Journey Index

 

Hyderabad → Leh — The Sixth Solo Trip (2025) — Index

A complete, chronological list of the journey — from the first mile to the last note.

Start Here

  1. Preface — The Dream Ignites
    Why I drive solo, and how this journey began.
    Modern cars, covid-era resolve, and the habit of one solo trip a year.

On the Road (Phase 1)

  1. Day 1 — Hyderabad → Nagpur
    Date: 28 Aug
    Monsoon miles, kettle noodles, and the first long halt.
  2. Day 2 — Nagpur → Sagar (via Betul & Jam Sawali)
    Date: 29 Aug
    A quiet detour to Jam Sawali Hanuman — rare reclining darshan.
  3. Day 3 — Sagar → Mathura
    Date: 30 Aug
    Change of plan, drizzle at Janmabhoomi, and shopping for the grandsons.
  4. Day 4 — Chandigarh Shock: When Plans Collapsed
    Date: 31 Aug
    Highways washed out; the road to Leh closes. A new plan takes flight.

Interlude & Family Chapter

  1. Interlude — Hyderabad Break (1–5 Sept)
    Missing Manali–Jispa–Lahaul, but regaining momentum with Ganesh Navratri at home.
  2. Back to Leh — With Family, By Air (6–10 Sept)
    Thin air, monasteries, Pangong Tso — and shared memories with Vani, PSM & Jothi.

On the Road (Phase 2 — The Northern Pivot)

  1. Back to Chandigarh — The Journey Rekindled (10–11 Sept)
    Reunited with the MG Hector; the decision to aim for Lal Chowk.
  2. Jammu Halt — A Pause Before the Mountains (12 Sept)
    Short hop, rough roads, and a deliberate premium rest.
  3. Into Srinagar — Landslides, Dark Tunnels, and Relief (13 Sept)
    The toughest drive: Udhampur chaos, a blackout tunnel, and Dal Lake at dusk.
  4. Srinagar Sightseeing — Lal Chowk & Divine Hills (14 Sept)
    Shankaracharya, Sharika Devi at Hari Parbat, and the promise kept at Lal Chowk.

The Long Way Home

  1. The Long Road Back — Amritsar, Agra, Ujjain, and Home (15–18 Sept)
    Golden Temple’s langar, a risky Chambal night run, Mahakal darshan, and 8:30 p.m. homecoming.

Closing Note

  1. Epilogue — The Solo Trip That Wasn’t
    What was missed, what was found, and why the journey still mattered.

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