✦ Shrinandan & Shubhashree ✦ + Friends from Chandigarh ✦
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Day by Day
THE ITINERARY
1
Friday, May 16th
Bangalore → Nagpur
📍 ~890 km🚗 12–13 hrs⏰ Depart 4:00 AM
Bangalore → NH44 North
Hyderabad bypass (7:30 AM breakfast)
Adilabad tea break
Nagpur — check in by 6–7 PM
Shubha drives 100 km on the flat NH44 stretch near Adilabad. Fill fuel at Hyderabad before the bypass. Lots of pure veg Udupi/Andhra dhabas on this stretch.
2
Saturday, May 17th
Nagpur → Chandigarh
📍 ~1,040 km🚗 13–14 hrs⏰ Depart 3:30 AM
Nagpur → Bhopal bypass
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway NE-4
Kota lunch stop (pure veg Rajasthani thali)
Jaipur Trans-Haryana Expressway
Chandigarh by 8–9 PM
This day is purely about distance. Bhopal bypass breakfast, Kota lunch (amazing Rajasthani veg thali — dal baati!), Jaipur quick chai. No sightseeing. Book Chandigarh hotel before leaving Nagpur.
3–10
May 18–25
WFH Base: Chandigarh
💻 8 WFH Days🌆 Explore Punjab
Chandigarh: Rose Garden, Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake
Sector 17 market — shopping
Weekend trip to Amritsar (250 km each way)
Golden Temple darshan + langar (pure veg!)
Wagah Border ceremony
Car full service at Mahindra service center
Chandigarh is India's most organized city — zero scam/language issues. English spoken everywhere. Find a serviced apartment with fast WiFi in Sector 22/35. Pure veg food is exceptionally easy here.
WFH
May 26–29
Pre-Trip Prep Days
💻 WFH⚠️ Critical Prep
Get all documents photocopied ×6 sets
Pay Ladakh Environment Fee online
Pack & repack car for 4 people
Buy jerry can, emergency kit, snack stash
Confirm all hotel bookings (Srinagar, Kargil, Leh)
These 4 days are critical admin days. Sort finances with the second couple — agree on Splitwise for fuel/toll/food splits. Brief them on altitude sickness protocol. Diamox prescription from doctor.
G1
Friday, May 30th
Group Meetup — Chandigarh
🤝 Friends Arrive🎉 Pre-Trip Night
Friends arrive at Chandigarh by afternoon
Group dinner — Pal Dhaba, Sector 28
Car packing — 1 soft bag per person max
Document distribution to all 4
Early bed by 9:30 PM
One rule for friends: NO hard suitcases. 40L backpack or soft duffle only. The Thar Roxx boot needs to hold 4 bags + jerry can + toolkit + snacks.
G2
Saturday, May 31st
Chandigarh → Jammu
📍 290 km🚗 5–6 hrs⏰ 6:30 AM
Pathankot breakfast — stuffed parathas & lassi
Jammu — check in by noon
Raghunath Temple visit
Bahu Fort (optional)
Document copies distributed to all
Jammu has a huge Dogra Hindu vegetarian culture — extremely easy for vegetarians. Hotel with AC is important — it's hot in Jammu in May/June. Sleep early, big mountain drive tomorrow.
G3
Sunday, June 1st
Jammu → Srinagar
📍 270 km🚗 5–6 hrs⏰ 6:00 AM
Banihal Tunnel crossing (awe moment)
Kashmir Valley opens up after tunnel
Srinagar — check in / houseboat
Evening shikara ride on Dal Lake
Dinner: Krishna Vaishno Bhojnalaya
The moment you exit the Banihal Tunnel — Kashmir Valley appears. Green meadows, cold air, snow peaks. Every first-timer goes completely silent. Worth the whole trip.
🏨 Stay: Dal Lake Houseboat (all 4) — unique Kashmiri experience
G4
Monday, June 2nd — Leave Day 1
Srinagar Sightseeing
🌿 Leave Day 1🕌 Kashmir
Mughal Gardens: Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh
Shankaracharya Temple (panoramic views)
Lal Chowk market — Kashmiri walnuts & almonds
Optional: Gulmarg gondola day trip
Pure veg dinner at Pincer Vegetarian Foods
Buy 2 kg of Kashmiri walnuts and almonds here — they're the best in India and perfect altitude snacks. Pashmina shawls make for incredible gifts.
G5
Tuesday, June 3rd — Leave Day 2
Srinagar → Kargil
📍 200 km🚗 6–7 hrs🌿 Leave Day 2
Sonmarg breakfast + Thajiwas Glacier walk
Zojila Pass 4WD engaged — 20 km rough
Drass — Kargil War Memorial (very moving)
Kargil — check in, light dinner, sleep early
Engage 4WD at Zojila. This is where the Thar earns its stripes. Take it slow — 20–30 kmph. Everyone gets out for a photo at Zojila top. From here on, landscapes are from another planet.
⛰️ Altitude: 2,676m at Kargil. Mild headaches normal. Drink water.
G6
Wednesday, June 4th — Leave Day 3
Kargil → Leh
📍 230 km🚗 7–8 hrs🌿 Leave Day 3
Mulbekh — 9m Maitreya Buddha in rock
Namika La (3,720m) — photo stop
Fotu La (4,108m) — highest on Srinagar-Leh hwy
Lamayuru Moonland + Monastery (1.5 hrs)
Alchi Monastery (10th century murals)
Magnetic Hill + Sangam confluence
Gurudwara Patthar Sahib
Leh — REST immediately on arrival
Lamayuru is non-negotiable — the Moonland landscape looks like Mars. Best stop on the highway. Don't skip Alchi either (10 km detour, 10th century murals are priceless).
⛰️ Altitude: 3,500m at Leh. ABSOLUTE REST on arrival. No exertion.
G7
Thursday, June 5th — Leave Day 4
Leh Acclimatization Day
🌿 Leave Day 4🏯 Local Leh❗ No high passes
Morning: Leh Palace (easy walk)
Leh Market — handicrafts, Tibetan jewelry
Hall of Fame Museum — Kargil War
Spituk Monastery
Sunset at Shanti Stupa (360° golden hour view)
Dinner: Tibetan Kitchen — veg thukpa & momos
Everyone does a health check tonight. Ask: headache? Chest tight? Breathing normal? 36 hours in Leh is the window — if anyone still has symptoms tomorrow, they stay in Leh while others go to Pangong.
G8
Friday, June 6th — Leave Day 5
Pangong Tso Lake
📍 150 km each way🌿 Leave Day 5⏰ 5:30 AM sharp
Chang La Pass (5,360m) — 2nd highest motorable
Pangong Tso — 3 hours at the lake (10 AM–1 PM)
Spangmik village walk
Return to Leh by 5 PM
PACK BAGS — big drive tomorrow
Farewell group dinner in Leh
The turquoise-blue lake stretching to Tibet is so impossibly beautiful that everyone cries. No joke. Also: this is the "3 Idiots" lake — but infinitely more stunning in real life.
★ Pack tonight for tomorrow's 4 AM departure
G9
Saturday, June 7th — Leave Day 6
Leh → Manali (Drop-off Day)
📍 ~490 km🚗 14–16 hrs⏰ 4:00 AM STRICT🌿 Leave Day 6
Upshi checkpoint — submit permits
Tanglang La (5,328m) — brief stop
Pang plateau (4,600m) — chai break
Sarchu — lunch at camp dhaba
Baralacha La (4,890m) + Suraj Tal
Keylong — fuel pump (critical!)
Rohtang Pass — 4WD
Manali by 9:30–10 PM
This is the hardest day of the trip — 490 km, 3 major passes, 16 hours. Start at 4 AM SHARP. Carry thermos of hot chai, all snacks, warm layers. Friends: book their Volvo bus to Chandigarh immediately on arrival in Manali (departs 6–8 AM, redBus).
⛽ CARRY 10L JERRY CAN — no fuel pump between Leh and Keylong (~300 km)
P4-1
Sunday June 8th
Manali Rest Day
💻 WFH🌲 Manali
Old Manali cafes (great coffee, bakeries)
Hadimba Devi Temple
Solang Valley (short drive)
WFH in afternoon
Best pure veg food in weeks!
Manali is the re-entry into civilization. Celebrate with a proper South Indian meal (Manali has several options). Friends leave early morning by Volvo bus — see them off.
P4-2
Monday June 9th
Manali — WFH + Nubra Decision
💻 WFH
Option A: WFH in Manali — use as buffer day
Option B: Quick Spiti detour (Kaza)
Book hotels for return drive
You skipped Nubra during the group phase (Pangong was the group pick). If energy levels are good, consider going back up to Leh + Nubra — but only if Shrinandan feels fresh enough for another mountain push. Otherwise, Manali WFH and start return.
P4-3
Tuesday June 10th
Manali → Chandigarh
📍 310 km🚗 7–8 hrs
Kullu valley drive (along Beas river)
Mandi — town worth a quick stop
Bilaspur lake views
Chandigarh — one last night
Dinner at Pal Dhaba (a tradition now)
P4-4
Wednesday June 11th
Chandigarh → Nagpur
📍 1,040 km🚗 13–14 hrs⏰ 3:30 AM
Trans-Haryana Expressway south
Jaipur → Kota → Bhopal
Nagpur overnight stay
P4-5
Thursday June 12th
Nagpur → Bangalore 🏁
📍 ~880 km🚗 12 hrs⏰ 4:00 AM
Nagpur → Hyderabad → Bangalore
Home by 7–8 PM
🎉 MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
You've driven ~9,000 km, crossed 4 major high-altitude passes, reached the world's highest motorable road, and seen two of India's most beautiful lakes. This is life.
Visual Overview
ROUTE MAP
Elevation Profile
ALTITUDE JOURNEY
Bangalore
920m
☀️
32°C
Hot & humid May
Chandigarh
321m
🌤️
38°C
Hot summers, AC needed
Srinagar
1,585m
🌸
22°C
Pleasant early June
Kargil
2,676m
🌬️
18°C
Cool days, cold nights
Leh
3,500m
❄️
15°C
Days pleasant, nights 5°C
Khardung La
5,359m
🌨️
-2°C
Snow possible, wind strong
Pangong Tso
4,350m
💙
10°C
Clear skies, UV intense
Sarchu
4,200m
🌪️
8°C
Cold, windy plateau
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HEY FRIENDS, JOIN US.
We're driving from Chandigarh to Leh Ladakh and back in a Mahindra Thar Roxx 4×4. 8 days. 4 people. One trip you'll talk about for the rest of your life. Here's everything you need to know.
🚘
The Vehicle
Mahindra Thar Roxx — diesel 4×4 with diff lock. Built specifically for Ladakh terrain. You ride in comfort while Shrinandan handles all the mountain driving. No rental cars, no shared cabs. Your own private expedition machine.
📅
Just 8 Days
Join us Friday May 30th in Chandigarh. We drop you in Manali on Saturday June 7th — you take a Volvo bus to Chandigarh and fly back to Bangalore. Total: only 6 casual leaves needed (weekend driving covers 2 days).
🌿
100% Vegetarian
We've researched every pure veg restaurant from Chandigarh to Leh. You will eat well. Krishna Vaishno Dhaba in Srinagar, Tibetan Kitchen in Leh, and everything in between. No compromises on food.
💰
Split Costs
Total trip cost for 4 people: ~₹2.4 Lakhs. Split 50-50 between couples. Your share: ~₹1.2 Lakhs for 8 unforgettable days. That's ₹15,000/day/person for Leh Ladakh. No luxury trip on earth gives this ROI.
🗣️
No Hindi? No Problem
We handle all navigation, communication, checkposts. Tourist industry in Kashmir and Leh is extremely English-friendly. Hotel bookings are all pre-done. You just sit back, look out the window, and be amazed.
🏥
Safety First
We enter Ladakh via Srinagar — gradual altitude gain over 4 days. No sudden jumps. Medical kit for 4. Diamox prescribed. Shrinandan has mountain driving experience. We never rush.
Extra tolls only (state roads) ₹8,500 saved via FASTag pass!
🎟️
Sightseeing
₹15,100
Gondola, camel rides, shikara, monasteries, camps
📋
Permits & Fees
₹2,000
Ladakh EDF ×4 persons Various checkpost fees
🔧
Car Service & Prep
₹16,900
Car service, insurance, kit, medicines, snacks (S&S prep)
🆘
Emergency Buffer
₹15,000
Medical, breakdown, unexpected stays
Grand Total
₹2,17,168
Total expenses (S&S + Friends)
S&S Share
₹1,67,584
For 2 people · Full 30 days
Friends' Share
₹49,584
50-50 split for group phase (8 days)
Per Person Per Day Cost
₹2,793
Per person/day (Shrinandan+Shubha)
₹3,099
Per person/day (Friends, 8 days)
Splitwise
Recommended app for splitting expenses
Paperwork
PERMITS & PERMISSIONS
✅ JUST PAY ONLINE
Ladakh Environment Fee (EDF)
Indian tourists no longer need a separate Inner Line Permit. Just pay ₹400/person Environment Fee at lahdclehpermit.in. Valid for Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Khardung La. Print and carry receipt ×4 copies per person.
✅ NOT REQUIRED
Leh City Sightseeing
No permit needed for Leh palace, Shanti Stupa, markets, monasteries in and around Leh town, or travel on Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways.
⚠️ EDF RECEIPT NEEDED
Nubra Valley + Khardung La
Show EDF payment receipt at checkpost. Carry Aadhar + printed EDF receipt. Apply and print before leaving Bangalore.
⚠️ EDF RECEIPT NEEDED
Pangong Tso Lake
Show EDF at Chang La checkpost. Military is strict here — have all 4 persons' receipts and Aadhar cards ready in one folder before approaching checkpost.
✅ NOT REQUIRED
Jammu & Kashmir Travel
No permits needed for Indian citizens to travel within J&K (Jammu, Srinagar, Sonmarg, Kargil). Just carry standard ID proof (Aadhar). Vehicle RC and insurance at checkposts.
💡 RECOMMENDED
Travel Insurance
Not mandatory but strongly recommended for high-altitude mountain travel. Cover all 4 people. Must include emergency helicopter evacuation coverage for Ladakh region. ₹500–800/person.
Expert Guidance
IMPORTANT TIPS
⛰️ Altitude Sickness (AMS)
Take Diamox from Day 13 as prescribed by doctor
Drink 3–4 litres water/day at altitude (not less)
Absolutely no alcohol above 3,000m
Light meals only — heavy food worsens symptoms
Rest 24 hrs on first arrival in Leh. No exertion.
Carry pulse oximeter — SpO2 below 80% = descend
Severe headache + vomiting + loss of balance = DESCEND NOW