Meet Mehboob, the solo rider from Surat who conquered Ladakh in just eight days

Surat, Gujarat – From his hometown in Olpaad, just outside Surat, someone surged ahead on a dream—Mehboob Mandal Amreen, a determined solo biker, rode from Surat to Ladakh in just eight days. Covering over 2,100 km of plains, deserts, and high Himalayan passes, this journey wasn’t just a ride—it was a statement of grit, passion, and endurance.

Mehboob’s  story begins with the roar of the engine at 6 AM on July 8. “I felt excitement and nerves in every gear,” Mehboob recalls. Day one carried me across Gujarat and Rajasthan to Ajmer. By day two, I was in Chandigarh, touching city life before hugging the mountains.

Day three began with a climb into Jammu & Kashmir. The fourth day led him through lush valleys to Srinagar—snow-clad peaks in sight, your enthusiasm building up. “That day I knew I was on a different plane of adventure.”

Next came Kargil, where the thin air at 11,649 ft tested your resolve. Soon after, he conquered Fotu La Pass (13,400 ft) and did not let up until he reached Leh, the heart of Ladakh.

On day six, he scaled Khardung La—nearly 18,000 ft, one of the highest motorable roads in the world. “When I crested the pass, I came face-to-face with infinity,” Mehboob says. he spent the night in Nubra Valley’s Hunder village after visiting Diskit Monastery.

Day seven brought Chang La (17,688 ft) and Pangong Lake’s surreal blue. The final summit? Umling La at 19,024 ft, now the world’s highest motorable pass. “That moment, everything paused—the world at your feet, sky overhead.”

The return leg was equally epic. He crossed Tanglang La (17,582 ft), Baralacha La, Sarchu, Lachung La, and drove through the iconic Atal Tunnel into Manali. Heading through Himachal Pradesh, he entered plains via Chandigarh, Delhi, and finally back to his base in Surat.

In just eight days, he rode from Olpaad’s quiet roads to the top of the world and back. “Physically tiring, mentally liberating,” Mehboob reflects. The ride tested your focus, adaptability, and courage under thin air and volatile weather.