With Ladakh all set to become accessible by road, team 91Wheels today embarked on an adventurous road trip to this high altitude paradise with the Nissan Magnite CVT. Our destination will remain a mystery for our readers but what we can share every day is the daily update. The trip started from New Delhi today (25th March 2022) and this is how the expedition has been unfolding for us.
27th March 2022
Sonamarg to Leh
Distance : 350km (including detours & shooting)
Fuel Economy : 14kmpl (we hit 3 passes today)
We woke up to sub-zero temperatures on Day Number 3. The Nissan Magnite wore a layer of frost all over and this gave us a hint of things to expect ahead.
The mighty Zoji la pass is just about 22km from Sonamarg but as the route had just opened up, a lot was in store for us ahead. We left by 7am and the initial 10-12km were smooth sailing. With snow on the mountain side for company, we made quick progress.
Views were beyond expectations on this route and soon, as elevation rose, barren mountains became a common sight. And so did traffic jams. Due to the narrow road ahead and multiple snow wall stretches, the going became slower and slower.
Soon tarmac gave way to no roads and soon, slush and icy patches were common. The L or Low mode of the CVT gearbox came in handy and inspite of higher elevation (and thus low oxygen levels), the 100 horses of the turbo petrol motor showed their punch during the uphill drive.
The 20km drive eventually took about 2 and a half hours and once on the top, it was time to relax and soak in the views. There was just one colour all around - white and it was impossible to open the eyes without wearing sunglasses. Yes, snow blindness is indeed true!
Post the Zoji la top, we still got a very good share of snow walls. This part of the country is one of the snowiest and we drove for kilometres with white gold on both sides of the road as well as in the valley below. Traffic now was thin but the road was still not tarmac. The slush infact gave the Magnite is a new layer of colour on all sides!
As we got closer to Drass, barren mountains once again became our companion and our next destination was the Kargil War Memorial. I always make it a point to stop here and why not - for our tomorrow, the Indian Armed Forces have been sacrificing their today. The walk inside this open air memorial always sends goosebumps down my spine.
From here on, it was smooth sailing to Kargil - good roads, snow peaks and a much deserved lunch break. By 3pm, we were back on the road. Our night halt was to be Leh, about 220km away. However, 95% of this route is proper tarmac and even the two mountain passes (above and below) on the way dont call for rough patches. This ensured our average speed remained high and by 7pm, we drove into the capital of Ladakh.
A lot is in store ahead as we move ahead to a special surprise - what is it? Stay tuned to 91Wheels. For now, attaching more pictures from Day Number 3
26th March 2022
Udhampur to Sonamarg
Distance : 300km (including detours & shooting)
Fuel Economy : 13 kmpl (we are gaining altitude)
The second day of #LadakhEscape with the Nissan Magnite kicked off at 8am from Udhampur. It took us just about five mins to get out of the sleepy town and hit the four lane stretch towards higher elevation. A lot of road work has progressed in the last few years and getting to the 9.2 km long tunnel under the hill station of Patnitop was an easy affair. It was open to civilians a few years back and has helped reduce driving time by about 90 minutes.
Post this tunnel, road work hampered our progress at numerous places. From diversions to traffic jams, the going did get slower. However I wasnt complaining as the CVT gearbox of the Magnite proved to a boon. Ditto for the Sport mode which can be activated by simply pressing a button on the gear lever. Overtaking overloaded trucks, closing in on gaps or simply enjoying open roads, the Magnite is proving to be a great companion for a drive like this one.
The town of Banihal was congested as usual. However, post this, the newly opened 8.45km long Banihal - Qazigund tunnel greeted. Even the approach road is four lane and gives you a great view of the wide valley. This tunnel now bypasses the older Jawahar tunnel and has reduced the driving time between Srinagar and Jammu significantly. This also meant we saw the first proper view of the Kashmir valley (post the tunnel) late morning / early noon. What greeted us were snow peaks all around and lush green fields, half of which were blooming with yellow flowers at this time of the year.
From here on, it was a proper four lane affair to Srinagar. Holding a steady 85-90 km/h on the speedometer and soaking in the views, we entered the summer capital of J&K by 12:30. Another 20 minutes and we were driving along the beautiful Dal Lake. If you come here, do remember to take the entire drive along the periphery of the lake - not just the initial part.
By 2:30 we were on our way to Sonamarg, our night destination. Situated at about 8750 feet above mean sea level, this town is also the gateway to the mighty Zoji la pass and Ladakh. The route to Sonamarg starts off with a nicely laid out two lane highway with snow peaks for company and Sind river flowing along for most of the route. However, the last 20odd km arent in the best of shape due to the on-going tunnel construction. Steep uphill sections too are common but the sight of mini glaciers on your right keeps the spirits high.
By 5:30pm, we drove into Sonamarg and were delighted to see ample snow by the side of the road. As I type this log, the air outside is pretty cold and a low of zero is expected at night.
We have now done a total of almost 1000km including detours / driving shots. The Magnite CVT is turning out to be a great adventure companion and we cant wait to surprise you with pictures tomorrow. Stay tuned!
25 March 2022
Delhi to Udhampur
Distance : 620km
Fuel Economy : 16kmpl (tankful to tankful)
The plan was to leave early and make Udhampur our night halt. Situated at an altitude of about 2500 feet above mean sea level, this town is truly the gateway to heaven and is situated ahead of Jammu. The 620km journey involved about 50km of hilly terrain with the rest being proper four lane highway. We drove the Magnite CVT across five states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
The Nissan Magnite CVT proved its credentials once again by being a comfortable sub 4m compact SUV. We are driving the fully loaded top spec version that offers features like cruise control, stability program, wireless Android Auto among others. We had our share of minor detours (road work) and the suspension lived up to the hype - well sorted at all times. We also came across ample mountain sections and the light weight Magnite proved to be a great handler too.
We entered Udhampur about 7:30pm and the LED headlights did turn out to be a good support. Likewise, the fully digi driver console offers a lot of information that is handy on a road trip and the wireless function came handy for team member Julian's phone. While our boot is full with luggage and shooting gear, the rear seat is home to four tall heaters that we are carrying for our property partners. The glovebox too is large (by segment standards) and the dead pedal is keeping my left foot happy.
However, the real adventure (and views!) will start tomorrow as we drive from Udhampur to Sonamarg via Srinagar. Multiple tunnels, engineering marvels, the stunning Dal Lake and mini glaciers enroute our night halt - stay tuned!
We will also be updated our social media handles regularly - so keep an eye on them. Sharing some more pictures from today. Enjoy!
