In the lap of the Trans Himalayas, there is a mountain pass called Naki La. This mountain pass is located at an altitude of 15,547 feet. To illustrate its location, this mountain pass is located in the northern Indian state of Ladakh. Naki La is approximately 268 km from Manali, and if we cross the Atal Tunnel, the distance reduces to 219 km.
We had been staying in the Solang Valley for several days. At 10 pm, we set out to begin our journey. From Manali, via Palchan and Madhi, we cross the Rohtang Pass. The sun is rising, and the first rays of the sun can be seen on the snow-capped peaks of the Lahaul Valley, and I feel the warmth of the sun on my face.
In a few hours, we reach Darcha, where a checkpoint is located, ready to cross the Lahaul Valley. After getting our vehicle registered, we proceed to the second pass on this highway. Arriving at Jingjing Bar, we enjoy hot tea with chocolate biscuits. Our next stop is Baralacha La, the second pass on this highway.
After a few hours, we stop at Baralacha La, chat, and admire the views. A few years ago, my friend and I were stranded here during snowfall. We were traveling to Chandratal via this mountain pass. Unable to cross the Chandra River, we returned home late at night, and had to spend the night at 4950 meters. The overnight snowfall froze our breath.
From here, we reach Sarchu, the state border between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. All vehicles enter here twice. Known as Camp City, this place is very windy; strong winds blow here, and temperatures drop below freezing at night. Crossing Sarchu, we continue along the Sarchu River and soon reach the Gata Loop.
Gata Loop is a unique place where 21 hairline bands form on a single mountain. Climbing this mountain can be exhausting for even the best vehicles. Crossing Gata Loop, we reach a haunted point. It is said that a truck driver was once stranded here and died due to lack of water. Since then, tourists passing by offer water bottles to the truck driver's soul to find peace.
Crossing Gata Loop is the pass whose photos I've shared today. The mountain pass is called Naki La. Naki La is 15,547 feet high, and it's here that we can see Himalayan Blue Sheep grazing, enjoying the summer months. These are the rock formations I've been observing since 2014, and they appear to me like this every year.
Before Naki La, we spot a truck lying on the side of the road. I hope the driver isn't hurt. Crossing Naki La, we see Whiskey Nala, where a few tents are visible from a distance. We're talking when we spot one of India's most famous buses. It's a Himachal Pradesh Roadways bus that runs from Delhi to Leh and back from Leh to Delhi. This bus covers a distance of approximately 1,000 km, reaching its destination on the third day.
Cairns are erected at every mountain pass in India to help tourists remember their route during bad weather and avoid getting lost in the rugged terrain. The expansive road, the high, expansive landscape, and the snow-capped peaks make this trip memorable. While there's no greenery here, I love these rugged terrain just the way it is.
So that's all for today's post. See you in the next post where I'll tell you about my journey to the next mountain pass from Naki La. Until then, keep yourselves focused and keep smiling.
Disclaimer: This post is originally written in Hindi and I have used Google Translator to translate the Hindi text in English. All the photos have been clicked by me from canon 77d (55-250mm) and edited on laptop lightroom app, post thumbnail created in adobe photoshop.
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[//]:# (!worldmappin 33.02602 lat 77.62214 long At 15,547 Feet: My Encounter with Naki La Mountain Pass (Ladakh, India) d3scr)