Stunning and scenic landscape from Shakar to Haniskot – (Leh Mountain Biking – Day 4)

Our stay at a guest home beside the creek in Shakar was fantastic. We toured the area and began cycling on the Khangral-Sanjak route, passing through tiny villages until we reached National Highway One. The surrounding countryside is stunning, resembling a high-contrast picture. Because the area is so unique, soil erosion creates unique structures that have been unspoiled by people. The mountains in the backdrop, the green area in the middle, and the river in the front all appear to be from our elementary school painting class textbooks. On day 4, we traveled 38 kilometers from Shakar 2 to Haniskot.

Sakar to Haniskot

Previous days of cycling to this place

Day1 – Leh to Lamayuru

Day2 – Moonland to Skurbuchan

Day3 – Skurbuchan to Shakar

Shakar to Haniskot

Shakar to Haniskot - Leh Mountain Biking

Exploring Shakar Market road and campsite

Shakar is a lovely campground located near a brook that flows into the Indus. We stayed in an under-construction government guest house named the Tourist Facilitation Centre and spent the evening touring the campground and the surrounding Shakar market road hamlet. It is frequently chilly at night, making it a great location for a bonfire. Investigate the communities in and around Shakar. Try something different in Shakar, such as butter tea or local bread, and stay in one of their houses; after all, it is a one-of-a-kind experience. Make friends with the locals; they can be fantastic portrait subjects if you enjoy portrait photography or wish to film a documentary.

Khangral – Sanjak road

Cross the river across the bridge and continue on the Khangral-Sanjak route we took on day three. As we ride through villages and fields, there are several stores. We get to travel through the green patches and agricultural regions adjacent to the river and the dark multi-hued brown mountain peaks. Continue cycling up and down the mountain, following the Khangral-Sanjak route until you reach National Highway One at Khangral. Take a left at this crossroads, which will lead you to Leh. The road to the right will lead you to Kargil and Srinagar.

National Highway One - Shakar - Leh Mountain Biking

Stay at Haniskot

The most picturesque path is to the left. There are a few little stores along the road where you may stop and enjoy the scenery. Continue cycling till you reach Haniskot, another gorgeous location. Cycling here isn’t difficult; just a few ups and downs might be difficult in the sweltering midday sun. Take a rest at one of the surrounding stores on your trip to Haniskot. The scenery is stunning, and it’s an excellent location for taking photographs. Finally, we remained at the government bungalow/guest house, which was conveniently located adjacent to the highway.

A visit to remote village Kanji

A kilometer from this bungalow is a road to the right that takes you to a place named Kanji which is about 12 kilometers from the junction. The journey to this location is beautiful. The YHAI itinerary does not include a visit to Kanji. We arrived at Haniskot much early, and it was up to us to explore. A few of us who had the energy went a little further. The entire distance between Kanji and Tokyo is around 26 kilometers.

This cycling expedition was organized by the Youth Hostel Association of India and as you are reading this post, and interested in outdoor activities then check out the National trekking expedition in Goa. To get a sense of the location, watch the video above. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter and SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel.

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