Travelogue - River Run with the Hyundai Creta: Sarchu to Manali

  • Sep 28, 2015
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We cross a snowy mountain pass enroute Manali

Hyundai Creta - Overnight halt at Sarchu

So it was about 7 AM in Sarchu. We had spent the night in a tent and it was time to drive to Manali. We heard a few trucks pass the camp that is right on the highway and so we knew the Baralacha is cleared to pass through.

The only camp in Sarchu that was open to travelers was the place for our friends in the media and today we all were to drive through Baralacha La in our Cretas.

Hyundai Creta Great India Drive - Snowed out Baralacha La

Get out of Sarchu and the climb towards the Baralacha La pass summit begins right away. And there’s snow everywhere. Thankfully, the sun was shining bright, JCB’s had cleared a single lane through the pass, and although there was ice on the road in most patches, momentum should take us through, if there is no oncoming traffic.

At least that’s what I thought. There were quite a few vehicles on the other side too trying to make their way to Sarchu so the climb was tough.

Also read: Day 4 - Manali to Delhi

Hyundai Creta, Great India Drive, Climbing up Baralacha La

There was no official assistance to relay messages across the pass so drivers were by themselves in mostly 2WD vehicles driving through very tricky conditions. We were a few hundred metres from the summit when oncoming traffic blocked passage for over three hours.

Hyundai Creta Great India Drive, Frozen Suraj Tal
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On the other side, you see the stunning Suraj Tal, most of it frozen, by the side of the highway. Carefully negotiating the pass, we were fighting daylight as we rushed to Rohtang, the next beastly climb of the day.

Hyundai Creta, Great India Drive, Sarchu to Manali

But before the awaiting adventure that is Rohtang, we drive along the Bhaga river, that comes with two sources from Baralacha the other river being the Chenab.

The Bhaga and the Chenab merge into one near Tandi and flow into Pakistan via Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. It feeds the Indus in Pakistan after almost 1000km and helps the Indus reach the Arabian sea.

Also read: Day 4 - Manali to Delhi

Hyundai Creta Great India Drive

After driving up the Chenab, you cross over to the other side and begin the climb up to Rohtang Pass.

Hyundai Creta Great India Drive, Rohtang Pass

Rohtang is full of slush, broken roads and never ending hairpins. You start climbing Rohtang, then you climb some more, and when you think you are up the mountain, another turn takes you to the next few loops up to the summit.

Driving on such an ugly road up to the pass, we missed the sights along the way, my eyes focused on the big rocks jutting out on the road all through the climb. And then we reached up, crossed the mountain, and it almost felt like two different worlds. From car breaking stones to smooth tarmac, banked so well to get the enthusiast in you alive and kicking.

Also read: Day 4 - Manali to Delhi

Hyundai Creta Great India Drive Rohtang Pass

The road is very narrow and there are plenty of blind turns so it’s a tricky but rewarding drive. The diesel Creta was great fun through this section of mountain road with its punchy midrange making quick work of the last stretch to Manali.

Like most passes here in the Himalayas, the Rohtang pass is open for about four months only in the summer months. A 8.8km long tunnel is being constructed to reduce the distance from Keylong to Manali by 60km. This tunnel was initially estimated to open in 2015 but work is still on this estimate has now pushed further to 2017.

Hyundai Creta Great India Drive Manali

Exhausted yet happy to have driven the Leh-Manali highway for the first time through some demanding conditions, we will re-energize for the drive to Delhi now.

Route: Sarchu-Bharatpur-Baralacha La-Zingzingbar-Darcha-Jispa-Keylong-Khoksar-Gramphu-Rohtang-Manali

Distance: 225km

Only time to visit: May end to late September

Also read: Day 4 - Manali to Delhi

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