Author: Dev

Mashobra: A Peaceful Alternative To Shimla

Published by Dev

Looking for a peaceful alternative to Shimla? Head to the quaint village of Mashobra, located only 15km from Shimla. So last week took me to the Shimla region again (my second trip in the previous 2 months). I was commencing a self-planned, solo camping trip across a few places in Himachal with my newly invested 20 thousand Rupee tree-hanging/flying tent. Also See: A quick youtube video of my Flying Tent But as I reached Shimla, the weather turned unfavorable. It was the second week of November, and winter, at 2000m above sea level in the Himalayas had already begun. Where winter, with good camping gear – including a -15 degree Celsius sleeping bag, as I had it – is not a problem, if it’s raining and you’re on a motorcycle, it, perhaps, is A BIG PROBLEM. And that’s exactly was the scenario. As I reached Shimla, it started pouring. And in no time, I was wet and cold, and feeling hopeless. Where I knew that I cannot camp on my own that night, I, at …

My Top Favorite Tourist Places In Himachal Pradesh

Published by Dev

Looking for a recommendation for top tourist places in Himachal Pradesh? Here’s my list… Those who follow my journeys closely, particularly on Instagram, may know that I love Himachal Pradesh. I have spent more time in Himachal than all other places in India put together. And no, my love for Himachal doesn’t have to do anything with the fact that I was born there. I have lived almost all my life in New Delhi and have hardly visited Himachal until I actually quit my corporate career behind and become a travel blogger. To further justify my innocence, let me tell you that during my initial year of travel blogging, I didn’t visit Himachal even once but all the other places. I spent almost 3 months in the Northeast, three months in the south of India, and the rest of the time, exploring the Southeast Asian countries. I even took my mother for a 15-day pilgrimage trip to Uttarakhand (the neighboring state to Himachal) but not a single day was spent in Himachal. So yea, the …

Looking For A Quieter Place To Stay Near Leh? Visit Lamayuru

Published by Dev

Lamayuru remains my top favorite among all the places I’ve visited in the Ladakh region, particularly near the town of Leh! I remember the first time I visited Lamayuru, it was back in 2015. I wasn’t blogging back then, but I had recently quit my job as was on an indefinite leave to travel around India. I reached Leh as a solo backpacker, met two other solo backpackers there, and the three of us quickly planned to hitchhike all the way from Leh to Srinagar. Our first stop happened to be Lamayuru. My First Visit To Lamayuru Our original plan was to stay in Lamayuru for just a night (as a 2-hour journey can take about 6 hours in an Indian oil truck on those roads) but ended up staying in Lamayuru for more days than I can remember. Lamayuru has some kind of charm that grips you the moment you get there. The town’s surrounding landscapes, otherwise known as The Moonland, has some kind of meditative power in them. You look at them from …

Manali To Leh Highway Is No Adventure Anymore

Published by Dev

The last time I did Manali-Leh, it was some 4 years ago. Back then, the Manali-Leh route was among one of the top adventure trails for motorbikers (all the Royal Enfield Lovers you know) in India. And if someone wanted it a little more challenging, they would do the entire Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Manali circuit. But times have changed now. Indian government and the Border Road Organisation have made efforts to keep all border roads in good shape and Manali-Leh highway became an obvious victim. The entire highway now remains soo well looked after that F1-tracks around the world can take shame from it. At every landslide-prone area, a dedicated JCB has been placed. Every few kilometres you can see construction workers either adding a layer of tar or sweeping the road with a broom to ensure a smoother drive. It has been only a week that I have returned from Manali-Leh highway and looking at the current road condition, I can say, Leh to Manali route is now anything but adventurous. Here’s a quick video to give …

Behind the Glamour: The Other Side to Travel

Published by Dev

There’s nothing like the glitz and glamour of a life on the move. Exotic locations, delicious food, one-of-a-kind experiences, and incredible vistas— all this and more are what you can get from a life spent exploring the best of what the world has to offer if you know where to look. From exploring the cobbled streets of Old Europe to motorbiking through the most unexplored regions in the Himalayas, there are a million and one new experiences you can unlock when you travel the globe. But travel isn’t all about the glamour, and long months spent traveling from one place to the next can take its toll. As any globetrotter will tell you, travel isn’t easy, and it can impact both you and the places you go to. All of the incredible sights and sounds you can experience from journeying all over the world have their price, and either you or the local communities you visit will end up paying for it. While tourism may seem like having your cake and eating it too, the …

Shinkula Pass: Keylong To Kargil Itinearary

Published by Dev

Looking for a new adventure trail in Ladakh region? Try Keylong to Kargil, via Shinkula (or Shinku La) Pass, and explore the unexplored Zanskar!  But before we start with the article, here’s a quick video of my Shinkula Pass Adventure, from Keylong. This is Day 1 of the trip… from Keylong to Kurgiakh! Thanks to the Border Road Organisation, Manali to Leh highway is no adventure anymore. The (nearly) 450km stretch of the road (that connects Manali to Leh, via Keylong) remains so perfect throughout the season that Formula 1 circuits around the world can take shame from it. So what should adventure/thrill-seekers do if they’re heading that way? My suggestion… Do Keylong to Kargil, via Shinkula Pass, and explore some of the most isolated villages, unforgiving dirt roads, deadly river crossings – all bundled in an epic 5-day epic road adventure! Shinkula Pass: Connecting Keylong And Kargil Before Shinkula Pass, it was only possible to drive into Zanskar from Kargil, do until about halfway to Keylong, and return to Kargil following the same route. …

Bairagarh To Killar Via Sach Pass: Itinerary

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Planning a road trip to Sach Pass? Here’s an ideal Bairagarh (or Bhairagarh) to Killar, via Sach Pass, itinerary… But before we start, here’s a quick video of my Bairagarh to Sach Pass ride. For some reason, Sach Pass has become the new favourite among the Indian motorcycle community. I’ve heard many adventure riders sharing their stories of how Sach Pass gave them more thrill and adventure than other circuits including Spiti and Nubra valley.”Spiti Valley circuit is only longer, but the real adventure is in Sach Pass bro,” I remember someone saying so proudly that his statement, in fact, forced me to plan Sach Pass myself. Naturally, I took my Jawa 42 in Sach Pass and it took me 3 days all the way from New Delhi until I reached Keylong and concluded the journey. To be honest, Sach Pass was a good adventure but there was nothing extraordinary about it. The route was not confusing, the river crossing was livable and the road conditions were quite similar to what I found last month …

Ladakh on Jawa: In Pictures

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I know most of my blog-readers will hate me for this title. “Ladakh In Pictures was okay”, they would say, “but what’s with Jawa? This man is so obsessed with his new Jawa motorcycle.” In my excuse, I will say… “You wouldn’t say so if you read the comments on my previous Youtube Videos“. Since I’ve started making Youtube videos showing you around the world, keeping a motorcycle ‘Jawa 42’ as the center of attraction, I’ve got more people asking me when will I take that center of attraction to Ladakh. So dedicated to those comments, this is ‘Ladakh in Pictures’, with my Jawa 42 in some of the frames. Those who want to see Jawa, see Jawa, those who don’t, these pictures speak more than just what the title says… Ladakh On Jawa: In Pictures Picture was taken between Kargil and Lamayuru (halfway to Leh, from Kargil) near Fotu La Pass. Fatu La Pass is located at nearly 4100m above sea level altitude where you get some amazing Instagram perfect shots. Just only keep …

Visiting Chanshal Pass, In Pabbar Valley

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“Shimla district’s highest motorable pass? Are you sure? Where is it? I’ve never heard of this name Chanshal Pass before.” I remember fairly well how my friend responded as I told him about our plan of spending a few days together in Pabbar Valley, and visit Chanshal Pass. I was on a (nearly) 1-month solo road trip across the Shimla district, in Himachal Pradesh, the last few days of which I carefully planned with an old school friend. I started my (solo) trip from Shimla and wandered across the Shimla district, visiting places like Chail, Mashobra, Neldehra, Cheog, Kotkhai, and a few more, before meeting my friend and concluding the trip at the highest motorable pass in Shimla district – the Chanshal Pass. To be honest, when I left home, even I didn’t know about Chanshal. In fact, the name was only introduced to me a couple of days before I visited Chanshal. I was having dinner with my host in Kotkhai and told him how I am meeting an old friend over the next …

Leaving For An Epic Motorcycle Adventure TOMORROW: Sach Pass–Zanskar–Kargil–Leh

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Update 25-October-2019: I am back from the ride and successfully did a part of the journey with friends, and a part of it, solo. Here’s a link to the blog post I wrote about Sach Pass (Sach Pass Motorcycle Itinerary). If you’re interested to read about Shinkula and Zanskar, Read: Shinkula Pass Zanskar Road Trip Itinerary. You can also watch the entire series (everyday vlogs) on my youtube channel. Here’s the link to the Sach-Pass-Zanskar Playlist. Now, continue with the article I wrote before the commencement of my Sach Pass–Zanskar–Kargil–Leh journey. Enjoy the blog. Happy travels… Until now, motorcycling seemed like an utter waste of effort to me. I always thought, what thrill do these so-called bikers get in riding across a place for weeks. I mean think of it this way: when you travel from point A to point B in a bus or, say, in a train, you get to see and do so much than when you do the same journey riding a motorcycle. When you’re on a motorcycle, all you do …