On a bike ride to Leh with Ashok Selvan

India has got some of the most challenging ranges and trails that entice the biker. The most popular among them all is the road that leads to Leh. It is one of the most challenging yet satisfying trips. Bikers from around the world take this route to see the majestic mountains, the sparkling night-sky and the pristine vast lakes. One such rider, who is ever ready to explore these mountains, is actor Ashok Selvan.The Thegidi star recently made a trip to Leh with three friends. He shares with us his experiences and guides us on what not to miss the next time you plan a trip to Leh... ���One of my friends (actor Vinod) and his wife were planning a trip to Leh and they invited me. I had been there five years ago, so this was like revisiting memories. Moreover, I love a bike trip to Leh. We rented the bikes from Chennai and I rode an RE Classic 500 Desert Storm,��� says Ashok. Here���s tripping with him���
Day 1
���It���s Delhi to Udhampur (in J&K). A curvy road, with an eight-way lane. We were ripping it until I suddenly saw Vinod sliding down the opposite side. His bike���s petrol and engine oil had leaked, so we had to halt to get it fixed. It is a tedious process to fix your bike in these areas because it is not easy to find a mechanic.���
Day 2
We continued our journey to Srinagar ��� one of the most memorable rides because the landscape is constantly changing. There would be greenery, and all of a sudden, you���d be in a desert. It began to rain, and I was left behind as I had missed a turn and had got lost. My petrol tank got empty, and my bike broke down. I found a Kashmiri mechanic with a long beard ��� he repaired my bike. We stayed back in Srinagar for the night.
Day 3
We didn���t get to explore Srinagar ��� as we could only go to the Dal Lake, which I thought, was as perfect as a painting. We continued our journey to Sonamarg, which is about 87km from Srinagar. Vinod���s bike broke down again, but luckily, we just happened to meet a mechanic from Odisha. He had this rugged look, long beard, piercing eyes, rider���s jacket, and heavy boots. I am doing a film in which I play a traveler, which is being directed by Halitha. This chap gave me ideas about how I should look in that movie��� I even took pictures with him for reference back home.
Day 4
We were crossing the Zoji La pass. This was one of the most thrilling and dangerous experiences of my life. You are riding on a very narrow path, actually, it���s not even a road, and if you slip, you fall right down a 2000 ft valley. The locals cannot recollect a body ever being retrieved from there��� We could see smaller peaks all around the other side, and for me, it was almost like gambling with my life, but I loved that kick. While all this was running through my head, bam, I fall down. For a second, I thought this is it. But I quickly managed to get up, but I was so scared��� though when I think about it now, the fall was liberating in a certain sense.
Day 8
Kargil. A spot where it���s impossible not to feel patriotic. You are given a flag, salute the jawans and shout, ���Jai hind!��� I was thinking of all those patriotic films that Vijayakanth has done. I read about Captain Vikram Batra, who won the Param Vir Chakra. There was a letter kept there, for people to see��� by the captain to his son. The last line of the letter, read, ���I���m feeling very lonely, so don���t forget to write back.��� I was so touched, we never realise the hardships these jawans face every day.
On the same day, we reached Dras, often called the Gateway to Ladakh, and reached Lamayuru. This place is also called the moonland of Ladakh. You feel closer to stars, as if you can almost touch the sky, and pluck them right off... the constellations are so clear, you can stare at the sky for hours on end. It's quite a surreal feeling.
Day 9
It is an amazing feeling to start riding every morning. I visited Leh five years ago, and today, I realise it has become more commercialised. There are one too many shops, one too many riders there. The latest custom is to have the prayer flag on the bike while riding in Leh. The best part is the sun keeps us warm till 8pm. We stayed the night here.
Day 10
There was a strike in Leh, so none of the shops was open. We somehow discovered just this one tiny stall that sold thukpa, the Tibetan noodle soup. They also had aloo parantha, achaar (pickle) and chaanch (buttermilk). The whole day went by, just relishing these things.
Day 11
You find a lot of K2K (Kashmir to Kanyakumari) riders here. We also spoke to a few of them. We then started to Khardung La. You either have to have your own bike, or you have to hire a bike only from Leh to ride here. Bikes that are hired from Delhi or Chandigarh are not allowed here because the local business dips. The last time I was here, I made friends with a man named Jigmet (I call him Jiggyman), who has some political influence. He took us in the opposite direction via a shortcut to Khardung La. This was a route only the locals knew. The climate is unpredictable here, though you do get a kick out of riding on the world���s highest motorable pass.
It is so cold, your fingers and feet go numb, no matter what you are wearing. And I have never seen a more welcoming sight than the cup of hot noodles that we had here���
Day 12
We were physically drained, so decided to take a cab to Pangong Tso Lake. This spot is also very crowded now, with ATVs, shops and tourists all jostling for space. We got a tent, and camped by the lake for the night, which we spent talking about life and philosophy.
Day 13
Back to the hotel, for a day allocated to shopping. I visited the Tibetan marketplace and bought three musical instruments.
Day 14
The day we head back to Chennai. We took the Leh-Manali-Chandigarh route. It is exciting when you are heading towards a destination, but returning is always sad��� and leaving a place like Leh is especially tough.