A Leh bike trip with Zahra was on my wish list: Manav Gohil
When I did a solo bike trip in Leh a couple of years ago, I fell in love with the place. So, I wanted Zahra (his daughter) to experience it one day. India has such beautiful destinations to explore! Zahra loves adventure and a daddy-daughter bike trip through Leh with her was on my wish list. I am glad that we have finally done this,” says Manav Gohil, who was in Leh recently with Zahra.
‘I had been planning this for a month’
The actor informed Zahra about the plan a couple of days before the trip. He shares, “I had been planning this for a month. I felt she would be keen, and it would be a good experience, something different from the so-called cushioned life in Mumbai. Two days before the trip, I told her about it so that she was mentally prepared. I told her that there will be simple food, limited internet connectivity and we won’t be carrying a tablet, but she could look forward to spending quality time in nature.” Zahra, who is 13 now, tells us, “I love the mountains and it has been a wonderful experience. The colours, the nice and cool weather, the food-I loved everything about this trip.”
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Sharing details about the trip, Manav says, “We reached Leh on June 13 and the next day, we visited the Alchi Monastery, which is one of the oldest monasteries. It was an amazing bike ride. On Father’s Day (June 15), we hired a vehicle and visited Hanle. Stargazing there was an unforgettable, magical experience.” He adds, “On June 16, we explored Umling La Pass, which is the world’s highest motorable road. We also did a bit of off-roading. While travelling from Hanle to Leh, soldiers at one of the Army checkposts recognised me and we halted there for a while. In Mumbai, I never like eating noodles but when you visit the mountains, there’s something about it which makes you love noodles all of a sudden! I loved having authentic Ladakhi cuisine during this trip, although it’s a bit spicy.”
‘It wasn’t an easy trip, but we managed things well’
Talking about the challenges, Manav shares, “It wasn’t an easy trip because there are locations where you experience a sudden drop in oxygen levels. We experienced extreme heat, cold and even rains in a span of three-four days. However, we managed things well and I am proud of Zahra for being so enthusiastic. This has been one of the best experiences of our lives. During this trip, we opted for basic homestays and it’s so refreshingly different from staying in five-star hotels. We met a lot of bikers from different cities and while the food was very basic-dal, chawal, sabji-roti, it was very fresh and organic.”
‘Mountains help you bond in a very different way’
When you are in the mountains, in sync with nature, it helps you bond in a very different way as compared to when you are in the city. It may not be immediately visible, but this trip has helped our bond take a different trajectory. It has made our bond even stronger. After every 100 metres, Zahra would get excited and shout in joy. To see her so happy and excited made the trip totally worth it. She was enchanted by the mountains.
Highlights from
Manav’s itinerary:
June 13: Reached Leh June 14: A trip to Alchi Monastery June 15: Stargazing in Hanle (hired a vehicle) June 16: Umling La Pass, world’s highest motorable road
