary

The Ladakh Car Odyssey was not just about the destination—it was about pushing boundaries, facing fears, and discovering our inner strength. Each road, each pass, and each challenge shaped our experience. Through the highs of crossing mountain passes and the lows of navigating dangerous roads, the LDFK family proved that with teamwork, passion, and resilience, no journey is too difficult.

This trip will forever remain etched in our memories as a testament to human willpower, courage, and the beauty of adventure. It was, in every sense, the journey of a lifetime.

~ Rahul Sinha