Jullay Leh! (22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th of July: A Photologue)

The next few days were spent taking in the flavour of the city. The plan to head to Khardung La was executed but enroute we found ourselves being pushed off the roads by the brash cab drivers (a lot of them) and the whole ride was deemed too dangerous and was unanimously called off. Khardung La remains to be ascended but (hopefully) there will be a next time when the record will be set straight!

Cycling the Manali - Leh Highway: Day 9 [Rumtse to Leh]

 Date: 21st July 2025

Route: Rumtse → Upshi → Leh

Start elevation: 4,200 meters or 13,800 feet ASL

End elevation: 3,500 meters or 11,550 feet ASL

Distance: 76 kms

Time taken:  ~7 hrs

Road: Smooth tarred roads till Leh; short rough patches till Uphi

Connectivity: Jio Postpaid and Prepaid (J&K Circle) all the way till Leh

Cycling the Manali - Leh Highway: Day 8 [Pang to Rumtse]

Date: 20th July 2025

Route: Pang → Debring → Rumtse

Start elevation: 4,660 meters or 15,280 feet ASL

End elevation: 4,200 meters or 13,800 feet ASL

Distance: 97 kms

Time taken:  ~9 hrs

Road: Tarred road till Tanglang La; Broken in the descent Tanglang La and thereafater, smooth, well paved tarmac to Rumtse.

Connectivity: Jio Postpaid available in Debring and Rumtse

Cycling the Manali - Leh Highway: Day 7 [Sarchu to Pang]

Date: 19th July 2025
Route: Upper Sarchu → Whiskey Nala → Pang
Start elevation: 4,201 meters or 13,783 feet ASL
End elevation: 4,660 meters or 15,280 feet ASL
Distance: 77 kms
Time taken:  ~11 hrs
Road: Tarred road till the start of the loops; rough, broken all the way till the descent of Lachung La and thereafater, smooth, well paved tarmac to Pang.
Connectivity: Jio Postpaid available in Pang; little to no network coverage enroute.

Cycling the Manali - Leh Highway: Day 6 [Upper Zing Zing Bar to Sarchu]

Date: 18th July 2025
Route: Upper Zing Zing Bar → Upper Zing Zing Bar → Sarchu
Start elevation: 4,300 meters or 14,100 feet ASL
End elevation: 4,201 meters or 13,783 feet ASL
Distance: 50 kms
Time taken:  ~9 hrs
Road: Broken roads till Baralacha Top; fine afterwards
Connectivity: Not available throughout the route. Jio (Prepaid/Postpaid) present at Sarchu

Cycling the Manali - Leh Highway: Day 5 [Jispa to Upper Zing Zing Bar]

Date: 17th July 2025
Route: Jispa → Darcha → Upper Zing Zing Bar
Start elevation: 3,200 meters or 10,500 feet ASL 
End elevation: 4,300 meters or 14,100 feet ASL
Distance: 36 kms
Time taken:  ~9 hrs
Road: Tarred roads all the way till destination; Broken on some places but nothing major
Connectivity: Mostly abenst. Patches of Jio (Prepaid/Postpaid) in between

Cycling the Manali - Leh Highway: Day 4 [Shooling to Jispa]

Date: 16 July 2025
Route: Shooling → Tandi → Jispa
Start elevation: 3,150 meters or 10,330 feet ASL
End elevation: 3,200 meters or 10,500 feet ASL
Distance: 48 kms
Time taken:  hrs
Road: Smooth tarred roads all the way till destination
Connectivity: Jio (Prepaid/Postpaid) and Airtel

Cycling the Manali - Leh Highway: Day 3 [Marhi to Shooling (Sissu)]

Date: 15 July 2025
Route: Marhi → Rohtang Pass → Koksar → Gramphu → Sissu → Shooling
Start elevation:  3,360 meters or 11,020 feet ASL
End elevation: 3,200 meters or 10,500 feet ASL
Distance: 55 kms
Time taken: 8 hrs
Road: Smooth tarred roads all the way till destination
Connectivity: Jio (Prepaid/Postpaid) and Airtel

Cycling the Manali - Leh Highway: Day 2 [Manali to Marhi]

Date: 14 July 2025
Route: Manali → Palchan → Marhi
Start elevation:  2,050 meters or 6,726 feet ASL
End elevation: 3,360 meters or 11,020 feet ASL
Distance: 35 kms
Time taken: 10.5 hrs
Road: Mostly tarred
Connectivity: Jio (Prepaid/Postpaid) and Airtel