“En route is the place called Thandi. Make sure to stock up your fuel reserve because the next petrol pump comes after 365 kilometers.”

The charted schedule needed them to reach Pang, but work on a bridge near Jispa brought all traffic to a halt. Hotels at Jispa town were already taken by those who had been caught in the block earlier. After much difficulty, they managed to find a room to spend the night.

“We were told that the morning breakfast would be a buffet and that it would cast us Rs. 250. And the buffet consisted of bread, butter and jam”

They reached Pang on the third day after passing through a gorgeous terrain of picturesque landscape that's permanently associated with the 'Wild West' movies.

“There are a lot of rented tents available at Pang. For accommodation alone the charge is Rs. 100. Food costs extra and is very expensive, but is good nevertheless. There is an Army Camp nearby with satellite phone facilities, which they would share with you if your need is genuinely urgent.”

They reached Leh on the fourth day by 10-O-clock.

Click Here To See The Pictures - Part II

“Saying that is easy. But you need to personally ride through these stretches to know what it’s like. After Pang, there wasn't even a 'road'; just a dirt path, distinguishable from the rest of the Earth only by the wheel marks of vehicles that had gone before.”

They still had three days to spare before reaching Kargil. On the first day, they visited the Pangong Tso(lake) which Sreejith describes as 'the most beautiful place we saw in the entire journey'. The highest motorable road in the world is the Leh – Khardung La road at 18380 feet, which they traveled on the second day.

“There is an Army restaurant at Khardung La, which is the world's highest restaurant and also a place where they make you the best tea in the world.”

They rested for a day to 'recharge the batteries', according Sreejith and on the eight day of the trip, after starting off from Manali, they were headed for Kargil. But on the way, came the final twist that always makes life stranger than fiction.

“We broke the chain on one of our bikes. The nearest workshop was more than 40 kilometers away.”

They hitched a ride on a truck. The pathetic condition of the road resulted in a bumpy ride, which made sure that the bike was all but dismantled by the time they reached the next town.

However, they did reach Kargil on July 26th, the Kargil Vijay Diwas, despite all the obstacles on the way... but only to be told that the ceremony would be carried out at Dras, 57 km away.

“Seeing that place will tell you why retaining this mountain was named the most vital and the war winning operation carried out by the Indian Army during the war. Boards are placed which consistently remind you – 'You are under enemy observation'.”

Once they reached the venue, they were told that only invited guests could attend the function. However, they were given special entry after making the army officers realise the significance of their trip and how important it was for them. So they did attend the Kargil Vijay Diwas function, in Kargil, after having journeyed through some of the toughest terrains in the world, which had tested not only the strength of their bones, but of their will as well.

“The height, the numbing cold, the surreal yet enchanting landscape – it all does things on you, changes the person that you are. You realise how insignificant you are, the perspective of your thoughts change; you become a different, a better person altogether,” says Sreeejith.

The journey didn't end at Kargil. The three friends rode further on till Srinagar, which was the place they chose to bring the ride to an end and go their separate ways. But this momentous journey  was only a warm up to the bigger challenge that these friends have already started planning.

“We would like to cover the entire North East on our bikes. We are doing the research and gathering the necessary details. Hopefully within two years,” smiles Sreejith, bringing the narration to a conclusion.