MUMBAI: The 472-km road from Leh to Manali is considered a challenge even for motorists and truck drivers because of the altitude gain and a mercurial weather.
Army officer Lt Col Bharat Pannu traversed the route — one of the highest motorable stretches in the world — in 35 hours and 25 minutes on bicycle two days ago. He is now hoping to enter the record books.
Pannu started from Leh on Saturday morning and reached Manali on Sunday night.
“The 50-km climb to Tanglang La (5,328 mtrs from sea level) was a killing one, but the sunset over the pass was beautiful. At night, temperature dropped to -12 degrees Celsius,” Col Pannu said on the phone from Chandigarh.
According to him, no official speed records were maintained for cyclists on the route, but some cyclists had finished the distance in 49 hours.
To set a world speed record was his aim, and officials at Guinness Book had said he should finish within 40 hours.
He would now submit the data of his ride for an entry in the record book, said the 37-year-old Col Pannu. (AGENCIES)
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