My thoughts still goes to the misty mountains and terrains when i dragged my bike i.e. a Hero Honda CBZ to the highest motorable pass of the world. It was demeaning at first thought to travel to the riding paradise without any riding experience. But somehow it had to be started. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that snowfall and oxygen level would ever drain my energy to the extreme levels and that quest for gasoline would be a concern.
It was supposed to be a cut glass trip across Srinagar, but we already found that we were looking for in Ladakh.Let me briefly take you through the trip.

Preparation:
I had one month to prepare and mentally psyche myself up for the challenge. I wanted to travel. Who wouldn't !!! But it had to be on my choice of bike.I was also exited to the first idea of camping. So booking and rough planning was always on my mind. Eventually Krunal was there in Pang in 2003 and could not ride further because they were caught with the craziest of snowfall. I was gearing for the subtle change to experience my first change of precipitation.
It was a Karizma that was initially decided to take for the tour. What turned out on the last day that it was not good with the timer chain and was lubricating fine dust in the chain. My mechanic suggested that it would not be in the best of interest to continue with the same. Also its engine was to be looked upon. So in a minute i called few friends and asked whether CBZ being a handy 150 cc bike would work on that terrain.I got positive reply about 150 models like pulsar and ambition. It was over to Krunal and he told me to be mentally prepared, you could also do using a kinetic moppet if u are determined. Damn, a Mentor!!...Momentarily i got my CBZ repaired at Monarch Automobile under the best mechanic and made a point to learn the basic mechanism of tyre changing and other wiring.It took the entire day at Monarch to prepare my bike and pack accessories. I took along a engine oil,oil drain cap, pair of tyre tubes,spanners,clutch and accelator cables. My bike looked good and smooth but the only concern was the rear tyre.
Next thing was loading my ride on the train. I booked a agent and looked upon packing and loading. Ofcourse that cost me much because Pune is a busy Hub as lot of students doing it too often. I only bothered that it was well settled in Jhelum Express and unloaded at Ambala.I paid much but got the best in time.Make sure to load your bike before 3 days to avoid last minute delay.
Now i got back to the shopping list and made sure that i didn't miss a single screw. Oh, It was more of bike than my personal stuff. I got to various sites like 60kph.com to refer things not to forget.
Day 1 : Ambala
It was damn tiring and hot there. We rushed to the parcel department as soon as we got down at the station.The sun was graciously spatting and i was drenched.We did have a look at the luggage department and found only my bike ..Where the hell was Krunal's bike, a Bullet Machismo 350cc? We asked the guy responsible for unloading and he told that the bike was definitely there and was possibly at Amritsar. He said that not to worry as it happens many a times and the bike would be returned in the same train. I was a bit relaxed to see my bike in good condition.The night was very hot and we were dying to see our first ice. I got up at 2am to go to the station again to check for the bike.As i reached downstairs, I saw a guy stealing Petrol from my bike. That ignited me like a chilly on a hot vodka. I asked him to fill the pertol back and promised not to tell anyone if he promised me a Air Conditioned room,which could'nt happen as the was no good room than ours.Reluctantly i asked him a couple of favours whithout charge.We got the Bullet and got back to the room happily,unaware of the forthcoming problems.

Ambala – Shimla Day 2 (153 kms)

Ambala Cantt is a small town with busy and small streets. The cycle-pulley rickshaws are common site. We started with a boisterous bang after loading our bikes and tying the luggage. The load of the bike should be balanced and the luggage had to be tied with bungee cords. My bag was overloaded so I had to carry on my shoulder. It is very frustrating to lade the luggage like a ‘potter’ on your very own spinal cord. That art I learned very well... Although the smart thing would be to knot it properly on the bike!!!
Kalka gave us the first view of the great Himalayas. I thought about Sagas of Himalayas that boost up my morale. I looked up in the midst of the green colossus and thought of the religion that I was to endure – the religion of adventure, and I became a true devotee.

Shimla – Ani Day 3

After a bad ride, my mind was trembling. It started to rain, while we were wandering in the streets of Shimla. After gloriously riding through the tiny villages of himachal we reached to this beautiful place called Ani. It was on the the valley of Sutleuj river basin. Imagine your hands over the shoulder raised in a “ V “, the houses drifting from shoulder to palm and your head is natural body of running water of the Sutleuj. We picked a room from PWD for Rs. 150 and ate a local meal cooked excessively in Butter for Rs 25. That was the coolest village I happened to be in India. The day was Janmastmi, celebrated vivaciously and the holy chants over the place acted like a heart filling drug.