Driving the exciting road to the top of Nakee La

Nakee La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.769m (15,647ft) above the sea level, located in the Ladakh region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The road to the summit is mostly paved. It’s called Manali-Leh-Highway, on the way to Manali from Taglang La. Nakee La is the third of the five passes to be crossed while traveling from Manali to Leh. You've got to be really careful with the wheels because of pathetic road conditions that could test the patience of even the most seasoned drivers. But you really deserve a medal if you've driven on the road.

The pass is located between Sarchu and Pang. The ascent to the pass is called 22 Gata loops. It’s a 23km ascent from 4.190m (13,746ft) to 4.650m (15,255ft) above the sea level, via 22 hairpin bends. The road is said to be haunted by a ghost of a tourist who was buried here. People offer cigarettes and mineral water on the spot and then carry on with their journey. There is nothing really special about the pass and most people don’t even notice while crossing it. The terrain is very dry after Nakeela, with no streams or rivers en route.
Pic: Vipin Vasudeva