Red Ducati, blue skies, crisp mountain air - the setting for an epic ride.

Fall off and it's a long way down to the frozen waters below.

Taking a break before Rohtang

Three hour wait while the 'dozer clears the landslide after Rohtang

The Multistrada's suspension is unbelievably comfortable over these broken mountain roads

Stunning bike, stunning scenery

The moon was so bright, we didn't need torches...

One Ducati and six Enfields ride through the remote regions of Himachal Pradesh

Sometimes it seemed like God was smiling down on us.

The sky in stark contrast to the rest of the land.

The Trilokhnath temple. I prayed the Ducati's tyres would hold out.

The Multistrada kept its cool despite the radiator getting clogged with dirt. It was occasionally cleaned ofcourse.

We didn't see tarmac for days on end.

We camped out on five of the ten days we were on the ride.

The very remote Mayad valley. It's a trekker's paradise. A fantastic place to go riding too.

Our support crew was never far behind us.

The Pirelli Scorpion Trail tyres on the Ducati too a beating on these roads

The trip was organised by our friends at www.helmetstories.com

In 'Enduro' mode the Mulristrada's traction control would allow just enough wheel slip to not lose momentum and get you through. Photo courtesy: Jamshed Madon

The Multistrada's power was simply too much for some of these roads. I stuck to first and second gear mostly with rare visits into third. Photo courtesy: Harsh Man Rai

Out here in the perimeters, there are a million stars. Photo courtesy: Harsh Man Rai

Mucking around on the bikes on the meadows of Sural after camp has been set

Camp no 4 at Sural. 11,000ft, -15 degrees, plenty of hot chai.

That's a Dzo. It's what happens when a yak meets a cow.

Sunsets were spectacular every single day

When the temperature drops below 4 degrees, the Multistrada warns the rider about the possibility of ice on the road.

Tiny hail stones just as we approach the 14,000ft Sach Pass.

There was no way to avoid this freezing waterfall. We had to grin and bear the stinging water as we rode through.

Five kilometers before the top of Sach pass, it started snowing heavily

With zero traction, simply getting to the top was a sideways struggle

Riding gear drying out after the snowstorm

His name is Govinda. He said he would get a Multistrada one day.

Madonna's Ray of light has nothing on this one.

What a motorcycle!

It's about 2500km away from it's home at the Ducati showroom at Worli, Mumbai right now.