| Ajay Kumar Singh might be a software consultant by profession, but he would rather call himself an adventurer. His love affair with the Himalayas has brought him back to the mountains four times, and each trip has been iconic in nature, in fact two out of his four trips are also documented in the Limca Book of Records. Vikram Gour caught up with Ajay in Leh to literally interrogate him on why he has this love affair for the mountains! ZW: What is it about Ladakh that just keeps bringing you back? Ajay: Actually I owe this to my father. He has held a record earlier for one of his trips into this region and it was him who drove me to visit the Himalayas. He used to tell me that once you go there, the mountains will keep calling you back. His words hold true and ever since I did my first trip, I just keep wanting to come back to this place. ZW: What is the agenda of your latest drive into the Ladakh region? Ajay: Conquering Marsimik La in my Mahindra Scorpio. I have earlier done this on a bike and ever since I bought my Scorpio, I have wanted to do the drive again. Things just fell in place and I have been able to make this journey. ZW: You've been to the Ladakh region three times before this, wouldn't you say you've seen what there is to see? Ajay: Actually, each trip is an occasion in itself. The beauty of the place is captivating and there is literally no place like this on earth. I did my first trip on a motorcycle-namely a Hero Honda Splendour. On that trip I was a part of the maximum number of bikers to gather at Marsimik La-a Limca Book of Record. The second trip was again done on a motorbike. This time I took a TVS Fiero and the target was to cross the maximum number of passes in 24 hours. We did 8 passes, setting a new record which has also appeared in the Limca Book of Records. When I got the money to plonk on an SUV, I decided upon the Mahindra Scorpio, because I knew of its robust design and build. I needed a vehicle to take me to the mountains and the minute I got my Scorpio that is what I did-drove straight back to Ladakh for another adventure. Now I am back again in my Scorpio for my fourth trip and the mission to conquer Marsimik La. ZW: World Records and adventures galore. Which trip of yours has been most memorable? Ajay: No doubt the trips for which I hold records mean a lot to me, but in a special corner, it is the trip on which I took my 10 month old daughter on that ranks as most memorable for me. It might sound crazy and risky, but I got my doctor's approval before taking her along, and she coped just amazingly on the whole trip. That was also my first trip in my Scorpio. ZW: What have been the highlights of your latest trip? Ajay: Achieving my mission of reaching Marsimik La is the topmost highlight of my latest drive. I am glad to have made it and done it with considerable ease. Apart from that the entire journey has been memorable, from the snow fall at Chang La, going boating in Pangong Tso for the first time and learning a lot about mountain driving from other drivers. Like I said, each trip is a memory of its own, and each trip manages to be so different from the previous one, which is what literally keeps you coming back for more! | 
Print
