ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Driving the 'Big Daddy of SUVs' the Mahindra Scorpio-N to the world's highest motorable road for the 'Bharat Drive'

- ABHAY VERMA

Ladakh is a mystical land that enchants everyone. It’s a place that features on everyone’s bucket list, and a trip to Ladakh is always mesmerising given the stunning natural beauty, especially the tall mountains. But at the same time, the high altitudes and treacherous terrain also mean a challenge if plan to go there by road. As a seasoned automotive journalist, Ladakh has been an annual pilgrimage of sorts for me and over the years, I’ve also seen accessibility to the region improve thanks to the ever-improving roads. My first trip to Ladakh was way back in 2008 when a road trip to Leh was considered a serious test of man and machine.

But the past few years have seen rapid infrastructural development in Ladakh, courtesy the ever-improving roads that have improved transport and accessibility to the region. Of course, given the high altitudes and resultant lack of oxygen this has been a huge challenge for the Border Roads Organisation or BRO. The BRO is literally the backbone of things in border areas like Ladakh and works tirelessly, day or night, to provide immediate relief whenever there’s a landslide or any other natural calamity blocking roads. This is besides the constant work undertaken by the BRO to construct new roads, especially in some of the country’s remotest parts, despite severe challenges like the altitude and lack of oxygen.