Dream Ride to Ladakh | Part 03 | පාට වෙනස් වෙන පැන්ගොං විල සොයා කදු හෙල් මැදින් | Pangong Lake | 4K

Third day of our incredible motorbike journey through Ladakh. Today’s target was to witness the world famous Pangong Lake, one of the highest brackish/saline lakes on Earth. I woke up to a breathtaking sunrise near the Nubra Valley, with birds chirping around our tent. As the first rays of sunlight touched the mountains, I spent some peaceful moments early in the morning watching White-winged Snowfinches singing around us. It was truly a beautiful beginning to the day. After quickly getting ready and having breakfast, we walked towards the bikes. Our crew organisers and ride leaders were already there, checking every motorcycle carefully oil levels, tyre pressure, and overall maintenance ,making sure everything was ready for the long ride ahead. Before starting the ride, I tied colourful Himalayan prayer flags between my bike handles with a hope of completing the journey safely and without issues. Today’s ride is around 270 km, taking us towards the breathtaking Pangong Lake, located at 4,225m (13,862 ft) above sea level. We knew the ride would not be easy. As we started, our lead rider “Nanam” suddenly took an unexpected off-road route which was not originally in the plan. That surprise stop brought us to the beautiful Diskit Monastery (Diskit Gompa), the oldest and largest Buddhist monastery in Nubra Valley, standing high above the valley at 3,144m (10,315 ft). Just below the monastery stood the massive Maitreya Buddha statue inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We spent some peaceful moments there before continuing our ride. Soon we reached the Stok River and rode parallel to it through the stunning valley landscapes before it eventually joins the Indus River. During the ride, me and “Man Saranna” occasionally raced our bikes and overtook each other just to break the repetition of the long roads. But at the same time, we stayed extremely careful because even a small mistake on these mountain roads could lead to a major accident. We stopped for lunch at a small roadside restaurant and continued riding towards Pangong Lake. The roads became tougher, the air thinner, and the ride more challenging. But after hours of riding through the Himalayas, we finally reached Pangong. What I saw in front of me honestly felt like a dream. The lake was glowing in deep blue shades, stretching endlessly between the mountains. Beyond the lake stood dramatic mountain ranges through the horizon. Pangong Lake is truly one of the most picturesque and breathtaking places I have ever witnessed. We spent time near the lake until sunset, taking in every second of that magical atmosphere before heading towards our lodge near Pangong for the night. During the night briefing, “Umer” informed us that a few members of our crew had to return due to high-altitude sickness. The freezing cold night reminded us how extreme and unforgiving these mountains can be. But despite everything, this day became one of the most unforgettable memories of our Ladakh expedition and all of it was captured on video. I hope you all enjoy this journey with me. Greetings, I am Dinesh.