CHANGLA PASS 17688 feet. It is enroute from Leh to Pangong Tso - offers a fascinating view of the Ladakh Range. It is amongst the highest motorable passes in the world, the highest being Khardungla ie enroute from Leh to Nubra Valley. What a drive. Awesome.
Original plan was to drive from Nubra Valley to Chishul. At that point was unhappy that would not drive thru Changla Pass. Ishwar heard me. There was a landslide about 30 minutes away from the point in pic because of which we had take a 3 hour detour via Changla Pass to reach Pangong Lake. Road is along the Indus river that you see.
Mountains have various looks and colors, somewhere enroute. Just amazing views whilst driving through Ladakh.
Ace driver Nawang took a different route via Votula Pass (hope got name correct), village Sakthi and then Changla. Before Votula Pass met some locals who were there for road repair.
Sheeps along the way. It was foggy and at times chilly along the way.
This road gives you a sense of the terratin. It was cloudy along the way.
Background hill top is Votula Pass. We met a few locals who were collecting flowers for puja.
Votula Pass. Vehicle Qualis performed very well during trip. U see back of driver Nawang. He is a very good driver. At times I got nervous but his judgement was always sound. Right Buddhist flags.
Way down through small roads was never ending. Circles and circles. Nawang drove straight down the hill to save time. Green area is Sakthi village.
From here we drove uphill to Changla Pass. View of village as we gained height.
Small one way roads, actually quite smooth for most of the uphill drive.
U see some vehicles in centre of mountain ie the road up to Changla Pass. Can only admire Border Roads Organization - how did they make these roads. Appreciate.
Group from Maharashtra. Met them at many places in Ladakh. Good effort.
Saw patriotism levels rise in Ladakh esp when ordinary Indians saw the terrain and experienced first hand cold/lack of oxygen. This lady insisted on doing a Jai Hind and taking a pic with jawans. Later on I clicked husband and wife with jawans.
At Pass is Changla Baba Dev Sthal whose entrance you see. Walked in and offered pranams. Color of sky in Ladakh, when clear, is lovely.
We then drove downhill to Durbuk and Tangtse to reach Pangong Lake by 6pm. We started at 4.30 am so a really long day. All through Ladakh saw bikers and bikers. Some in groups whilst others solo. Met a biker from who had come alone all the way from Kolkata. Happy to see many women bikers too.