VETERANS RALLY – 2021

                                           

The Whimsical Veterans are a group of Tri-Services retired officers settled in Dehradun. These officers are :

1.      IC 37178 N - COLONEL RAKESH SINGH SIDHU, SM (VETERAN), MECH INF, 65 YEARS

2.      SS 29128 N – CAPTAIN NANDAN SINGH BISHT (VETERAN), 8 GR, 65 YEARS

3.      03062 H - COMMODORE RAVI NAUTIAL (VETERAN), INDIAN NAVY, 57 YEARS

4.      41092 R - CAPTAIN ANOOP CHAUHAN (VETERAN), INDIAN NAVY, 57 YEARS

 

The group is undertaking a motorcycle expedition from Dehradun to Northern Ladakh which is being flagged off by GOC, Uttarakhand Sub Area on 04 August 2021 at 0800 hrs. The planned itinerary is “Dehradun-Bilaspur-Keylong-Sarchu-Leh-Chushul-Darbuk-Siachen Base Camp-Kargil-Gulmarg-Udhampur-Jalandhar-Dehradun”

We will be negotiating some of the highest motorable mountain passes during this trip viz: Baralach La (16043 ft), Nakee La (15540 ft), Lachung La (16500 ft), Tanglang La (17480 ft), Khardung La (17582 ft) and Chang La (17590 ft). The inhospitable weather at high altitudes and the rough terrain (some of which falls in areas not accessible to civilian tourists) will be the ultimate test for us as well as our motorcycles. The trip covering a total of 3400 kms will last 18 days and end on 21 Aug 2021 at Dehradun.

For me this will be the second outing in this area. I had participated in the ‘Northern Command High Altitude Jonga & Motorcycle Rally’ in September 1985 while I was in service in J&K. That rally was conducted when the route from Manali to Leh was not open to Civil traffic and the road was not fully built by the Border Roads Organization. It covered a major portion of the route we now propose to undertake after 36 years. A sense of deja-vu pervades my consciousness as I am keen to witness and record the changes in the kaleidoscopic landscape of Ladakh region.

During the said period I am not sure if I will be available on any social media platform owing to rigours of the journey and connectivity issues. Will try to catch up and post updates whenever possible. Otherwise, catch up after we return from the trip.  Jai Hind!