The 2016 Royal Enfield Himalayan Odyssey has come to an end. It invited riders from across the country for a ride to one of the best locations to ride to – Leh. This year's Himalayan Odyssey though was a bit different as the riders had an all-new bike to put to the test in the form of the Himalayan, which promises to be a true-blue purpose-built adventure tourer at a price range that sets it apart from all other offerings in the Indian market.
Here's how Day 6 was in pictures.
One of the highest motorable passes in the world, Khardung La (18,380 feet / 5602 m) is a mere 40 kms from Leh. In this space of 40 kms, the road rises over 2 kms vertically. Seen here is the city of Leh from the initial section of the road to Khardung La
The road to Khardung La is cut out of a sheer mountain face. At this dizzying altitude, there are no trees or shrubs to hold the mountainside together, so landslides are common.
This entire road is the lifeline of the thousands of residents of Nubra Valley that lies beyond the pass. As a result, landslides cannot be ignored. We wait around for a recent landslide to be cleared by the men of the Border Roads Organisation so that we can push ahead to the top of the world.
Initial sections of the road are metalled and smooth. But if you look closely at this photo, you can see the road snaking up the mountain in the background. This is where it gets tricky. The Royal Enfield Himalayan, however, is built for these roads. Even with the loss of power that comes with this altitude, the chasis and the suspension carries it over the bumpy roads, all the way to the top.
The higher you climb on the road to Khardung La, the rougher the roads get. Towards the end of the drive, a lone string of prayer flags indicate that the destination is near.
Khardung La might not be as difficult to reach as many of the shorter passes around, but the sheer altitude and the rare air makes it a challenge. It was the literal high-point of the ride and to mark the occasion, we got a bunch of Himalayans (and a lone Classic) to pose for one final photograph, before scampering down the road for warmth and some air to breath.
(Royal Enfield Himalayan Odyssey has come to an end. It was the last day.)
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