Day 6—Manali to Leh cycling expedition

22 August 2018 — Sarchu to Whisky Nala
On the sixth day of our Manali to Leh cycling, Gata loops were the main challenge to conquer. Gata loops are a series of 21 hairpin bends that takes you to Nakeela pass which is at the elevation of 15,647 ft. Gata loops start at the altitude of 13,780 ft and end at 15,302 ft, that meas when you at the top of the Gata loops you have climbed the total altitude of 1,522 ft.

A short video of Gata Loops top

You may have heard the ghost story of bottle baba who died due to thirst, and about the bottle baba shrine where he was buried at one of the loops. You may not want to trust this story, but believe me, while crossing these parched loops, I felt that it is very much possible for someone to die of thirst. After crossing Gata loops, we felt so thirsty that we had to stop an army truck and an SUV to get some water. Be cautious, if you are cycling, carry extra water on this stretch.

On the bottle baba shrine, travelers leave water bottles as offerings. But I felt that it will be really useful if someone build a water tank on this spot and place a board there for travelers to put water in that tank, instead of just throwing bottles there. This way it can be really helpful if someone needs water in that part of dry land. One request to all travelers, help conserve the beauty of this place by NOT leaving behind any plastic bottles.

A short cycling video on the way to Gata Loops

Quick facts
• Day 6 — Manali to Leh cycling
• Route followed — Sarchu > Gata Loops > Nakee La > Whisky Nala
• Distance covered — 47 KM
• Altitude gained — Total altitude gained is 1577 ft. Sarchu is located at 14,070 ft and Nakeela la is at 15,647 ft.
• Challenges faced — Lack of water. We exhausted all the water we carried and then we had to stop an army truck and request them for water.

And the cycling continues, read on…

Day 7 — Manali to Leh unassisted cycling expedition

Cycling on one of the highest yet the most stunning highways in India

Scroll down to view some of the pics we captured on Manali to Leh cycling expedition day 6

On the way to Gata Loops

On the way to Gata Loops

This is the starting point of Gata loops and from the next right turn we start going in upward spiral way

Gata loops from as seen from one of the loops

At Gata loops

Gata loops

Indian Oil trucks in the Gata loops transporting oil to Leh from Manali

Bottle baba shrine on one of the Gata loops. Please don't leave water bottles at this shrine.

Finally, at the top of the Gata loops, Vaibhav and Raj suggesting that one place is empty which could have been taken by their friend Raghavendra had he joined the trip.

At the top of the Gata loops, an elephant trunk like structure created by erosion of rocks

Cycling at the top of Gata loops, Raj and Vaibahv already resting at a small abandoned check post

Raj and Vaibhav at after successfully ascending to Gata loops top

The team

We tried some Pranayam exercise to lessen the heavy lightheadedness at that altitude

After climbing the steep altitude of Gata loops, it becomes very tiring to reach Nakeela pass.

Mica and Raj at the beginning of Gata loops

Selfi time before we all start ascend at Gata loops, Vivek, Gabbi, and Raj

Truven and Raj

Finally, we all halted at Whisky Nala. Observe a special flag on this tent Dhaba, it is a Free Tibet movement flag. If you want to know more bout it, refer to Free Tibet website. Many of the Dhabas (eateries) are run by Tibetan refugees.

A beautiful evening at Whisky Nala. BTW, this dried up stream is called Whisky Nala because of the color of the water from the stream.