As the Manali-Lehi Highway stretched on towards the deeper recesses of the Himalayas, the terrain and the roads changed. We could also feel the elevation slightly becoming steep as the engine needed more power to move.
Crossing Rohtang, the landscape opened up to the more barren and arid terrain of the Lahaul Valley.
The lush greenery transformed to a fewer trees and more exposed sedimentary rocks, typically I saw shale and sandstone.
Play the Video below to catch a slice of our Sarchu driving 👇
drove over water filled craters
Descending from Baralacha La to Sarchu, we saw huge open plateaus full of fluvial and alluvial deposits, with all round jagged peaks.
Sarchu at Night
Cirrocumulus clouds were dazzled by
the moon which was as clear as crystal. The
mountain silhouette cut a pattern in the
eastern sky with our dining tent
glowing in the dark
my camera captured. Star studded sky in
the night with the Greater Himalayas looked
lethal with its sharp ridges
and chilling look of the snowcapped
Pir-Punjal ranges looked beautiful and deadly
Sarchu at Sunrise
were rocky and desert-like, mostly
gravelly and sandy loam covered,
reflected the morning sun
desert conditions of the
high-altitude plateau at Sarchu
receded and took off again, creating
deep valleys with slopes of sedimentary rocks
and alluvial soil; narrow streams made its
way and dried up in the distance
to Tsokar, we stopped to soak in
the fabulous beauty of the Greater
Himalayan range that surrounded us
Sarchu plains before we start our ascend
to higher heights of the greater Himalayas
that lay ahead of us
Inference
- This drive offered a transition from the green, forested valleys of Manali to the barren, high-altitude desert landscapes near Sarchu
- The constant change in altitude and terrain require careful driving, especially when crossing the high passes like Rohtang and Baralacha La, where snow and ice can be present year-round
- Geological formations, from sedimentary rock layers to ancient glaciers, make the journey visually stunning but physically demanding due to the high altitude and rough roads
- You will see the lofty to sedate Greater Himalayan and Pir-Pungal ranges
| Distance from Manali to Sarchu | 230 Kms |
| Key passes you will cross | Rohtang Pass 13,050 ft, Baralacha La Pass 16,040 ft |
| River you will see | Beas |
| Sarchu Plains height | 14,070 ft |
| Alert | Sarchu height may bring medical emergency due to less oxygen, as AMS may set in to a lot of travelers |
For the complete ✨Ladakh Diary Series, click below 👇
SPITFIRE GAUTAM 