It is cold, very cold. Though the wind that threatened to bring down the tent all through the night has abated, the cold has seeped into my bones through the four layers of clothing. The sun is lighting up the peaks on the eastern side in a flamboyant show of light but the valley is still in the shadow. Sarchu, that during the season is littered with colourful camps strung across its grasslands holds a forlorn look as ours is one of the last camps standing at the end of the season. I am worried about the Hyundai Creta swathed in the Great India Drive stickers, parked outside the tent. The temperature at night falls below freezing and I hope the diesel in its tank hasn’t frozen. I haul myself into the driver’s seat and thumb the starter button. I keep my fingers crossed as the instrument panel lights up. A moment later the 1.6-litre motor whirrs into life. No problem. Since the windscreen is covered by a layer of ice, I adjust the air-conditioning temperature and vents to de-ice the glass. It’ll take more than a few minutes to completely clear the glass, so I get out of the car and gratefully take the glass of piping hot tea that’s offered to me. The Creta is the only car in this vast Himalayan canvas we are a part of, and it somehow seems to belong here. The car has been our home for the past 48 hours and has taken us through some pretty tough terrain without missing a beat. Today we will cross Barchala La at 16,040 feet. Though it isn’t the highest pass on our route, experience has taught me that it can be tricky. After putting in 300km on the trip, I know that the Creta will make it without a problem.
The story started three days ago with our photography chief Ashley and I boarding the Indian Airlines Airbus A320 at Delhi airport. Though I have been to Leh a few times, I have always driven to and back. This was my first flight to Leh and I spent the entire flight with my nose glued to the window marvelling at the mighty Himalayas as we descended into Leh. It is one of the most spectacular landings as the aircraft twists and turns until the last moment before the wheels touch down. At 11,562 feet, the oxygen level in Leh is much lower than at sea level and it’s recommended that you take it easy on the first day to let your body get acclimatised. We are here to take possession of a Hyundai Creta that the kind folks at Hyundai have driven up for us. The plan is to spend a few days exploring Ladakh and then drive back to Mumbai. Though we are raring to go, we have to wait 24 hours before our bodies gets used to the depleted oxygen supply and we can get the keys to the Creta.
