Gata Loops is a roller coaster road with 21 hairpin turns
Gata Loops is a series of 21 hairpin turns located in the Ladakh region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It's one of the most famous hairpinned roads in the world.
Why is Gata Loops famous?
Set high in the Western Himalayas, and part of the Leh Manali Highway, the road is entirely paved. This roller coaster ride is a series of 21 hairpin bends that takes you to the top of Nakeela La. The road is not easy, though. Up, down, right, left all the time. The loops are 10.3 km and each loop is between 300-600 meters. The longest loops are the last two ones being 800 meters and a kilometer and a half respectively. The angularly elevated roads facilitate passage by loaded trucks. There are shortcuts across the loops but only small vehicles can pass through them.
Is Gata Loops open in winters?
This series of 21 amazing hairpin bends is winding and steep. You start at 4.190m (13,746ft) to end at 4.650m (15,255ft). This route is not recommended if your passengers are prone to car sickness. Don’t stuff your belly too much. Eventually, you might feel vomiting temptations. The average gradient is 4.46%. Driving at night, or in poor visibility, is not recommended for drivers unfamiliar with the road. As you travel along the hairpin bends and curves, you’ll feel the adrenaline rush of being challenged by the terrain. The road is suitable drive during the months of June, July, August and September only.
Is Gata Loops haunted?
These loops are said to be haunted by the ghost of a dead trucker, and stories related to it are creepy and scary. According to myth, a ghost resides in the road, disturbing passengers. Travelers are supposed to pay tribute to the ghost by offering mineral water and cigarettes at a small hut atop the pass, whether the ghost is present or not.
Pic: Sunil Dev