🏔️ My Himalayan Motorcycle Journey
Day 2 – Into the Mountains: Manali to Jispa via Atal Tunnel (Motorcycle Travel Blog)
📅 Date: 6 june 2025
📍 Route Covered: Manali → Atal Tunnel → Sissu → Keylong → Jispa
🛣️ Leaving the City Behind – The Ride Begins
There’s a feeling that only motorcyclists know — that rush of excitement as you leave the last city behind and enter the arms of the mountains. That’s what Day 2 was all about.
We began our ride early from Manali, engines roaring at sunrise. The goal was ambitious: reach Jispa, a beautiful village nestled in the Lahaul region, crossing through the famous Atal Tunnel — India’s longest highway tunnel at 9.02 km.
🚴♂️ Crossing the Atal Tunnel – A Ride Through the Heart of the Himalayas
The Atal Tunnel isn’t just an engineering marvel — it’s a portal. One moment you're in the green valley of Manali, and the next, you’re in the stark, rugged world of Lahaul-Spiti.
❄️ Temperature drop: From 20°C to 6°C
🛑 First fuel stop: Tandi (after Keylong)
🧊 Weather: Chilly winds, occasional snowfall patches
Inside the tunnel, it was cold, dark, and echoing — and as we emerged at Sissu, we were greeted by a landscape of grey-brown rock cliffs, ice-capped peaks, and frozen waterfalls.
📍 Sissu to Keylong – Winding Roads and Scenic Beauty
This stretch felt like riding through a movie set. Waterfalls gushing from cliffs, deep valleys running alongside, and black tarmac curling through Himalayan silence.
We stopped at a roadside dhaba near Keylong to eat some steaming hot Maggi and chai. The locals were kind, and their laughter gave warmth even when the wind chilled our bones.
🔧 First Bike Troubles – A Test of Brotherhood
About 10 km before Jispa, my friend’s Bullet 350 started showing signs of fuel starvation. After checking the fuel line and spark plug, we realized it was just air in the line due to altitude. Luckily, we had tools — and more importantly, teamwork.
💡 Lesson of the day: Always carry basic tools and trust your partner on the ride.
🏕️ Reaching Jispa – A Night Under the Stars
We finally reached Jispa by evening. We chose to camp by the river, with snow-capped peaks surrounding us. The night was cold, but the sound of the flowing Bhaga River, and the open sky lit with stars, made it magical.
We sat near our tent, sipping tea, watching the moonlight dance on the river, and whispering plans for tomorrow — Shinkula Pass awaits.
- Bikes entering Atal Tunnel
- Frozen waterfall at Sissu
- Lunch stop at Keylong dhaba
- Bullet breakdown moment
- Starry sky and tent at Jispa
🔚 End of Day 2 – What Comes Next?
Tomorrow is what we feared and dreamed of: crossing the glacier-laden, treacherous Shinkula Pass on two wheels.
Stay tuned for Day 3 – Conquering the Shinkula Glacier: A Ride into Zanskar.
💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments
Have you ever crossed the Atal Tunnel or visited Jispa?
Share your experiences, routes, or photos in the comments below — I’d love to feature the best stories in a future blog!
🔗 Previous & Next in Series
⬅️ Day 1 – The Dream Begins
➡️ Day 3 – Crossing Atul Tunnel and Riding to keylong