Budget roadtrip to LEH Ladakh by car

 Road-trip, Experience, Expenditure, Adventurous, Deadliest & Dangerous.

The vehicle used - is Volkswagen Jetta (AT, Diesel).

We, a family of 4 (myself, my husband, and 2 kids)started our road-trip from Kochi, Kerala on October 19. We crossed many states and got new good experiences. The roads were awesome and we loved the drive. Different cultures, foods, languages and but all people are lovely.

Routes Covered:

Total States - 14

Kerala - Bangalore - Hyderabad -Nagpur - Delhi - Ludhiana - Pathankot - Jammu - Srinagar- Gulmarg - Sonamarg - Drass - Kargil - Leh - Khardung La Pass - Hunder - Agham - Shyok -Durbuk - Pangong Tso - Dett Pang - Sarchu to Barchula Pass - Keylong - Manali - Amritsar - Jaisalmer - Vadodara - Bombay - Pune - Tumkur - Hasanur - Tirupur

Total distance covered - 8570 km. No Animal hurt, No Accidents, Only 1-time tyre puncher.

Notes from the trip:

• The adventurous road is Agham to Shyok (Hunder to Pangong lake route, We haven’t seen anybody between 40-50 kms)
• Deadliest & Dangerous - Sarchu to Barchula Pass(My head was on the steering by the way) Temperature was -12.5 degrees.
• Fastest Road - Satara, MH to Tumkur, KA - 662 Kms - 7 Hours - Speed of 140-160/kms - 6 Lane and Fantastic
• Top Speed - Matura to Delhi - 210 kms in Yamuna Express Highway
• Forest Route - Hasanur to Dhimbam about 20 kms and traveled late night with special permission and spotted Many Elephants and Leopard luckily

Today Expenditure:

• Toll Gate - Rs.8000
• Fuel Cost (Diesel) - Rs.58000
• Accommodation & Food - Rs.75000 it depends on the category which you choose but we stayed in 3 & 4 Star Hotel budget of Rs.4000-5000, Homestay and Tents
• General VW Jetta Service - Rs.16000 (Amritsar)
• Number Plate and Sunshade Film Penalty charges Rs.4000

Grand Total - Rs,1,61,000/-

Do's and Dont's we followed during Ladakh Road Trip:

What clothes and essentials we packed and How we packed?

• 15 sets of casual clothes for each.
• Full sleeved tees and full pants for kids which helped to Withstand cold.
• One formal wear because we might visit any temple anywhere or get some business done.
• Packed all the above in one big trolley, medium trolley and a duffel bag.
• Winter jackets which can Withstand - 15 degree cold. Socks, gloves, caps, neck warmer, foot and hand warmers, Thermal wears. These all packed in a seperate bag.
• An essential kit bag with soap, facewash, toothbrush and paste readily available at once
• One bag for shoes and extra slippers.
• 4 pillows, 2 bedsheets, one bedspread.

Thats it. Clothing and essentials part over.

What we took for cooking in case we dint find to get food somewhere?

Essential groceries packed in small covers, tetra pack milk, rice mixes, a burner stove, 5 liter LPG cylinder, one tawa, one 3 liter cooker, 4 plates, aluminum foil wraps, a small bucket, a mug, a scrubber and a small vim liquid packet, a foldable table to keep stove, foldable picnic mat.

All these in a bag. So food part over.

What we bought online?

Puncture kit

Portable digital tyre inflator.

Pepper spray for safety.

Decathlon foldable stool.

Inflatable bed. (for those full moon nights)

Wet body wipes. (survived with this )

What was in our medical kit?

Vaseline, lip balms, iodex, sybol, soframycin, neosprin powder, bandage, cotton, headache tablets, paracetamol tablet,portable oxygen cylinder,digital thermometer, oximeter and an oxygen cylinder.

What to avoid during travel?

Don't get down unnecessarily on the highway.

Don't park car at dhaba's. (Park only in petrol stations, its legally safe)

Everyone doesn't know English, so at least one member must know hindi.

How we stayed and got refreshed?

We didn't stay at hotels every other night. We mostly stayed in our car, parked at petrol stations. We used restrooms over there. We didn't bath daily. We just got refreshed, changed clothes at dhaba's washrooms.

We stayed in hotels only when we thought we really need to feel the feel of luxury bed..

We had a separate big bag for laundry, in which we dumped all our used clothes.

Where we stayed?

• Pathankot (Hotel King Virat - Good)
• Gulmarg (Hotel Affarvat - Very Good)
• Kargil (Hotel Zojila - Good)
• Hunder (Homestay - Good)
• Pangong (Homestay - OK)
• Amritsar (Hotel BR grande - Very Good)
• Jaisalmer (Hotel Ghar - Good)
• Vadodara (The baroda Residency - Excellent)
• Kholapur (Raj Palace - Average)

What food we had all the way?

We ate at dhaba's, hotels and we tried all typical foods when we crossed all states. That was an awesome experience being a foodie. When we dint get food, we had bananas,lazzi,coconut water.

We cooked once and ate puliyotharai and Mestiri Chicken in hunder, Ladakh.

How we drove and what to avoid during driving?

Installed offline maps because we dint get network in all places.

Prepaid wont work in Jammu and kashmir. So one number we used is postpaid.

Mostly avoid music and videos during driving.

We both drove alternatively, we dint feel bored. Per day maximum we drove 800 kms.

He was a PRO in driving, so i got some good time to sleep

How we managed kids?

Keep a snack bag in front seat which will be easy to have.

Dont hear to their tantrums, they fight and they get together. Just watch the road carefully and drive. Dont get distracted, then it will be a major task to take a decision between their silly Nd naughty fights.

Not funny, but i swear every parent knows this scenario . When kids fart, it will be like yuck inside car. So open windows in regular intervals and carry a room spray handy.

Dont buy packed snacks to kids. We carried peanut burfy, roasted peanuts, biscuits, sweets.

Avoid snacking, only then they will eat properly during food stops.

Trip total days - 13 days

Kms covered - 8570 kms

Total expenses - Rs.1,61,000/-

My way of explanation may be lengthy, dont mind it. . I've more to say but i dont want to spam. Anyone has doubts, ping me personally.

We have one life to live, live to the fullest and enjoy each and every moment. Be happy, do good.

Snowfall prediction for winter season in NORTH INDIA - leh, ladakh, Manali, Kashmir, Shimla, Dharamshala, Almora, Mussoorie, Drass, Gulmarg, Nainital, etc

  Snowfall / Winter Precipitation in the Western Himalayas

Snowfall(up)

Ice accumulation(down)

Start time(faster

Winter is at peak now. As, the temperatures starts dipping down and the ground starts freezing the locals sense that its time for some white powder in the himalayas of India.

So, everyday we get queries about Snowfalls and where to go to see Snow and Snowfall. And to be honest Geography and Meteorology aren't strong suits with most of us.

But Mathematics is. So here is the answer using simple calculation.

Average Winter Precipitation combined for the Months of January / February / March for some well known "Hill Stations". Ofcourse the percentage of this Precipitation varies with Geography and Altitude. In Drass, Leh and Gulmarg it will be always mostly Snow. In Srinagar, Dalhousie and Manali a mix of Rain and Snow. And in placed like Dharamshala and Almora mostly Rain. It actually doesn't Snow in Dharamshala proper.

So here goes in Order of Maximum to Minimum:

1. Gulmarg - 633.4 mm

2. Dalhousie - 433 mm

3. Manali - 350.6 mm

4. Dharamshala - 328.9 mm * ( Mostly Rain in Dharamshala. Rain and Snow in upper Dharamshala i.e McLeodganj)

5. Srinagar - 253.4 mm

6. Shimla - 222.9 mm

7. Nainital - 205.9 mm

8. Mussoorie - 188.2 mm

9. Drass - 133.8 mm

10. Almora - 74 mm

11. Leh - 29.6 mm

All Figures as per Indian Meteorological Department for snowfall prediction in Northern regions of India.

So as you can see Gulmarg gets 20 times the Precipitation that Leh gets. So instead of shooting arrows in the Dark quote Figures. Nothing really shows the Reality like Mathematics.

NOw, can you predict when are the high chances for you to witness snow flakes on your winter vacation.

Mouth-watering pictures of the local traditional food from each district of Ladakh. This could go viral on Instagram and Facebook. / The Ladakhi Cuisine In A Nutshell: A blog that features the most popular food in Ladakh

Food is an integral part of any culture, and Indian Union Territory Ladakh is no different. It’s one of the main reasons why people visit this picturesque region in India. And there are plenty of reasons to do so—from the breathtaking mountain landscapes to the colorful festivals, from the beautiful monasteries to the majestic lakes. The most delicious street food to experience while visiting Ladakh. But there’s one aspect of Ladakh that you may not have thought about—its food! And while you might think that the region is all about momo's, it has a lot more to offer than just dumplings. There are so many dishes to try and each one is unique in its way.

If you are planning to visit Ladakh, you must try the local street food. The best way to experience the culture of Ladakh is by eating like a local. There are so many dishes to try and each one is unique in its way. You will be surprised to see the variety of street food in Ladakh. Many street vendors sell local delicacies and they can be easily found near the marketplaces or on the streets. 

Kargil Anwar Bazaar – This is one of the best places to get authentic Ladakhi food. The bazaar has a lot of small shops selling different kinds of dishes such as momos, cookies and slices of bread made from barley flour. The best part about the street food of Ladakh is that it is cheap. You can get a full meal for less than Rs 100. So if you are visiting Ladakh on a budget, then this is something that you should not miss out on!

Here’s a list of the most delicious street food to experience while visiting Ladakh:

1. Churpi:How to?

It is a local's go to fast food thats's made up of dried cheeze smashed by hands turning it to noodle look alike which is made up of curd and sugar.

2. Paba:How to?

Its the favourite go to food option for every ladakhi which is made up of local flour mixed with water which is later consumed with any other local food but commonly with curd.

3. Oma-Skyu:

Skyu is another traditional soup-based Ladakhi specialty. It is a stew made with wheat dough kneaded into thumb-sized flatten balls. It is slowly cooked in a pot with water, meat and root vegetables such as potatoes, turnips and carrots. In villages, it is also habitual to include fresh milk as the main ingredient. In that case, the dish is called oma-skyu, and “oma” means “milk” in the Ladakhi language. A particularly tasty variant that you must try if you have the opportunity.

4. Tangra:

This is the ultimate Ladakhi street food and it’s famous across India. Made with boiled potatoes and chili powder, when you eat this dish you need to be careful as it will burn your tongue! But don’t worry—it’s worth all the pain because Tangra is delicious.

5. Momos:

Even you are expert on momo, you can resist the momo made in Ladakh every time you go out to eat anywhere in ladakh. The most famous dish in Ladakh, momos are steamed dumplings with minced meat and vegetables inside. They’re served with a spicy sauce called thukpa, which is made from chili powder, cumin seeds, and ginger.

6. Phuchka:

This is Ladakh’s take on the famous golgappa, served with tangy chutney made from tamarind and mint leaves. It comes in two versions-one with puffed rice and the other with bread crumbs.

7. Butter/Pink tea:

Made by mixing green tea leaves and salt along with a dollop of butter, this is one of the most popular drinks in Ladakh. It’s a delicious combination that’s high in calories, but it will keep you warm during the cold Ladakhi nights.

8. Juk:

This dish is made from yak meat and vegetables cooked together with spices like cardamom and cloves. It’s often served with a plate of biscuits or cookies. 

9. Ladakhi pizza:

Ladakhi people have their own way of making pizza by adding spices like cinnamon and cardamom powder along with vegetables like carrots, peas and corn kernels. It’s an ideal dish for cold weather since it warms up your insides.

10. Ladakh bread/ Khambir:

This traditional bread has the flavor of spices like cinnamon, cardamom powder and cumin seeds. It’s an ideal option for breakfast or brunch because it has a crunchy outside and is soft inside. It’s then combined with spices like salt, chili powder and garlic to make a dough that is rolled out into thin rotis. The rotis are cooked on an open flame until they puff up.

11. Ladakhi thukpa:

This traditional Ladakhi dish looks brownish in colour and is made by cooking whole wheat flour (atta) in broth or water along with dried cheese called "churphey" and vegetables like cabbage, potato and carrots.

12. Ladakhi cheese and onion pancake:

This is one of my all-time favorite Indian street foods, which you can find in Kargil, a small town in the north of Ladakh. It’s made with potatoes and onions but has a milder taste than other kinds of pancakes.

13. Chhang-pa:

A Ladakhi specialty, this dish is made of rice noodles and a mixture of vegetables. It’s topped with a spicy paste made from tomatoes and chilies, which makes it an extremely popular dish in the region. You’ll find chhang-pa in all the restaurants of Leh, but you can also try making it at home.

The cuisine of Ladakh is heavily influenced by Tibetan, Central Asian and Pakistani cuisines. Kashmiri influences are also evident in the food. You’ll find plenty of kebabs and yak-meat dishes on menus in Ladakh. The most popular dishes include momos (dumplings), thukpa (noodle soup) and shapla (water spinach leaves).

It’s a landlocked region, so the food here is very different from what you’ll find in the rest of India.