Introduction by Alex Pirie.
Founder of Nomadic Knights.

I had heard the name ‘Roof Of Africa’, but I had never heard the name ‘Roof Of India’, I wondered why as I was sure it must exist. It didn’t exist, but it does now, well, that was after we gave it the name.

I am not sure if there is any merit in being the first with anything however we rode a route that no one had ever ridden previously as a group. We were told that Kashmir wasn’t safe and that we shouldn’t go there.

After chatting with the Indian Army and the local police in the affected areas we took the decision to go for it, to actually ride right up through the centre of north India and into deepest Kashmir, taking in Srinagar, Kargil - the scene of the last India/Pakistan war in 1999 and on over to Leh in Ladakh.

This after all was a road that had only recently been opened after 20 years of digging and blasting and included a stretch that is reckoned to be the most dangerous road in the world dubbed ‘The Cliffhanger’.

It’s well named. It is truly terrifying. Never have I felt so exposed while riding in the mountains.

This without doubt was the most challenging ride we had ever undertaken. We planned two nights adventure camping, and I mean adventure camping. We brought our own water, food, fuel, generator, tents, firewood and music, of course, and all else you could think of in three trucks. They almost never made it due to the treacherous terrain and we camped, for only one night at a place we never planned to, but how beautiful it was.

We lost a rider for two days but he did show up safe and well with a story to tell. As to what actually happened to him and where he went on his own little motorcycle adventure, we may never know.

Every rider embraced the ROOF OF INDIA for the true motorcycle adventure that it was and I am convinced that the experiences shared will be etched in all our memories for many years to come.

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