Ask any motorcycle enthusiast about Ladakh, and the answer is what you would expect – either they have already done it, or they plan to do it. Ladakh has been one of the most visited and highly recommended destinations for motorcycle riding enthusiasts. For decades, even before social media was a thing, riders took their motorcycles into the region’s uncharted and unexplored territories. In fact, riders from all over the world count Ladakh among their favourite destinations that they have ridden through or wish to. In the age of social media, the urge has expanded exponentially, fuelled by the lovely visuals that people share. And just like any other rider, I too had the opportunity to ride across the region, covering some of the most beautiful destinations and challenging mountain passes, though it was seven years ago.
The good folks at CEAT took the initiative to open a motorcycle park in Ladakh, and they call it the ‘Ladakh Enduro Park’. Developed alongside local stakeholders and riding professionals, the Ladakh Enduro Park is one of a kind – because of the altitude at which it is nestled, over 11,500 feet above sea level. I knew it was going to be intense, but I could not prepare myself for what was about to unfold.
Cut to the day of training, our trainer briefed us about the track, which has three levels. We began with basic riding drills, body positioning techniques, making tight circles, figure eights, and tackling uphill and downhill sections before we could swing our legs over a fleet of Hero Xpulses, fitted with CEAT’s Gripp XC knobby tyres. The tyres are, of course, not legal for the streets. The main track consists of tabletop jumps, technical banked turns, uphill and downhill sections, and a lot of loose and gnarly surprises. The trainers, too, took to the track with us to keep an eye on riders who fell or guide them through the difficult sections.
The first few laps had to be taken with ease, as I had to get acquainted with the track. I had never ridden on pure knobby tyres before, so it was a learning curve for me as well. But what I wasn’t prepared for was the insane levels of grip that these tyres provide on loose surfaces, and it was all about patience and pointing the motorcycle in the direction you need it to go. After a few laps of the track, I finally felt confident, and it was time to twist the wrist and extract the adrenaline out of my endocrine system. And just like that, my confidence on the jumps and banked turns skyrocketed. Speeds increased, and I was enjoying every bit of the track. My weak alveoli tried to gather every other oxygen atom from the thin air, and while my heart pumped as much as it could, I had to take a break as I was riding alongside local riders who were born and raised in the difficult terrain and had been acclimatised since birth.
After a quick break, munching on local dry fruits and oral rehydration salts, I headed to the track once again and took more laps before finally calling it a day. But the fun was far from over, as the track was about to be felicitated for being the highest-altitude motorcycle park in Asia, and it has made entries in the Asia Book of Records as well as the India Book of Records. As I looked back on the eventful day I had at the Ladakh Enduro Park, my system flooded with dopamine from doing something that I love, and this time the difficulty level was definitely high.
Leaving the heights of the Himalayas behind for the Sahyadri ranges back home, I carried back something far more valuable than standard travel memories – a genuine bucket-list experience. The park is open to all, regardless of your riding experience, and with seasoned trainers holding your hands, the park is a one-of-a-kind destination, nestled in the mountains, overlooking the Shanti Stupa and panoramic views of the Leh Valley. The Ladakh Enduro Park is a must-visit destination for anyone with a passion for riding.
Words Mrinmoy Choudhury
Photography CEAT
