Manali and Ladakh in today’s date are among the top most visited tourist destinations of our country. Thousands of people visit here each year and the number is still on the rise. With that much tourism comes a lot of money and with money come other problems; which is what is now happening in both Manali and Ladakh. Each year the Bike and Taxi rental associations here fight over who is going to get a bigger piece of the tourism cake. Or in a way, who is going to rob the tourists more.
This year has been no different either. Like previous years, 2019 too started with a dispute among Manali Bike Renal association and Ladakh Bike rental association. So far, the arrangement between both the parties has been that Manali operated motorcycles will not operate for sightseeing in Ladakh; and Ladakh rented motorcycles won’t be allowed in Manali. Now it seems that there is a dispute between both the associations again which will eventually result in unnecessary hassle for the tourists.
Details of the dispute are as mentioned in the document below. But the part that I would like to highlight is the one that says Manali association will not allowed bikes rented from other states to go to Ladakh. So it means that if you rented a bike from Delhi or Punjab, you will not be allowed to proceed any further from Manali and will be sent back.
Is this a law? Definitely not. This is a self-enforced rule by the locals in both Manali and Ladakh. “Gunda gardi” is what I actually call it which has been the case with Ladakh off late anyways. With the rise in tourism, it is no longer a place where gentle and friendly people lived. I have been blogging about Ladakh for several years now and it breaks my heart to admit but the harsh reality is that the place is actually going downhill. The taxi and motorcycle unions in both Manali and Ladakh are nothing but a bunch of “Gundas” who try their best to rob tourists each year the best they can. This year too has been no different. This will eventually get resolved but the price of it will come out of the pockets of the tourist lot.
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Rented a Scooty from Srinagar for ladakh. Wanted to go to Nubra and Pangong. They seized my scooty, even tackled me by hand (I am a female rider). When I resisted, the union (not a government body, but the local gundas) called RTO guy (again, another Goon) who seized my scooty. I had no other way to come back to Srinagar. Not even anything to go around Leh. I seriously broke down infront of the RTO guy. But he said you have to rent scooty from Leh. Which costed me a surplus of 1000/- each day. Also, I had to come back with the Leh scooty to Srinagar from where my flight to Delhi was. It costed me 10k extra. My whole experience of Ladakh and people there is a disaster. I have seen foreigners suffering too. An old guy from Israel almost wept and crused the union people. So, if you are going to Ladakh, take note that Ladakhis have made Ladakh, the mountains, the passes, the lakes their property. The land of Buddha is now a land of gundas because of these idiots. I am furious. It was my life long Dream to go to Ladakh. My only experience was spoiled. Even the monasteries failed to give me peace anymore.
I hope I had read Vargis’s blog before, I would have planned accordingly. But if you are reading it now. Please take care. Some of the travellers might get lucky when they don’t get caught or cross borders on a holiday when the union and rto is closed. But don’t take risk.
Sorry to hear about your terrible experience Ghaniya.
Hey I’m planning this Ladakh trip in mid May 2021 from Pune, Maharashtra with my friends. Some of them will borrow bike from other friends , will be there any issue ? I did some research and read on Quora.com about NOC from owner is going to help . Is it true ?
No it won’t. The bike must be registered in their own name otherwise the local bike rentals will cause problem.
Thanks for the information, but my bike is in my wife name, is this will be a problem to get around ladakh. And if possibe what all will be the documents I need to carry
Hi, if anyone has been here recently and used rented bikes from manali to ladakh, pls if possible update us as to what the situation is. As per our rental agency we can go to leh and if not stopped can even cover nubra & pangong on their bikes..
Thanks
You can go to Leh but cannot cover Nubra and Pangong.
Hey Vargis.. we covered the whole 1800 Kms circuit including nubra pangong on HP registered bikes. Just wanted to give an update here.
Hey Clayton … How was the trip?
Hello Varghis,
Thanks for your valuable advice. Could you please clarify one last doubt,
If I’m doing a Circuit trip, Delhi -> Srinagar -> Kargil -> Leh – > Panaong -> Leh -> Manali -> Delhi on rented bike from Delhi, still do I have to rent a bike in Leh for Local sight seeing ?
Do the decision taken by these associations are approved by State Government/Any Government body ?
Please clarify.
Thanks,
Darshan
Yes Darshan, you will have to rent another bike in Leh for sightseeing. And these are self imposed “gundagardi” rules by the locals.
We are currently in Leh and planning for manali on 14/6/2019. Please update on road operation
Hi vargis,
We are a group of 12 friends coming to laddakh in second week of June and we have our own private vehicles however two friends of mine are borrowing bike from there friends,I just wanted to know if this will create any problem.
And what if any of the union member stops us and raises an objection for using vehicle in someone else’s name?
Yes it will be a problem Ravinder. These guys will have to leave their bikes parked in Leh and rent another motorcycles for local sightseeing.
And what is the status of manali-spiti road, is it possible to plan a trip to spiti via manali by 10th of June?
Thanks alot for the information. As a traveler it means a lot.
I’m planning a ride to ladakh (via Srinagar and exit thru manali) by June first week on rented bikes from Punjab. Is there any issues with PB registered rentals in ladakh ?
You can reach Leh on a Punjab rented bike but cannot use it there for sightseeing. To visit places in Ladakh, you will have to rent another local bike there and leave your Punjab one parked at the hotel
Is it the same when I come to Leh from Manali? Or Sarchu is the last border point and then I will turned back.
You will face even bigger problem if you go via Manali. They may not let your PB registered bike cross even Manali.
I have shifted my plan from bike to a tempo Traveller, is there any problem with that too?
Is the dispute still going on? since the manali – leh has been opened now
I was planning for a group trip from delhi to leh with a tour operator for 12 days. The group of 16 bikes 3 SUV’s and a tempo traveller, but considering your update of the dispute, I don’t think it will be possible. What’s your suggestion on this?
As of now it is a problem but once the Manali Le highway opens, I am sure these guys will come to an agreement and mutual arrangement.
Your site is a treasure trove of information dude.. Thanks for the updates. Had booked tickets for mid July. Hopefully these issues are sorted by then else my wish of biking in Ladakh will remain a wish ☹️
Thanks Clayton
Hey man, I am planning to go from Delhi to Leh (Via Manali) on my personal vehicle. Would I have any trouble passing the Himachal state. Or should I simply consider leh via Srinagar?
Personal vehicles can go anywhere without issues.. make sure u carry all the documents and papers of the vehicle
Any update? I was planning a delhi to leh via manali bike trip(rented), should I drop the plan ?
Better would be to go via Srinagar and return via Manali for now. Or at least wait until July – August before you finalize the plan.
So no update. I hope this is not a rumor. We are cancelling the trip.
Bus main Manali to leh traveling ho payega Kya bhai…..june
June 15th ke baad ho jaayega
This fight will cost tourist a lot .. aren’t the authorities doing anything about the same ?? Many have booked the tours and spent lot of money on flights.. wat about their plight ?
Thanks for this update (and for an amazing information resource your site is).
I really want to return to the region and ride it in depth but this fight makes it difficult for me as a tourist. All they will achieve is make people go elsewhere.
I agree Warren. And that you for taking the time to drop a note.