The 9 member group of motorists who left Udaipur to make a trip to Leh, Ladakh on motorbikes has completed their journey which lasted a grueling 18 days. They returned to Udaipur on 26^th of June.

The adventurous trip led them to discover some of the most spectacular and scenic landscapes, different cultures and traditions of India including Khardung La the highest motorable pass in the world where the journey concluded.

The group led by senior photo journalist Akhtar Khan and his 8 friends from Udaipur, Ahmadabad and Mumbai started their trip on 8th June by bidding their relatives, friends, colleagues and well wishers a warm good-bye. Their aim was to carry the message of peace and harmony.

The group passed through several Indian states from Rajasthan to Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Leh on their way to the world’s highest motorable pass Khardung La.

“We have enjoyed a lot in this whole trip, most importantly it was a lifetime opportunity to see so many different places and people with a close perspective, understanding their traditions and way of life was an enormous experience for us”, said Akhtar Khan.

While returning to Udaipur, the group has decided to change their route and entered Rajasthan through the town of Hanumangarh.

The returning itinerary was Leh- Srinagar (via Kargil) – Amritsar – Hanumangarh – Krishangarh – Ajmer – Udaipur. The route was nearly 2400kms long.

It was the longest route for which they rode their bikes continually for nearly 24 hours. However, they took halt for at least 6 hours at two different places.

Monto Khan who was one of the group members said, “Our toughest journey was from Manali to Leh. The roads were in worst condition and weather was chillingly cold. We passed three days eating only Maggi noodles and boiled eggs.We did experience certain problems due to the lack of oxygen because of the height. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and was completed without a single mishap.”

Following are some breathtaking photographs captured by Akhtar Khan and others throughout the journey.