Indian Army Conquers Karakoram Pass On Royal Enfield Himalayan Motorcycles

Chennai based two-wheeler manufacturer, Royal Enfield, has shared a video via its social media channels to celebrate the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrates India's victory in the Kargil war on 26 June, 1999.

Indian Army Conquers Karakoram Pass On Royal Enfield Himalayan Motorcycles

The one-minute video posted by Royal Enfield shows snippets of a historic motorcycle ride to the absolute spartan Karakoram Pass in Northern Ladakh. The brand partnered with the Indian Army last year with the aim of conquering one of the toughest environments in the world.

Indian Army Conquers Karakoram Pass On Royal Enfield Himalayan Motorcycles

The Karakoram Pass is close to the Indo-China border, and used to be the highest pass on ancient caravan routes. This is the first time that anyone has ridden a motorcycle to the Pass. The area is known for its rigorous terrain and brutal temperatures. Riders on this mission had to endure temperatures up to -30 degrees Celsius.

Indian Army Conquers Karakoram Pass On Royal Enfield Himalayan Motorcycles

The first ever Himalayan Heights Motorcycle Expedition started from Karu in Leh, and covered roughly 1,000 kilometers that stretched along the Line of Actual Control that India shares with Pakistan and China.

Indian Army Conquers Karakoram Pass On Royal Enfield Himalayan Motorcycles

The ten day journey saw the team riding through Chongtash, the Siachen Glacier, the Depsang Plains and Daulat Beg Oldi. These areas are part of an ancient Afghan trade route.

Indian Army Conquers Karakoram Pass On Royal Enfield Himalayan Motorcycles

The team consisted of six Indian Army personnel, including two women officers, four riders from Royal Enfield, and one from the Himalayan Motorsports Association.

Indian Army Conquers Karakoram Pass On Royal Enfield Himalayan Motorcycles

The expedition was planned at a time when the 14 Corps, also called the Fire and Fury Corps was celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Indian Army Conquers Karakoram Pass On Royal Enfield Himalayan Motorcycles

A tough selection and training process at Himachal Pradesh ensured that all riders were at necessary fitness levels, and the eleven finalists were put through rigorous training that involved riding the Royal Enfield Himlayan over snow, slush, and black ice.

The current models feature a BS6 compliant 411cc engine that produces 24.3bhp and 32Nm of torque. The engine comes mated to a five-speed constant mesh gearbox. The Himalayan is currently priced 1.87 lakh, ex-showroom.

Indian Army Conquers Karakoram Pass On Royal Enfield Himalayan Motorcycles

Thoughts About The Video Released By Royal Enfield

While the video is just a minute long and features snippets of the entire ride, one can never fully experience what a rider experiences, until one makes the journey. Congratulations to the Indian Army and to Royal Enfield for having achieved this feat. What we want to know is if us bunch of otherwise long distance riders now have access to the Karakoram Pass. Time to plan, we think!

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Article Published On: Saturday, June 27, 2020, 14:59 [IST]
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